Luke 8:25 - Printer Friendly

ESV: He said to them, “Where is your faith?” And they were afraid, and they marveled, saying to one another, “Who then is this, that he commands even winds and water, and they obey him?”

NIV: Where is your faith?' he asked his disciples. In fear and amazement they asked one another, 'Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him.'

NASB: And He said to them, 'Where is your faith?' But they were fearful and amazed, saying to one another, 'Who then is this, that He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey Him?'

CSB: He said to them, "Where is your faith? "They were fearful and amazed, asking one another, "Who then is this? He commands even the winds and the waves, and they obey him! "

NLT: Then he asked them, 'Where is your faith?' The disciples were terrified and amazed. 'Who is this man?' they asked each other. 'When he gives a command, even the wind and waves obey him!'

KJV: And he said unto them, Where is your faith? And they being afraid wondered, saying one to another, What manner of man is this! for he commandeth even the winds and water, and they obey him.

NKJV: But He said to them, “Where is your faith?” And they were afraid, and marveled, saying to one another, “Who can this be? For He commands even the winds and water, and they obey Him!”

With a simple rebuke, Jesus stilled a fierce storm on the Sea of Galilee. He now turns to the disciples who had reacted out of fear and asks them about their faith. Mark's account has, "Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?" (Mark 4:40). Matthew puts the question prior to Jesus rebuking the storm: "Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?" (Matthew 8:26).

This question ties to the recently-recorded parable of the sower (Luke 8:4–8). What kind of faith do the disciples have? In this moment, it appears to be that of the soil with thorns. They believe until they are beset by the "cares…of life" (Luke 8:14). Jesus exhorts them to have the faith of the good soil that takes in what Jesus says and does and allows what they learn to change their hearts. Instead, they react in fear as if Jesus' power is unknown to them.

Luke 8 gives a series of parables and practical examples of different types of faith under different circumstances. The disciples have seen Jesus heal sickness and injuries and expel demons, but control over the sea is on another level. The sea represents chaos and all that mankind cannot control. Only God can take formless water and bring it to order (Genesis 1:1–10). Such control over water has not been seen since the parting of the Red Sea or, to a lesser extent, the parting of the Jordan (Exodus 14; Joshua 3:14–17). Jesus didn't even pray and ask for God's power.

It's reasonable for the disciples to respond to this level of power by rethinking who Jesus truly is. As their understanding of Jesus grows, their faith must, also. Although their fear shows a lack of faith, their question is encouraging. Like the fertile soil, they are contemplating and asking questions, not merely walking away. Before long, Peter will be able to name their Teacher: "The Christ of God" (Luke 9:20).

But naming Jesus as the Messiah only goes so far. Only God can control the sea with a mere word.

Luke 8:22–25 records people's reaction to Jesus' message. Here, people must decide who Jesus is in the face of miraculous salvation from earthly threats. When Jesus calms a storm over the Sea of Galilee, He rescues the disciples and shows His authority over both nature and chaos. They understandably must rethink who He is. Next Jesus saves people from demons, illness, and death. The story of Jesus taming the storm is also in Matthew 8:18, 23–27 and Mark 4:35–41.

Luke 8 includes portions of three sections of Jesus' Galilean Ministry. The women who support Jesus' ministry bridge the faithful outcasts of chapter 7 to the sower who spreads the news of God's kingdom (Luke 8:1–3). Luke 8:4–18 includes the parables of the sower and the lamp under the jar. These illustrate the importance of hearing Jesus' message with a mind to believe and obey. Luke 8:19–56 presents different faith reactions when Jesus' life, power, and authority elicit questions about His identity.

This passage continues Luke's pattern in the account of Jesus' Galilean ministry: alternating calls to discipleship with stories that describe the discipleship He expects. In Luke 6:17, Jesus transitioned from calling and training the Twelve to a more general call; in Luke 7, Jesus interacted specifically with those with less privilege in society. Chapter 8 reveals how people react when Jesus reveals who He is, mostly through miracles. In Luke 9:18–50, Jesus returns to intense discipleship of the Twelve to give them courage and faith, preparing them for the journey to Jerusalem and what they will witness there.

Luke was a traveling companion of Paul (Acts 16:10) and a physician (Colossians 4:14). Unlike Matthew, Mark, and John, Luke writes his gospel as an historian, rather than as a first-hand eyewitness. His extensive writings also include the book of Acts (Acts 1:1–3). These are deliberately organized, carefully researched accounts of those events. The gospel of Luke focuses on the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ. Luke's Gentile perspective presents Christ as a Savior for all people, offering both forgiveness and direction to those who follow Him.