Matthew 8 gives us a window into the cadence of Jesus' life and ministry, unfolding His words and actions right after after He came down from giving the Sermon on the Mount. He touched and healed a leper. He came into a town called Capernaum and helped a centurion and the centurion's servant. He visited Peter's house and healed Peter's mother-in-law. He cast out demons. He answered challenging questions and pressed home the truth and urgency of the Kingdom...And He was tired.
Towards the end of the chapter, we read:
"And when He got into the boat, His disciples followed Him. And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but He was asleep" (Matt. 8:23-24).
Towards the end of the chapter, we read:
"And when He got into the boat, His disciples followed Him. And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but He was asleep" (Matt. 8:23-24).
He was asleep. Jesus - God - was sleeping.
It's startling.
I mean, this is the Unwearied God of Isaiah, right?
Remember these words: "He does not faint or grow weary"?
Or Psalm 121 saying that the Keeper of Israel doesn't slumber or sleep?
What is this?
This is Incarnation.
When God becomes Man.
A Man and yet God.
Both God and Man.
And see this Man?
He is sleeping…
He is sleeping…
sleeping…
sleeping...in a boat…
a little Galilean fishing boat:
probably not much more than 14 feet long and 5 or 6 feet wide,
a crowded little boat
full of working men and equipment…
He's sleeping…
sleeping through a storm,
sleeping under adverse conditions.
How is He sleeping at a time like this???
He must be exhausted...bone-weary...spent…
Reader, pause and worship: your God is sleeping in a boat.
And why?
Why?
Why is God sleeping the sleep of exhaustion?
Why? Why must it be like this?
He shouldn’t be here!
He shouldn’t have to feel tiredness!
He’s God!
He’s the Unwearied.
He’s Eternally Strong.
Why this frailty?
Why this limitation?
Why?
Why is God sleeping in a boat?
It's because of me, of us.
Because of me and my fellow men.
Because it was according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God.
Because it was fitting for Jesus to be made like His brothers in every way.
Because “since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself
partook of the same things” (Heb. 2).
And so Jesus is here.
He is sleeping in a boat.
He is tasting weariness…
- just as He will taste death -
...because of us.
He is bearing our weakness and infirmities,
so that we can experience His strength and grace perfected in our weakness.
"In this is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us..." 1 John 4
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