Rebuking the Wind and Waves

We have heard the story of Christ and the disciples in the boat on the Sea of Galilee so many times that it is unremarkable to us that Christ would rebuke inanimate objects (waves) and effects (winds). This is a little bit unfortunate, because the sheer chutzpah of doing so we might miss. Some of the disciples were experienced fishermen so when they say that they are in danger of perishing—in jeopardy (KJV), taken from the French J'ai perdu, "I am lost"—we ought to believe them, they were in danger. Christ is sleeping, which in itself is remarkable, was he that fatigued (possible) or was he confident that whatever was tossed up against the boat, it was not out of his control (also possible). At any rate, when he is awakened by the disciples, he behaves in a most peculiar manner. What do we expect him to do? We expect him to calm the disciples and help them out of their predicament—point where to row so they can get to shore; help bailout the boat; show some interest!

What does Christ do? He speaks to inanimate objects and effects as if they were little children. He rebukes them for misbehaving! What? Unexpected. Unbelievable. The disciples must have not known whether to laugh or protest. What kind of person was this? The result? The wind and waves obey him. Obey him. Wind. Waves.

The disciples ask the question that I would have asked in the same situation. Who is this that even the winds and the waves obey him?

This is our God.