There are two different storm stories on the Sea of Galilee in the New Testament. In one, Jesus is already in the boat, asleep on a cushion, and the disciples wake Him up because of the storm. Jesus calms the storm with a word. In the other storm story, Jesus is not in the boat when the storm hits but is on a mountain praying after just having fed the “5000”. Later He walks on the water where they can see Him and Peter ends up walking on the water with Jesus in the midst of the storm. 

Before we dive into these two stories, let’s look back in the Old Testament to some other water stories the disciples would’ve known very well. 

• Genesis 6-9 Noah obeyed the call of God and rode a floating zoo for a year while the entire world perished because of a worldwide flood.
• Exodus 14 Moses and the Israelites walked through the Red Sea on dry ground thanks to God and His East wind. The sea was like a wall of water on their left and right. It all came crashing down on the Egyptians as soon as the Israelites were safely across.
• Joshua 4 God made an invisible dam at the Jordan River so Joshua could lead the Israelites across. The water stood in a heap and backed up about 20 miles away. The folks looking from the walls of Jericho in the distance would’ve seen the sight and been terrified.
• Jonah 1 Jonah was on a boat running from the Lord. While on that boat a great storm rose up and it became known that Jonah was the cause. Once he was hurled into the sea, the storm stopped. Then the Lord caused a great fish to act as a submarine for Jonah for three days and three nights before vomiting him back onto land.

Miraculous water stories were something the disciples were familiar with. Even the prophet Isaiah records the words of the Lord, “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you…” (Isaiah 43:2).

We also see some places in Job where God walks on and through water: “[God] alone stretched out the heavens and trampled the waves of the sea” (Job 9:8). “Have you entered into the springs of the sea, or walked in the recesses of the deep?” (Job 38:16).

And Asaph wrote in Psalm 77: “Your way was through the sea, your path through the great waters; yet your footprints were unseen” (Psalm 77:19).

The disciples knew all these Scriptures, but they needed lessons, what I call Field Trips, to test their faith and to connect the dots to Who Jesus was/is.

To get the full picture of the two Sea of Galilee storm stories, you need to read all of the accounts from all of the Gospels. They each give different details. I’ll put all the puzzle pieces together for you:

Here are my notes from these sections of Scriptures.

The whole point of a storm is for you to trust in the One Who has authority over it. 

Look for Jesus. If He’s resting, you rest. If He’s calling you out to walk through it, you walk. 

When you find yourself in a storm, look for Him and see what He is doing.

Watch The Chosen, Season 3, Episode 8 – Sustenance for a great visual.