Jesus boarded a ship with His... - All The Good Seed Daily Devotionals for 2025

As they sailed, he fell asleep.
Luke 8:23.

Jesus boarded a ship with His disciples and asked them to sail over to the far bank of the Lake of Gennesaret. During the crossing Jesus fell asleep. Let us meditate on these words, for the Man Jesus Christ is the Son of God, the eternal Son.

Psalm 121:4 states of God: "Behold, he who keeps Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep." God needs no sleep. His power is ever constant and inexhaustible. When we reach the limit of our energy and become tired, whether physically or mentally, when our courage or confidence slips away, God is there to help.

Here on the ship, being physically tired, Jesus fell asleep. The evangelist John also reports how Jesus felt fatigue after a journey (John 4:6). This clearly shows that Jesus had truly become man. He did so in order to suffer and die on the cross as the substitute for sinful people. Another reason why the Son of God became man was so that He could live on this earth, and in the most trying circumstances and painful suffering at that, so that He has understanding and compassion for us when we are troubled. This is a great comfort for all who know Him by faith (cf. Hebrews 2:17.18; 4:15).

One thing becomes eminently clear on this occasion on the lake: the Saviour asleep on the boat is at the same time the One who created the entire universe and holds it firmly in His hand. When water poured into the ship and the disciples awakened Him, He revealed His divine power and brought them out of their trouble. "He arose and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water. And they ceased, and there was a calm" (v. 24). Isn't this Lord worthy of our wholehearted trust?

Today's reading: Leviticus 12:1-13:8 · Psalms 58:1-11