Why were the apostles so blown away by what Jesus did? Not only because He miraculously calmed the storm (the supernatural) but even more so because He changed their circumstance (the natural). They asked themselves ‘what kind of man is this that even the wind and the sea obey?!’

They were focused on the miracle and the change of their circumstance for the better. But could it be that they actually missed the point in the matter? What would have been the better question for them to ask? The ship was sinking because of a violent storm and most of the apostles have been fishermen all their lives, well capable of judging the situation as deadly. They even said so themselves: ‘we are perishing!’ But in all this chaos and panic on the boat, Jesus was sleeping. Yes, SLEEPING!

So instead of asking what kind of man has authority over the wind and the sea, shouldn’t the question be ‘what kind of man can sleep through a deadly situation like this?’ The answer is quite simple: A man who knows his identity! A man who knows which rules apply to him and which don’t. Jesus knew He was the son of God. He knew He was not of this world and therefore the world cannot touch Him. The rules of this world don’t apply to Him because He is from another world, the kingdom of God. So the circumstance did not scare or even bother Him! If it would have been up to Him, he would have just slept through the whole storm and not even bother and give one second of His attention to it! Peace beyond understanding!

You might argue now that this was Jesus and that He was special. But how does this apply to us? How can you compare our lives to Jesus’ life?

How can we not? Shouldn’t our union with Christ be the distinction we have from ordinary human beings? We have received the same life of God that Christ possessed. Now that Jesus has risen and went to the father on our behalf, aren’t we the sons of God now in this world? The apostle John summarized it beautifully:

If we could only rise above our circumstances to the point where they don’t bother or phase us anymore because we know that we are save and secure in union with Him. Yes, safe and secure amidst the storm. Because of this union we are dead to the world with all it’s rules and regulations and demands. Dead is dead. You cannot kill what’s already dead. The rules of this world stop applying at the moment of death.

So why are we still looking at things and reacting to things as if we were still part of this world, when our true being is hidden in Christ, far above all rule and authority, above any name that can be named (feel free to fill in any name you can come up with).

Of course, just like Jesus we have authority over the circumstance and could calm the sea. But if you see the circumstance as what it truly is, a lie from the devil, a play act set on his stage (this material world), then you can just as much ignore it and remember that you already have entered His rest (because you are born of God) and keep on sleeping!

Legally we are dead to the world and it’s demands and regulations. Remember that you are a dual being. You are a son of God (Spirit) and son of Man (flesh) at the same time! However, our true being is Spirit and one with God in Christ Jesus, seated at the right hand of the Father. But this Spirit lives in a body which is still IN the world but NOT OF the world. All that the world and it’s ruler (called the evil genius by Christ) can do now is to lie to us, lie to the son of man. Make us doubt our son of God being. How does he do it? With circumstances that only can concern sons of man and not sons of God. As long as you see yourself as still being part of this world (not dead to it) he has authority over you. But, if you see yourself dead to this world (just like Jesus did) and alive to Christ, you can walk through the storms of life in perfect peace (just like Jesus did).

This world is satan’s domain. He can manipulate it the way he needs it to deceive us and make us forget our true identity. He will try to draw you into his domain, from which Christ has delivered you through His death. So he will try to make you forget that you are already (right now) a son of God. Complete, perfect, righteous and fully initiated in Christ. Legally the devil can only do so and hurt you if you give him the right to do so by forgetting who you are and believing his lies. He can only hurt you if YOU give him the right to do so. It’s your choice.

That’s why Jesus could sleep in the midst of a deadly storm, completely unconcerned, fully aware that this world and nothing it can conjure is able to harm him. He knew He was the Son of God, not of this world but dead to this world and it’s demands. Dead is dead. So see yourself too as dead to this world and alive unto God in Christ Jesus!

I believe the lesson from this passage is simple: Nothing that this world can throw at us, can alter our true identity and heritage which we have in Christ. That’s the inheritance that Christ purchased for us on the cross. Whether we experience it fully in this life, depends on how we respond to the circumstances of life. If we respond from the perspective of a fallen human being (our son of man nature), fear will rise up and we will be subject and dominated by circumstances. If we respond from the perspective that we are sons of God (now!) and have God’s Spirit living in us (now!) we can live above the circumstances of this world – we can sleep through the storms in perfect peace, just like Jesus did!