Memory Verse

"I am the resurrection and the life.  The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die."  John 11:25-26

Lesson

Thank you for continuing this journey of The Gospel Project^® for Kids. Over the next five weeks, kids will discover that Jesus is powerful. In today’s Bible story, Jesus showed His remarkable power over creation. After a long day of teaching, Jesus and His disciples got into a boat to cross over to the other side of the Sea of Galilee. When their short sailing trip was interrupted by a violent storm, the disciples found themselves in danger with nowhere to turn—except to the One who created all things.

The Sea of Galilee is actually a freshwater lake in northern Israel. It sits nearly 700 feet below sea level and is surrounded by tall hills and mountains. The geography contributes to strong downdrafts and sudden storms that can quickly overtake the lake. This type of windstorm is what the disciples faced as they crossed the sea with Jesus.

Several of the disciples were experienced fishermen. They had spent significant time on the Sea of Galilee, but this storm was so strong. The waves overtook the boat, and the disciples were afraid they would drown. As the disciples panicked, what was Jesus doing? He was sleeping! The disciples woke Jesus. The situation was out of their control, but their reaction was full of irony: “Teacher! Don’t You care that we’re going to die?” (Mark 4:38).

The disciples obviously did not know why Jesus had come to earth. Jesus had come to rescue people from sin. Did Jesus care that the disciples were going to die? Absolutely. But He was going to rescue them from something greater than physical death by drowning. Jesus would save them from spiritual death when He died on the cross.

Who is this man? the disciples wondered. Jesus’ disciples knew Jesus was a good man and a good teacher. When Jesus calmed the wind and the waves, He showed His disciples that He is also God. God rules the sea and stills its waves. (See Job 12:15; 28:25; Ps. 33:7; 89:9; 107:25-30; Amos 4:13.)