Jesus’ calming of the storm showed the same sovereign power of God revealed in the Old Testament (see Psalm 89:8–9, Psalm 93:3–4, Psalm 106:8–11, Psalm 107:23–30; Isaiah 51:9–16), and his power to bring in a reign of peace (Isaiah 11:6–11). What he does here is exactly what the Scripture elsewhere calls an act of God (see Psalm 89:10, Psalm 107:20). Jesus’ calming of the storm with only a command justifies his authority to make his earlier radical demands, and will give the apostles the confidence to follow him, even unto death, because they had seen his power over creation (see also Mark 4:35–41).
The same power of God revealed on numerous occasions in the Old Testament (see Psalm 89:8–9, Psalm 93:3–4, Psalm 106:8–11, Psalm 107:23–30, Isaiah 51:9–16) here is manifested in Christ’s wondrous sovereignty over nature as the first fulfillment of the reign of peace, wherein the very nature of things will be transformed (Isaiah 11:6–11).1
In rebuking the winds and the sea Jesus therefore reveals his divine sovereignty. What he does here is exactly what the Scripture elsewhere calls an act of God (see Psalm 89:10, Psalm 107:20).2 By calming the storm in the way that he does, Jesus practically confirms what he had taught in the two amazing statements regarding the importance of following him just prior getting into the boat. The disciples will later learn to follow Jesus through great faith, even on their way to suffering and death as martyrs. They will then also do so without fear, however, because by then they had seen him precede them to life (see also Mark 4:35–41).3
25 Les disciples s'étant approchés le réveillèrent, et dirent: Seigneur, sauve, nous périssons!