Jesus Sleeps through the Storm: Imagining with Bartholomew and Naomi

Imagine with me how a conversation between one of Jesus’ disciples (Bartholomew) and his wife (Naomi – fictitious name) went after the calming of the storm episode in Matthew 8:23-27.

“Why can’t you settle, Bartholomew?” Naomi asked her husband who had been tossing and turning all night. She asked with a bit of tension in her voice as she obviously wasn’t able to sleep either. “I just can’t get over the fact that Jesus was sleeping in the middle of the storm I was telling you about. I am lying here trying to sleep, in the comfort of my own bed and can’t. He, on the other hand, was sound asleep – without a care in the world – when the world was crashing in around us in the boat. I just don’t understand how He did it!”

“Maybe He was just exhausted?” she said. “I mean, you have been traveling a lot. Dealing with people, especially needy people, can be super draining. Maybe some of the miraculous power He has is beginning to diminish? Maybe He was just super tired. Now, please try to get some sleep.”

Bartholomew sat up. “But He woke up, rebuked us for our faith – or lack thereof – and told the entire sea and storm to be still. . . and it obeyed Him, Noami! He commanded the storm and the storm listened! He still had power. Much power. But I am not wrestling with that right now. I’ll process that later. How did the man sleep in the middle of the worst storm I have ever seen?”

Bartholomew thought about how, just prior to getting in the boat, Jesus had been a bit harsh with some would be disciples. Jesus, under no uncertain terms, demanded they follow Him. Bartholomew and others had followed Him . . right into a boat. And when they needed Jesus, He was asleep, oblivious to everything around Him. He had followed Jesus right into the heart of a storm and the first time he needed Him, he found his new Rabbi unavailable. Or was He?

“You know, something tells me He knew. He knew the storm was coming. He knew He was tired and would fall asleep. He knew we would panic. He knew it was all going to happen just as it did. Something tells me He was able to rest because He never doubted He would be okay. He was able to sleep so soundly because He has what He rebuked us for not having.”

Now Naomi sat up, grabbing the blanket with a little extra pull to express her frustration at not being able to rest. “What do you mean, dear? Of course He was okay! He knew He would calm the storm!” “But that’s just it, Naomi. He was sleeping in the middle of the storm. He was sleeping while it was going on. It’s like He knows He is invincible until God is ready to take Him. It’s like He really believes He is radically loved by God and is here for a specific mission that will not be thwarted by anything, including a storm. He had a peace, Naomi. A peace that expressed itself in rest. He really believes He is God’s Son. He really believes that God rules the universe AND God loves Him. Why can’t I have that same peace? Why can’t I sleep? If He really is the Son of God and He really does control the universe, and He invites me to follow Him, then . . . wait a second. . . if He is God’s Son and God’s Son invites me to follow Him . . . then . . . no, that’s just too good to possibly be true.” “What’s too good to be true, Bartholomew? What is it?” Naomi asked.

“Yahweh never breaks a promise. He never invites along and then changes His mind. If I have done nothing to earn the call of Jesus, then He – as God’s Son – is bound to keep me. In other words, I didn’t earn His favor when He called me and I can’t ‘un-earn’ it either! I don’t know if I understand it all just yet, Naomi. But something wonderful is happening. Something breathtaking. The Son of God told me to follow Him. My fear can no longer be in my circumstances. That would make them misplaced. I now know One much bigger and stronger and more wild than my crazy circumstances. In a wonderful sense, I am drawn to the One I should be fearing. The One who called me and will – I think He will, anyway – die to keep His commitment if that’s what it takes. He doesn’t want me to fear the storm, but what life would be like without Him at the helm. The circumstances surrounding life are not ultimate. But Jesus, the One who controls the circumstances of life. He told me to follow Him, Naomi. Not an idea. Not a method. Not a system. Not a manual. Him. I would be crazy not to.”