Assembly Talk: Powerful Jesus

Today we’re thinking about Jesus being powerful. We’ve heard about him changing water into wine; we’ve also heard about him giving sight to the blind man. Those are just two of the amazing things that Jesus did; just two ways Jesus showed his power.

I want to tell you about another one. And I need you all to help me. I’m going to read the story from the Bible, but when we come to certain words there are actions and sound effects, so you have to listen really carefully!

BOAT - ‘row, row, row your boat’ - rowing action
WAVES - ‘splash’ - waves action
WIND - ‘blow’ - hands around mouth
WHO - puzzled face, scratch head

That day when evening came, Jesus said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the BOAT. There were also other BOATs with him.

As they were sailing, there were some little WAVEs and just a little bit of WIND. The WAVEs were getting higher, and the WIND was blowing harder. But then, a big storm started, and the WAVEs broke over the BOAT, so that it was nearly swamped. The WIND was getting louder - the WIND was getting louder. The WAVEs were getting bigger and bigger. 38 Jesus was in the stern of the BOAT, sleeping on a cushion.

The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”
He got up, rebuked the WIND and said to the WAVEs, “Quiet! Be still!” Immediately it was completely calm. 40 He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” 41 They were terrified and asked each other, “WHO is this? Even the WIND and the WAVEs obey him!”

This is the question the disciples were asking. What sort of man can say to the storm to stop, and it stops? Could you? Imagine you were over at Lough Erne, and suddenly there was a storm and the wind and the waves were fierce, could you get them to stop, just by telling them to be quiet?

That might be too much of a challenge. A lake or a lough is a big thing. What about if you were in the bath and you start making waves - only the water starts going over the sides and your mum or dad will get cross - could you stop the waves?

A bath is still quite a lot of water. What about if we had a basin and a little bit of water. We’ll make some waves - could we stop these little tiny waves? Still not!
We just can’t do it. Stopping waves and calming the wind is beyond us. Yet that’s exactly what Jesus did, with just a word: Quiet.

The disciples were more frightened after Jesus did that than during the storm when they thought they were going to drown. That’s why they ask the question - Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!

Jesus is powerful - the one who made the waves can still them, and shows us that he is God. That means that whatever you’re going through, whatever you’re worried about, Jesus can help you. He is powerful to save.

Children's Talk / Assembly in Brookeborough Primary School on 26th January 2012