Even in His physical form, our Lord Jesus Christ could not have been in such a deep slumber as to be unaware of the perilous conditions at sea. Despite appearing to be in a profound sleep, He knew that a fierce storm had emerged. His body may have rested, but His divine power remained vigilant. This was all part of God’s plan; the Son of God, the Word, boarded the boat, accompanied by His disciples. He permitted weariness to envelop His body, understanding that the disciples felt secure, assured of His presence and protection from any harm. In allowing His body to rest, the Word of God symbolically suggested to the apostles that He appeared to be indifferent to our worldly troubles. Yet, His omnipotent awareness was ever-present, orchestrating the tempest that threatened to engulf the boat. He initiated the storm to discern the disciples' response amidst their disquietude: would they bolster their faith, believing that the storm was under His sovereign control and therefore would not be their demise, or would they waver, abandoning the very faith that was their salvation? For them, Jesus remained alert, as did the essence of their belief. Consequently, they jumped up and called out to Him, saying, "Lord! Save us, we perish!" (Matthew 8:25).
We also recall the narrative of Jonah, who fell into a deep slumber in the hold of a ship. How does this compare to the events recorded in the Gospel? Jonah serves as a type of the holy Passion of the Lord. Just as he rested calmly in the ship's hold, seemingly indifferent to impending doom, so too did our Lord Jesus Christ sleep during the storm. He fulfilled the foreshadowing present in Jonah through the sacrament of His death. Just as Jonah spent three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so the Son of Man, during His earthly suffering, remained three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. He awoke from death, breaking the slumber of His body, rising again for the salvation of all humanity, and later rejoining His disciples. Thus, He embodies the fulfillment of Jonah's image, laying down His life for our redemption.
Jonah was cast into the sea, where he was consumed by a whale. This narrative finds its true significance in our Lord, who took captivity captive, for we were once held prisoner, but through Christ's victory over our relentless adversary, we are granted freedom. The prayer of St. Jonah further reveals the significance of the sacraments connected to the Passion of Christ. He proclaimed, "I cried unto the Lord my God in my affliction, and He heard me out of the belly of the underworld" (Jonah 2:3). It is important to note that he refers to the belly of the underworld, not merely the whale. The Lord descended not into the belly of the fish, but rather into the depths of hell to liberate those bound in eternal chains. Additionally, many were resurrected during this time. Jonah spoke of the waters surrounding him and the abyss, describing how "the abyss embraced me deep and plunged my head into the clefts of the mountains. I came down into a land whose gates are barred forever" (Jonah 2:6-7). What do these streams and the abyss signify? Clearly, they transcend the immediate tale of Jonah. The Son of God descended into the depths when He was laid in the tomb. As the Gospel narrates, Joseph placed Him in a new tomb hewn from rock, sealing it with a great stone at the entrance (Matthew 27:60). Another account states, "And he laid Him in a tomb hewn out of the rock, where no one had ever been laid before" (Luke 23:53). Who offered the ultimate sacrifice with joy and dedication to the Lord? Was it not the preeminent priest? He fulfilled the vows for all, for He alone possessed the authority over the outcome of His mission. So when Jonah was thrown into the sea, calm was restored to the waters. The arrival of our Lord Jesus Christ was likewise for the world’s good: His sacrificial blood was meant to bring peace to all beings in heaven and on earth. Through His incarnation, He redeemed humankind, prompting them to glorify God through His deeds. When He raised the dead and healed the afflicted, He inspired awe and reverence for God within the hearts of men. He offered the Lord a saving sacrifice, adequately paying the price for our reconciliation. He was the one who slept whilst vigilantly watching. Therefore, we must ensure that He does not fall asleep for the sake of sinners. It appears He may slumber for those who remain in death and have been utterly rejected by Him. Who, then, is truly forsaken? It is undoubtedly the one separated from the Lord, despite still existing in the flesh. How could those preoccupied with earthly matters be pleasing to God? Thus, we must live not in the flesh, but be spiritually united with the Lord Jesus. In Psalm eighty-eight, He declares that He was rejected on our behalf, "Thou hast rejected for nothing, and humbled, and cast down Thy anointed, thou hast rejected the covenant with Thy servant" (Psalm 88:39-40). Upon His rejection, He became a scorn to those around Him (Psalm 88:42), since He embraced the shame of the cross to cloth us with the splendor of His resurrection. The term "cast down" can be interpreted as “dead,” while "covered with shame" denotes "crucified." But let us forever bless Him who bore the curse to bestow upon us the grace of blessing.
THEOSIS