Tag Archives: Power

Rembrandt’s Masterpiece: Weathering the Storm with Faith

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Rembrandt van Rijn’s iconic painting “The Storm on the Sea of Galilee” is a captivating masterpiece that transports the viewer into the midst of a tumultuous biblical scene. Inspired by the gospel accounts in Matthew, Mark, and Luke, this work of art powerfully conveys the themes of faith, fear, and the sovereignty of God in the face of life’s storms.

The biblical narrative that serves as the foundation for Rembrandt’s painting is found in the Synoptic Gospels. In each account, Jesus and his disciples find themselves caught in a violent storm while crossing the Sea of Galilee. As the waves crash against the boat and the winds howl, the disciples are gripped by terror, certain that they will perish. Yet, while they struggle to keep the vessel afloat, Jesus remains asleep, undisturbed by the raging tempest.

Rembrandt’s masterful depiction captures the intensity of this pivotal moment. The canvas is filled with a sense of tumult and chaos – the towering waves, the straining sails, the panicked expressions of the disciples. Yet, at the center of the painting, the figure of Jesus rests calmly, seemingly unaffected by the fury of the storm. This stark contrast between the human fear and the divine tranquility lies at the heart of the biblical message.

When the disciples finally rouse Jesus, their cries of desperation echo the words recorded in the Gospels: “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” (Mark 4:38). In their moment of greatest need, they turn to the one who has the power to calm the storm. And as Jesus rises, he rebukes the wind and the waves, commanding them to be still. Suddenly, the chaos gives way to a profound hush, as the sea obeys the voice of its Creator.

Rembrandt’s painting powerfully translates this profound spiritual truth into a visual representation. The disciples, tossed about by the storm, represent the human experience of being overwhelmed by life’s difficulties and challenges. Their fear and desperation echo the struggles that we all face when confronted by the seemingly uncontrollable forces of the world. Yet, in the midst of this turmoil, the figure of Christ stands as a reminder of the divine presence and the power of faith to weather any storm.

The biblical accounts make clear that Jesus’ miraculous act of stilling the storm was not merely a display of power, but a means of deepening the disciples’ trust in him. As they witness the elements submit to his command, their fear is transformed into awe and wonder. “Who then is this,” they ask, “that even the wind and the sea obey him?” (Mark 4:41). Afraid in the storm, they were terrified at the power Jesus displayed.

Rembrandt’s painting invites the viewer to ponder this same question, to consider the nature of the one who can command the forces of nature with a single word. In doing so, it challenges us to reflect on our own relationship with the divine, to examine the depth of our faith in the face of life’s storms.

The power of “The Storm on the Sea of Galilee” lies in its ability to transcend the boundaries of time and culture, speaking to the universal human experience of struggle and the need for divine intervention. Rembrandt’s masterful rendering draws us into the biblical narrative, allowing us to vicariously experience the fear and uncertainty of the disciples, while also offering a glimpse of the transformative power of faith.

As we gaze upon this painting, we are reminded that even in the midst of the fiercest storms, we need not face them alone. The One who calmed the raging sea is the same One who promises to be with us always, providing refuge, strength, and the assurance that no matter how dark the night, the dawn will come.

Worry in our lives comes from either a) forgetting the power of Jesus over the storm or b) doubting his commitment to us in the storm.
There is something more important than God keeping you from all storms, and that is God teaching you his faithfulness in the storm.
The storm in your life is to wake you up to His power.

J.D. Greear

These passages, reflected in the brilliant work by Rembrandt, remind us that Jesus has power over any storm we face. However, the focus is not on our problems, but on Christ’s greatness.

The more we see His power, the less our troubles seem significant.

I’ve Got the Power

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The range of ways people exercise and respond to power can be complicated.

I'veGotthePower

Think of power in this case as the ability to exercise influence.

Power is not intrinsically good or bad. We ascribe meaning to power and make choices about how we will use it or react to its use by others. Ultimately, power is a responsibility, and it exists as a function of the individual, one’s followers, and the situation at hand.

Nicole Lipkin is a corporate psychologist who has spent her career diagnosing and resolving typical and troublesome leadership dilemmas. Her book, What Keeps Leaders Up at Night? examines the underlying psychology that plays a big role behind those dilemmas.

One of those dilemmas, for instance, is understanding why people don’t buy-in to your thoughts, ideas, or proposals.

It’s all about power.

7 Distinct Types of Power

  • Legitimate Power – arising from one’s title or position in the pecking order and how other perceive that title or position. Those with legitimate power can easily influence other because they already possess a position of power.
  • Coercive Power – using threat and force to influence others. This power comes from fear, and failure to comply will lead to punishment.
  • Expert Power – derived directly from a person’s skills or expertise or from perceived skills or expertise. Expert power is knowledge-based.
  • Informational Power – possessing needed or wanted information. People with high informational power wield influence because they control access.
  • Reward Power – motivating people to respond in order to win raises, promotions, and awards.
  • Referent Power – dependent on personal traits and values such as honesty, integrity, and trustworthiness. People with high referent power can highly influence anyone who admires and respects them.
  • Connection Power – creating influence by proxy. People employing this power build important coalitions with others.

These seven types of power generally fall into one of two categories: Formal Power (legitimate, coercive, and reward) and Informal Power (referent, expert, informational, and connection). As a leader, you may be use most, if not all, of these types of power during a typical day.

But when it comes to influencing people without creating potentially negative side effects, referent, expert, informational, and legitimate power seem to work best.

Coercive, connection, and reward power require more careful application because they rely on a higher degree of trust and risk and therefore can become easily manipulative.

You’ve got the power…

…don’t blow it.

inspired by What Keeps Leaders Up at Night, by Nicole Lipkin

What Keeps Leaders Up at Night