[Greek] παύω (pauō), [Latin] pausa, [Latin] disinere, [Latin] coercere: to cease, to pause, to quit, to come to an end, to stop, to get release from, to refrain; Lk.5:4, Lk.8:24, Lk.11:1, Act.5:42, Act.6:13, Act.13:10, Act.20:1, Act.21:32,1Cor.13:8, Eph.1:16, Col.1:9, Heb.10:2, 1Pet.4:1, 1Pet.3:10
Jesus rebukes the winds and waves
Background Information:
Pausing uses/contexts: The related Greek noun anapausis refers to a resting up or refreshing. This term refers to a rest or cessation in Isa. 34:14. This pausing action is involved with cessation of actions, stopping for reflection, and stopping in hesitation.
Greek literary grammatical device: The middle voice in Greek does not have an exact parallel in the English language. The middle voice indicates that the subject (in the sentence) acts on or for itself. (Ex: The boy washes himself.) The action ends by itself. This action has a finality to itself.
Scripture:
“He awakened, rebuked the wind and the waves, and they subsided and there was a calm.” Lk.8:24
Jesus, in response to the disciples’ fear and insecurity, calmed the winds and waves. Because of the power of Jesus, the winds and waves stopped.
“Love never fails. If there are prophecies, they will be brought to nothing; if tongues, they will cease; if knowledge, it will be brought to nothing.” 1Cor.13:8
Tongues would be cut off as their necessity ceased. It is important to note that tongues are never mentioned again in the New Testament after this warning.
Those times when we need Jesus to pause the storms in our lives
Conclusion:
Pause, pausing, coerce, desist
It was interesting to discover that the actions by the middle voice provides a sense of finality to it. Anapausis refers to the rest that Jesus speaks of in Mat.11:29. Jesus invites us to take the yoke of obedience to His word. As we face the storms of life, we often need Jesus to hit the pause button for us. If He could pause all our struggles in life…..