What does Matthew 8:27 mean?

Through the entire length of Jesus' earthly ministry, His disciples were continually amazed to learn more about Him. Learning that He could immediately calm a storm by telling it to stop causes them to marvel and ask, "What kind of man is this?" They were shocked to learn that even the wind and waves of nature obeyed His voice.

Mark's report of this same event (Mark 4:35–41) makes it clear that this marveling at Jesus was less about wonder and more about fear. As the disciples realized that this man in their boat could command the sea and the sky, they may have been afraid to be near so much power.

The fact that they asked this question shows that the disciples did not yet understand Jesus to be the Son of God with all of God's authority at His command. They may have believed Him to be the Messiah in the sense that He had real power and was destined to be king over Israel, but they had not yet grasped who He truly was.

They were about to see yet another demonstration of His authority over demons. Once again, Jesus' power and the cost of following Him would inspire others to fear.