Fear or Faith

“He replied, ‘You of little faith, why are you so afraid? ”
Matthew 8:26a (NIV)

Well my friends we have finished our time on the mountainside. Jesus had finished the message with a story about building on a rock solid foundation or a foundation of sand. The crowds had been amazed by the authority in which He taught. Are we amazed by that authority?

After spending so much time on the mountainside with Jesus and then reading what happens next – I have to wonder if that was one of his most “restful” times. On the way down the mountain Jesus heals a man with leprosy. When He arrives in Capernaum, a Roman officer asks for Jesus’ help for one of his young servants. Jesus applauds the faith the officer and heals his servant. Then when Jesus get to Peter’s house, Peter’s mother-in-law is sick, so He heals her too. Then the people just keep coming and coming. Jesus cast out the evil spirits and healed the sick all evening. It would seem that the crowds were getting to be a bit much so Jesus told His disciples to get the boat ready so we can cross to the other side of the lake. Even as He waited people were coming to Him asking him questions. Finally, the boat was ready, Jesus got aboard and they set off.

That’s where this week’s question comes in. As they were crossing the lake a sudden and violent storm hit the lake. The wind was terrible and waves were breaking over the sides of the boat. Jesus was sleeping as the storm raged. The disciples woke Him up shouting for Him to save them before the boat sank and they all drowned. I can almost see Jesus, rubbing His eyes, having a bit of a stretch and then asking them “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?”

Why indeed! First of all, some of the men on that boat worked on the water, surely they had faced storms on the lake before. Second of all, they had just witnessed all sorts of people getting healed as they came down the mountain and tried to have a quiet dinner. Even before the mountainside teaching they had already witnessed all sorts of miracles. So why so afraid?

It doesn’t appear that Jesus waited for them to answer, rather “He got up and rebuked the wind and waves, and suddenly there was a great calm” (Matthew 8:26b). I love that the disciples then asked one another a question. “Who is this man?... even the wind and waves obey Him” (Matthew 8:27)?

We humans tend to be a little dense and also quick to forget the things we have witnessed. What storms have you shouted for rescue from out of fear? How many times have you seen Jesus meet your needs in times of trouble and then forgotten what He did when the next storm hit? We all do it on occasion. But because we know He has the power to rebuke the wind and waves, or to calm us – we can choose – will it be fear or faith?

Let me know your thoughts. Know someone who might be encouraged by this – please share. I will be praying for you. Until next week – let your faith in Jesus conquer your fear.