By Kevin Harris, pastor of the Illawarra Community Baptist Church in Wollongong, NSW
And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?
Mark 4:40
The Lord Jesus is on a boat on the Sea of Galilee with His disciples. A great storm whips up, and it is frightening! Waves aren’t just crashing against the side of the boat; the boat is filling up fast. Quicker than they can bail it out, we read that the ship ‘was now full.’
But the Lord Jesus is sleeping through the storm. Unruffled by the commotion, He is at peace.
But the soaked disciples are not! Not in the least! They awake Him with the words, ‘Master, carest thou not that we perish?’
I like Spurgeon’s comment: ‘Jesus always cares for us. Even though he seems to sleep, and allows our troubles to multiply, all is well.’
The next words out of His mouth are, ‘Peace, be still.’
The storm abruptly stops. Can you imagine going from a stormy gale to a calm, ripple-less sea in mere seconds?
It’s at this point that today’s verse appears.
Here our Saviour equates being ‘so fearful’ with having ‘no faith.’ Fear and faithlessness are companions. Doubt and worry are best of friends. Likewise confidence and trust walk hand in hand.
Father, in life’s storms, help me to remember Who is right by my side, and help me to fearlessly trust You. Fill me with confidence that, when the time is right, You will calm those storms with Your command, ‘Peace, be still.’ I ask this in the Name of the Lord Jesus, Amen.
This article was written by Kevin Harris Dapto pastor of Illawarra Community Baptist Church.