Mark 4:40-41
Fear
can be a very powerful force. It can send us scurrying under tables, or out
doors and windows. Fear can make us climb trees or stand on chairs. Fear can immobilize
us, causing us to sit motionless and detached from the surroundings. This kind
of fear can save our lives by keeping us from running into a burning building
or into a flurry of gunfire. This kind of fear is part of our design. This kind
of fear marks us as creatures made in God’s image who recognize our weakness
and inabilities. To put it another way, this kind of fear acknowledges God as
the only one who has all the power ever needed to fully protect.
There
is another kind of fear that keeps us from doing some important things. This is
a cowardly fear, one that is frightened by a small kitten or a day old puppy. It
keeps us from stepping outside into fresh air or from touching doorknobs. It
keeps us frozen in the past rather than being able to move into our future.
The
disciples find themselves in the middle of a life-threatening situation in the
boat. They know they could die. They have done everything they know how to do
and everything has failed to make them feel safe. They have no control over the
storm, and the storm is winning the battle.
Immediately
after calming the storm with His commands, Jesus addresses His disciples. Jesus
asks them about their fears. He connects their fears to their faith in Him. They
were afraid because they didn’t trust Him to care about them. Jesus had
demonstrated His care and His power to do what needed to be done on so many
occasions, that they should have know He would take care of them at that
moment. Their accusing reproach hit at their inner attitude. They still didn’t
think Jesus cared about their safety.
This
must have stung the disciples. They were following Jesus, having left
everything behind. They were willing to get in the boat and travel at night
across the lake without the Weather Channel’s updates. And yet this kind of
fear indicated a lack of faith in Jesus’ ability to keep them safe. Jesus tells
them they need to exercise their faith more. He says this by asking about their
fear. This kind of fear and faith in Him don’t mix. The disciples can’t have
them both.
When
Jesus calms the storm they switch from a fear that immobilizes to a fear that
recognizes the power Jesus has over the storm. The disciples are cowardly
toward the storm, but now they are terrified by Jesus’ authority over the
storm. They know something is very different about Jesus, but they still have
not put their fingers on the reason for the difference. They still don’t
understand that Jesus is the Messiah, God in the flesh.
We
would have the same reaction to Jesus today if we were in that boat with Him.
We would know something was different, but not necessarily get all the
conclusions correct. Miracles don’t prove Jesus’ identity. Only His death,
resurrection and ascension put the final exclamation point on Jesus’ mission
and message. Then they belief and their fear disappears. Prison and death don’t
stand in their way.