WHY ARE YOU AFRAID?

He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” (Mark 4:40)

Jesus walked with 12 disciples from the start of His ministry until the very day He disappeared up in the clouds. But even after having these 12 fellows for all that time, they still could not apprehend His identity. There is an evening they were crossing to the country of Gerasenes after a wonderful time of ministry beside the sea, and a storm caught up with them. The wind almost blew up their boat and made the disciples so scared they had to wake Jesus up. After rebuking the wind, there is a question He asked them. (Mark 4:40).

“Why are you afraid?”

This question explains a lot about His perception towards the disciples. Jesus expected them to behave in such a way as not to show fear amidst the storm. Even though He calmed down the wind, He was surprised that the dudes were afraid. Sometimes when I’m passing through type a storm I imagine how Jesus would be surprised that I’m afraid. I mean, Jesus completely doesn’t expect us to be scared by life challenges.

“Have you no faith?”

Faith is a tool Jesus expected His disciples to have. Now look at this interesting twist. After the wind calmed and everything went back to normal, the disciples, filled with awe, asked themselves;

“Who then is this,”

That statement is so hilarious that I sometimes want to laugh at the poor disciples. Had they been walking around with a stranger? They didn’t know who Jesus was. It is so dangerous if a Christian fails to fathom the identity of Jesus. You see, it was not that the disciples lacked faith, they didn’t know Jesus in the first place. You can walk with Jesus for as long as you want. But if you don’t know Him it will not make sense. Later in a different setting (Matthew 16:15), Jesus would ask them.

“Who do you say I am?”

Peter quickly shoots his answer.

“You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”

I don’t know if the other disciples were given an opportunity to give their answers, but Jesus, responding to Peter’s answer, declared him a blessed person and vowed to build the church upon him.

Knowing who Jesus is, it all starts there.