You still have no faith?
Mark 4:35-41
By Ysrael De la Cruz
Most people claim to believe in God; but have you ever wondered how strong their faith is?
When we read the gospel accounts (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John), we see large crowds gathering around Jesus. Lots of people followed him; some believed him to be their expected Messiah. There were some who stopped following Jesus because they felt offended by his teachings. Perhaps, you have been a Christian for quite some time now; how solid is your faith in Jesus today? There are people who only follow Jesus when is convenient as long as they don’t have to sacrifice anything. Some follow until their faith is tested and they give up. Whatever trust you claim to have in Jesus, it will be tested to prove if your faith is truly genuine.

Jesus through the gospel of Mark.
In Mark 3:13-20 We are informed how Jesus appointed twelve of his followers and named them apostles so they could be with him. Jesus gave them authority to preach and cast out demons.
In chapter 4 we find Jesus once again teaching beside the sea and a large crowd listening to his teaching. He taught the people in parables and the same day, when evening came, he told his disciples to go across the lake. Mark 4:35-41 Here Jesus would show the disciples something else they did not know about him.
This incident is recorded by Matthew and Luke (Matt.8:23-27 // Luke 8:23-25)

The trip to the other side of the lake became dangerous.(37)
A great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat so that the boat was already filling. The boat was being battered by the wind and the waves.
Jesus was sleeping in the stern of the boat on a cushion. (Keep in mind, Jesus spent a whole day teaching, and it was evening; he must have been exhausted that he fell asleep on the journey across the lake).

This was no ordinary storm for the majority of the disciples were fishermen and they were familiar with this sea. They made a living fishing here. However, they feared the worst.
You know the disciples were terrified for they went and woke up Jesus.
Listen to the disciples’ panic (v.38) “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?”
How could you be asleep while we are all struggling to survive?
Sometimes people think God is asleep especially when they need him the most. It is as if he does not even care about the situation.
Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing? Don’t you care if we drown? (v.38)

Jesus woke up and rebuked the wind and said to the sea “Peace Be still! (v.39)
The wind ceased and the sea was calm.

Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith? (v.40)
When you are afraid, you show no faith and when you have faith fear is gone. Faith and fear cannot coexist, they don’t mix. They are the face of the same coin. When you have faith, fear is gone and when you are afraid, faith is gone.
Jesus challenged his disciples’ faith in the midst of the storm. Why are you so afraid? You still have no faith? (still do not believe?)

The faith of the disciples was based on the knowledge they had about Jesus. Here lies the reason why we must strive to know Jesus better, so our faith in him will increase. They knew Jesus was a great teacher, who could cast out demons and heal diseases. But they did not know Jesus had power over nature itself.

The disciples were filled with awe, fear after they just witnessed what Jesus did. (v.41)
“Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”
The disciples just discovered something they did not know about Jesus. He has authority over nature itself. Wind and the sea he commands them and they obey him. He is Lord of nature.
Your faith is based on what you know. Your faith in Jesus is based on how much you know him. The disciples heard Jesus teach and saw how he taught with authority; they saw Jesus heal people and cast out demons. They knew Jesus also had authority to forgive sins authority over the Sabbath day. They were familiar with this, but they did not know that the same Jesus is Lord of creation, he controls the elements of nature. Jewish people believed that only God has the power to control nature. The faith of the disciples got a boost since they found out something they did not know about Jesus. The more you know Jesus, the stronger your faith will be.

You and I, like the disciples will journey in this life and will face storms, severe storms to test our faith. What storms are you facing today? They are rocking you to the core, but do not panic, because the same Jesus who calmed the storm that day can do the same for you. He is stronger and more powerful than whatever you are facing today. He wants you to trust him even in the storm. Having Jesus in your life will have you face any storm courageously because you know that he is greater than any issues we could face in this life. Who is this? He is Jesus, Lord of all creation. Get to know him so your faith would be rock solid; get to know him so that you live fearless life.