Why Are You Afraid?

Yesterday I listened to a talk given by Malcolm Smith and
I want to share some tidbits with you. You will find the
story in Mark 4:35-40. What a story!

After a very busy day Jesus says 'Let us go to the other
side.'  So a few boats filled with exhausted disciples, for
it had been a very busy day, set out at dusk. Jesus goes to
the back of the boat and immediately falls into a deep sleep.
Meanwhile a terrible wind storm catches these seasoned
fishermen by surprise, filling their little boats with water.
They are terrified. They know they are about to drown. How
is the storm impacting Jesus? Not at all. He is as relaxed as
a poached egg and probably dreaming about surf, sand, and
sun. They wake him, probably Peter woke him because the
words sound like Peter:

Shake, shake, shake,
'Master, don't you care that we are perishing?' 

Peter treats Jesus as if Jesus is well aware of the storm but
doesn't care about the danger his men are in, that He is holding
out on them, that Jesus doesn't care for them after all. Just
maybe this doubt has been hanging around them and the storm
brings it to the surface.

Jesus awakes, stands up and says:
'Peace be Still.' The wind ceases, the sound ceases. Stillness
        prevails.
'Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?

How do the disciples respond? 'They were filled with great
fear and said to each other, '"Who is this, that even the wind 
and the waves obey him?'"

We will continue this story tomorrow.

In the meantime, if you have a free 55 minutes, check out
the words of Malcolm Smith on this topic of fear, doubt,
and unbelief.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xTVnxQSH_h8