What fears have you encountered this week?
Fear permeates our society more than ever. Interestingly, fear manifests itself in others differently. Some will shrink back in isolation. Others will respond with anger and frustration. Some will even frantically add more to their plate fear. How we respond to fear reveals so much about what we fear.
Mark 6:45-52 records an instance when Jesus responds to the fears of the disciples. Coming off the miracle of feeding the five thousand in the prior section, Jesus sends the disciples ahead on a boat road while He goes to pray by Himself. The wind of the lake causes the disciples to begin strain in rowing.
The writer of Mark makes this statement in 6:48 “…Jesus intended to pass by them…”
Jesus walked on water in the middle of the storm. The storm became a moment for the disciples to have an epiphany of who Jesus was. Like many of us would have experienced, they responded in fear. Jesus then gets in the boat with the disciples.
Commentator Lamar Williamson makes this comment:
“Jesus reveals His divinity in walking on water and humanity by getting into the boat.”
— Interpretation Mark Commentary
Consider the fears you face from the storms in your life. You have concerns about reopening. You have stress at your job. You have worries about your kids. You have more questions and uncertainties.
Jesus in His divinity reminds you of His power to transform any circumstance, and His humanity reminds you that He gets in the boat with you in the storm.
Faith in Jesus does not entirely dismiss our fears. Faith stops us long enough to see Jesus is greater than our fears. So, we no longer have to be held captive by our fear.
Paul David Tripp said this:
“Jesus will take you places you did not choose to go so that He can produce in you what you could never achieve on your own.”
— Paul David Tripp
Often, like the disciples, Jesus sends us into the storms. When we encounter our fears, we have a new epiphany of Jesus in our lives. If you look back at times you grew the most, it most likely happened in situations that you would not choose for yourself. To some degree, we all find ourselves in that season right now.
So today, how will you respond to fear? How might Jesus move you from fear to faith today?
Check out a message on Mark 6:45-52 at the video below.
Photo by Pedro Gabriel Miziara on Unsplash