The Established Path of Discipleship

I was afraid. I was on a 26-foot motor whaleboat on my way back to my ship anchored in Naples harbor. After the boat left, the ship secured boating because of the weather conditions. Along with about 15-20 other sailors, we slowly returned to our ship in rough seas. Most of those sailors traveling with me were drunk, too busy hanging over the side, retching to realize our predicament. I was sober enough to know there was a distinct possibility we would not return to the ship. But return we did. It was one of the most harrowing experiences of my life.

So, I can identify with the sentiments of the disciples in Mark 4, who are in a boat in “a great windstorm” and exclaim, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing” (v. 38)? Jesus must have been a heavy sleeper because the disciples had to wake him up. How anyone can sleep with water breaking over the side of their boat is beyond me, but Jesus was sound asleep. The disciples, of course, mistook Jesus’ slumber as a lack of concern.

Yet, Jesus was concerned. “And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, ‘Peace! Be still!’ And the wind ceased, and there was great calm” (v. 39). Jesus could have angrily rebuked his disciples for waking him up. Considering everything Jesus had done up to this point in the narrative (i.e., healing the sick and driving out demons), anger would have been an appropriate response. Instead, Jesus calmly and gently asked them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith” (v. 40)? This is our savior. He is always concerned and compassionate toward those who follow him.  

The disciples’ response is instructive. “They were filled with great fear and said to one another, ‘Who is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him” (v. 41)? For the first time in their lives, they experienced the right kind of fear: a fear of God. If we are to fear rightly, we must have “the knowledge of God the marvelous Creator and the knowledge of God the merciful Redeemer in Christ.”[1] The disciples were in the boat with the marvelous Creator, who commanded the wind and waves, but later, they would see the merciful Redeemer crucified and resurrected.

I often fear the wrong things. The disciples were afraid of drowning in rough weather when they should have rested in awestruck, fearful wonder that they were on a boat ride with the one who created the sea. My list of fears has tossed and turned throughout my life, but one thing remained the same: Jesus’ response to my fear. In each misplaced fear, Jesus says, “Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?” And then I remember who he is. I remember that I have faith, a faith that he gave me. I remember he was present in this storm-tossed boat with me. Then I was able to fear aright. I was able to experience a fear that drew me to God rather than away from him. That fear brought and continues to bring me peace and rest amid a stormy life.

     [1] Michael Reeves, Rejoice and Tremble: The Surprising Good News of the Fear of the Lord (Wheaton: Crossway, 2021), 104.