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Church of the Nazarene Harrisonburg
Questions Jesus Asked: “Why Are You So Afraid?”
Do you know Him? Do you obey Him? Do you need Him? Do you trust Him?
Today we continue in our 4-part teaching series “Questions Jesus Asked”
Often, we are quite content to ask questions of Jesus. Who are you? Where are you? Do you hear me? How could you let that happen? What do you want me to do?
We often ask questions of Jesus, but do we pause to hear the questions he asks of us?
Today we hear Jesus ask “Why are you so afraid?”
Mark 4:35-40
That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”
-In the moment, Jesus’ question seems ridiculous: “Why are the disciples afraid?! Because they almost drowned!”
-Jesus asks a follow-up question, which helps us understand what He is really after: “Do you still have no faith?”
-The disciples had seen Jesus do remarkable things: cast out demons, heal a paralyzed man. And still they do not have faith.
-Jesus is challenging their lack of faith in His identity.
-Jesus is challenging their lack of faith in His presence.
Do you know Him? (“Who do you say that I am?”
Do you obey Him? (“Why do you call me, Lord, Lord, and not do what I say?”)
Do you need Him? (“Do you want to get well?”)
Do you trust Him? (“Why are you so afraid?”)
Trust that He is who He says He is.
-Trust that His promises are true (2 Corinthians 1:20).
-Trust that He has already paid the price for your sin (Galatians 3:13-15).
-Trust that the pain and brokenness you are experiencing matter to Him (Psalm 147:3).
-He cares for you, and He demonstrated His love for you by dying on a cross for your sins (1 Peter 5:7)
Trust that He is with you.
-Just as we can trust that He keeps His promises, we can also trust that He is with us (Isaiah 41:10).
-He gives us the gift of His Spirit, so we can experience His presence today no matter what (John 16:7).
Other Verses for Study & Reflection:
Isaiah 41:10
2 Timothy 1:7
1 John 4:18
Psalm 34:4
Joshua 1:9