KJV Matthew 8:23 And when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him. 24 And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep. 25 And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish. 26 And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm. 27 But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!
The piggies run off the cliff.
KJV Mark 4:37 And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. 38 And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? 39 And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. 40 And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith? 41 And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?
The piggies run off the cliff.
1. We have plenty of reason to be fearful - the so-called Federal Reserve, wild spending sprees, the Baby Boomers are suddenly changing into Silver Sneakers, politics, ignoring and betraying the Bill of Rights, etc.
2. Luther said, "The opposite of fear is not courage, but faith."
3. We know but forget the divine nature of Christ, who can accomplish anything and is always helping us in all our needs.
4. Dwelling on fear only makes us more fearful, because we are very limited by our perspectives, some unnaturally bad predictions, others being good but not great, in the future but not yet soon enough.
5. The disciples in the storm knew too well that they faced drowning and that Jesus did not seem to care, which made them more fearful.
6. The answers are found in the Beatitudes, assurances of how blessed we are, not only in many kinds of abundance, but also in bearing the cross.
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