No Fear

23 Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. 24 Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. 25 The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!”
26 He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.

Matthew 8:23-26

Have you had a near death experience? I’ve had one or two. Well, I don’t know how close I was to actual death but it certainly felt like it was close. I used to think every time I got into a plane I was going to die.

You can sympathise with the disciples. Go and YouTube Sea of Galilee storms. Not for the faint of heart in a modern vessel let alone a timber tub in the first century. But why didn’t they need to be afraid? Because God wouldn’t let them die?

Well, I wonder if it’s just a bit more complicated or maybe just interesting than that.

It could be for two reasons. Firstly, one that is a bit unique to the disciples. Jesus has been sent by God for a purpose. It’s to come and die on a cross at the hands of His people. Why are they worried about a storm? It’s not Jesus’ time yet and therefore not theirs either.

But there’s another possibility closer to home. For Jesus’ disciples, then and now, we don’t need to fear death. If the storm should take us. If the plane should crash. If the heart should attack. We don’t need to fear. Because in faith we trust that we will be safe.

Today:

• Have you had a near death experience? How did you feel?
• Do you worry about death? Why/why not?
• Reflect on what we have to look forward to after death.

Pray:

• Praise the Father that He does not fear.
• Give thanks for Jesus who faced death for us.
• Ask God for His Holy Spirit to help you and others have faith in the face of death.