Drawing by Albert Pinkham Ryder (1890). Photograph taken by Sithsonian Open Access https://www.si.edu/openaccessen Creative Commons Namensnennung 4.0 International Lizenz.
“And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith?” (Matthew 8:26a/KJV).
The disciples were in a boat together with Jesus on the Sea of Galilee. Due to sudden, strong winds there were dangerous waves on that lake.
The disciples were fortunate to have Jesus with them in that boat. They did the right thing in waking him up and asking him for help.
Those who do remember these bible stories will know that Jesus then did rebuke the wind and the waves. We read: “and there was a great calm.” (Verse 26c/KJV).
Currently on this site I am dealing with “faith”. Faith in 1 Corinthians 13:7b is described as an aspect of the kind of love Christians are to pursue: Love “believeth all things”.
As they called on him, Jesus told his disciples, they were lacking in faith. Fortunate is whoever is close enough to Jesus to hear him say these words: “Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith?”
First of all we need to have faith to believe that Jesus would forgive us our sins. We need this forgiveness and new life from Jesus because one day God will righteously judge all of us.
What If?
You may say: But what if some great difficulties should arise that make me lose that faith? A small anecdote from the life of Corrie ten Boom has come to my mind.
Corrie was talking to her father. She was fearful lest in some difficult situation she might deny Jesus.
Her father asked her: When you travel by train to this or that place, when will I give you the ticket? – Corrie answered he would give it to her just before the journey begins. Her father said to her, God would be doing just that. He would be giving her the necessary strength to be faithful just in time when needed.
You get to read this post two days before Good Friday. This is the time when we also remember how Peter three times said he did not know Jesus. He denied to have been one of Jesus’ disciples.
Then he heard the rooster crow. Peter remembered the Lord’s words. He went out and he wept bitterly. No matter in what way we might fail being faithful to God, as long as we will regret this and return to the Lord, there is hope for us.
On Good Friday we remember that Jesus has carried all our sins and failures on that cross at Calvary. He took upon himself the punishment we would have deserved.
As we seek to learn faith and love, the cross of Jesus is the right place for us to go. Here, where Jesus has carried our sins, we can receive any blessings of new life in Jesus!
Reread the Stories Mentioned
The Calming of the Storm Matthew 8:23-27
Jesus told Peter he would deny him Matthew 26:31-35
Peter denying Jesus Matthew 26:69-75
To view my other posts on the second phrase in 1 Corinthians 13:7 check out my categories. For future posts follow my blog!
