51 Then He got into the boat with them, and the wind stopped; and they were utterly astonished, 52 for they had not gained any insight from the incident of the loaves, but their hearts were hardened.
Message: The Right Kind of Fear
Time: Mark's personal connection with Peter gave him the source material for this book. This book was composed probably between AD 57 and AD 59. It's a book that is on the move, leading to the cross. 39 times is the word 'immediately' used. Mark reveals Jesus as God's servant, reaching into the lives of people and effecting physical and circumstantial change.
What the Lord is Saying: What scares me the most? I think prior to it happening, the biggest fear I have is pain and experiencing intense pain in my body. Dying a very painful death, like getting shot or some part of my body mutilated or cut off. People will say public speaking is a big fear. It isn't a fear and yet when I am placed in that situation, like at the front of city council my words get jumbled. I am not scared but maybe scared of saying something wrong. I think I might also have a fear of not being well received or valued or appreciated because in those moments is when temptation creeps in. I fear those close to me ending up in hell. I fear that hell is real and a horrible place and I have a fear that a family member might end up there. I think there is a fear of dying as I think that is normal. And a fear of being deceased and what that will mean. Even as I read, pray, study and trust in these Words, there is still fear that they are not true, though I think that fear is a small percentage I think it is still real. But there isn't a fear that I have wasted my life in believing in something not real because all of what I am doing with this faith and all of its experiences is the right way to live.
I've studied this passage before. Preceding this event of the disciples being sent by Jesus on a boat ride is the feeding of 5,000 in which Jesus provides food, provides people what they want and need. Jesus is in this business, providing. God is in this business - providing. God bestows His gifts on us continually and we receive what we need and sometimes get what we want.
After this miracle and the disciples being with him He was ready to return to praying. In verse 45 it says "He made His disciples get into the boat." He wanted to be alone and he wanted them to get to the other side of this lake or sea. He obviously knew a storm was coming but he wants his disciples to experience the storm and hopefully navigate it. After praying He takes a walk because He is about His father's business and following praying He is walking.
In the boat it does not say the disciples were afraid of the weather. It does say they were "straining at the oars, for the wind was against them" but what these disciples feared was Jesus walking, on the sea, and appearing like a ghost. Maybe it is understood they are fearful of the wind or maybe that difficulty and then Jesus looking like a ghost produced fear.
1st lesson from the writer of this article is "do not fear what Jesus is doing." In life there will be obstacles and things that occur to us that we don't like. Trust God through them. Like my friend Bobby did when he experienced all of that cancer in his 40s and had numerous surgeries. He trusted God through them despite the hard situations. Not sure he knows why yet he went through them. But whatever life it, God can be trusted.
2nd lesson is fearing the Lord is the right fear to have. In some ways this is the same lesson as the first lesson. And for me the fear is uncomfortable situations and how averse we are of being uncomfortable.
I must admit this reading, this article, doesn't give me the meaning of what it means to fear God. I found another article. First, fear is needed. Pharaoh brought disaster on his nation because he did not fear God (Exodus 9:29-31). Fear is something that God wants from us. We need to fear. Jesus said in Matthew 10:28, "Fear only God." So in order to be a true follower of God, in Christ, fear is needed.
From this articles is the recognition that if we fear anything it must be God. Fearing the world or thinking that disasters, wars are what we fear is not the right fear. The fear I need to have is fear of God who created all, ordains all, so if we fear, we are to fear Him. And perhaps fear also teaches us to trust and serve others.
The key here I think is this article starts with idea of being scared or having terror. This is one definition of fear. But the other definition is extreme respect and awe. It is the extreme recognition that God is over all. Proverbs 9:10 says, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom." To be wise, to want this, to walk in this begins with the right view towards God. We need to have this awe and respect for God. This is what I want often from employees, respect for me and others.
Maybe that is where I will end this, with the idea of respect. I respect God because he is authority in my life and I need to have a reverential respect for His authority to the point that life is defined by what pleases Him. It is to know my place, that I am a man and He is God, the creator. And out of this respect, I can serve Him. I can be respectful in my speech toward Him.
Prayer: Lord, thank you for helping me prioritize time with you each day, to be trained by your words, Lord. Thank you for the life lesson of having the fear of the lord. continue to help to find this in my wife. Help me to show respect to those that are over me. I pray that this respect would motivate me to serve others, and not simply be self focused. Maybe Lord today that is my big lesson from this that respect and doesn’t mean a question, but rather respect those over me, and then return serve those alongside me and over me. That the reason I better myself and improve myself continually, it’s not simply to benefit myself, but to benefit others. Perhaps that’s my reminder today in my daily reminder.
Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's.
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