“Where is your faith?”

Read Luke 8:22-25

.

Luke now goes on to recount four stories about different kinds of miracles which Jesus did. In this first one, Jesus is seen to be the lord of nature and thus equal to God, for only God has the power to control the winds and the sea (24; Ps.89:9, 107:29). This is why the disciples responded with awe and amazement (25).

.

The story also emphasises the disciples’ lack of faith. As Jesus had led them into this situation (and was now sleeping through it), they felt badly let down and uncared for (24; Mt.8:25 adds, “Lord, save us”). In contrast, Jesus had faith that he (and they) were in God’s hands, and so there was nothing to fear. 

.

Faith and fear are opposite reactions (25; Mk.4:40). The most common command in the Bible is, “Do not fear” e.g. Ex.14:13; Lk.12:32. It’s not that God won’t let bad things happen to us; but faith believes that whatever happens God is in control of the situation. When the disciples realised the significance of this miracle their fear gave way to awe and wonder (25; cf. 5:8-9). There is a kind of fear that is necessary and which is in fact the foundation of faith i.e. the fear of God. When we fear God aright, we need not fear anything else (Lk.12:4-7; Is.8:13).