top of page
Search

Crying Out When We Are Afraid

Today, we will look at the second storm in the New Testament to this account we will look at this storm from the different gospels, and by doing so we will see a few details that we may otherwise miss.


Take a moment and read Matthew 14:22-33,

Mark 6:45-52, & John 6:16-21


In Matthew, we see Jesus once again put the disciples into a boat to go to the other side, but this time Jesus stays behind to send off the multitudes of people that were gathered.


And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away. Matthew 14:22


In the middle of the evening the wind had picked up and here comes another storm, but this time Jesus is watching them from the mountain. He watches them toiling and fighting the waves but stays there till the fourth watch of the night (3-6 a.m.).


At this time, Jesus begins to walk out on the water. Now, when the disciples saw Jesus they did not know that it was Him and they became afraid and started crying out from their fear.


(Here is where we will look at a small detail Mark shares about that night.)


And he saw them toiling in rowing; for the wind was contrary unto them: and about the fourth watch of the night he cometh unto them, walking upon the sea, and would have passed by them. Mark 6:48


Jesus was not walking to the disciples on the water! He had seen them toiling, and rowing. Jesus saw that the wind was contrary. Yet, He was crossing over to where He had told them to go.


It is only when He hears His disciples cry out in fear that He reveals that it is Him and goes to them revealing who He is and telling them to be of good cheer.


With this thought in mind, I wonder how many times when we have been afraid toiling in a storm, rowing as the waves beat against us, that Jesus was just waiting for us to cry out to Him!?!?


As for me, I will call upon God; And the LORD shall save me. Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: And he shall hear my voice. Psalm 55:16‭-‬17


The disciples, especially the ones who were fishermen, were accustomed to the storms and fighting the waves but to add a Spirit walking on water was too much and made them cry out!


Jesus was not there to make them afraid. He was simply passing by but when they cried out in fear He spoke good cheer to them and revealed Himself to calm their hearts.


For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7


The Bible teaches us that God has not given us a spirit of fear, so when we become afraid it is not of Him. The Lord will calm our fears when we cry out to Him.


Just think, if the disciples would have cried out at the beginning of the storm, Jesus may have come before they were afraid.


We also learn that Jesus revealing Himself to the disciples did not stop the storm! The wind continued to be contrary and the waves continued to crash against the boat but when they heard Jesus speak to them they knew from before the master of the sea was now with them. It meant they weren't alone in the storm anymore and neither are we. When we call out to our Savior He hears and He is with us through it all.



Comments


bottom of page