Why are you afraid-Mar 4: 35-40

Isaiah 41:10 “Do not fear [anything], for I am with you;Do not be afraid, for I am your God.I will strengthen you, be assured I will help you;I will certainly take hold of you with My righteous right hand [a hand of justice, of power, of victory, of salvation].’

Greetings in the precious Name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We are now in a lockdown period. The whole world is trembling over the havoc the virus Corona is creating. But our loving Lord gives us an assurance that we need not fear since He is with us. He gives us an assurance that He would take hold of us with His righteous right hand – a hand of justice, of power, of victory, of salvation.

I want you to turn your Bible with me to Mark 4:35 to 40. Of course this is a familiar passage and you would have meditated so many times this portion. But as we are going through the stress due to this virus Covid-19, I would like to share some thoughts on this passage as we are going to face the next lockdown.

Jesus was sleeping in the boat, because of the extreme of weariness and exhaustion which He suffered, after the hard day’s toil. He was fast asleep even though the boat was tossed by the waves, being greatly fatigued with the work of the day. It is a common experience of the fishermen. The Sea of Galilee is surrounded by small mountains and so it is a common that they experience this wind storm and the disciples are used to it. But suddenly they experience a heavy wind storm and fear sets in that they may drown. Now they wake up Jesus, crying, “Teacher, do You not care that we are about to die?”

In such a situation,

JESUS WAS FAST ASLEEP. Jesus teaches us to be calm even if our life boat is bombarded with heavy wind storm, even if we are tossed. He wants us to face the situations with a spirit of calmness. We have to train ourselves to be calm, to be still!  Psalm 46:10 says, “Be still and know (recognize, understand) that I am God.I will be exalted among the nations! I will be exalted in the earth.” When you lose your cool, your boat will be toppled and you will have to face lot of problems. So be still!

HE GOT UP AND [STERNLY] REBUKED THE WIND. Our God has authority over You cannot see wind, but the wind obeyed His voice! He has authority over Corona also. Do you believe? “For He spoke, and it was done;He commanded, and it stood fast.” Says Psalm 33:9. God has given us the authority to bind the virus in the Name of Jesus Christ. We have the authority to drive out sickness from our home! Do you believe?

THERE WAS [AT ONCE] A GREAT CALM [A PERFECT PEACEFULNESS]– After the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the disciples were meeting behind locked doors because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders. Suddenly, Jesus was standing there among them! “Peace be with you,” He said. Our Master is the One who brings peace to us, our family and our loved ones. Nothing can buy this peace, nobody could give you this peace, but only Christ can give you because He is the author of peace. Fear left the disciples in the boat and there was peace.

Dear Brother, Sister, you may be facing heavy wind blowing against you, against your family, God gives us a loving command “Fear not” which means “Be bold! And Meet the storm!” In Psalm 18:29, David says, “For by You I can crush a troop, and by my God I can leap over a wall.” Meet your challenge with the power of the Holy Spirit! He will take hold of you with His righteous right hand. “I have made you, and I will carry you; Be assured I will carry you and I will save you.” says the LORD (Isaiah 46:4)

Surrender yourself into this mighty hand and experience the joy throughout this month. God bless you.

Prayer: My loving Father, I surrender myself into Your mighty hands. Uphold me, my family so that we as a family may rejoice in You. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen