He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and sea obey him?”

Mark 4:40-41 (ESV)

This verse has always baffled me. I’m sure that Jesus knew what he was doing when selecting his disciples, but it’s verses like this that make them look less than intelligent.

These are the same men who, up to this point in scripture, would have heard of Jesus’ baptism – and the voice of God saying, “You are my beloved Son.” They witnessed men being set free from demons. They saw Jesus touch people and they were healed. They’d been walking with him and listening to his parables and the explanations thereof. And yet, when Jesus calmed the storm, they were afraid and asked who he was.

With this in mind, I ask a question that has been presenting itself with increasing frequency – do we really believe Jesus is who he says he is and that he can do what he says he can do?

I’d like to say yes, but then where are the signs that Jesus said would follow us if we believe? And if we do happen to see miracles, why are we, like the disciples surprised and afraid?

So I ask again, do we really believe Jesus is who he says he is and that he can do what he says he can do?

Daily Bible reading: Numbers 7, Mark 4:21-41