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Questions of Jesus

Why Are You Afraid, O You Of Little Faith?

Scripture: Matthew 8: 23-27

I. You don’t have to be afraid because Jesus is God.

A. When Jesus steps into the boat with His disciples in Matthew 8:23, He does not particularly look like God. He looks very human. He sleeps through a storm because of exhaustion (vs. 24). But in their terror from the storm the disciples cried out for Jesus to save them. Jesus then says, “Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?” Jesus does not scold His disciples for disturbing Him with their prayers, but he scolds them for disturbing themselves with their fears. When you are with Jesus, you have no reason to be afraid.

B. Jesus rose up in the boat and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm (vs. 26). Jesus was in complete control of this storm. He spoke to the winds and the sea like a dog owner might speak to his barking dog. The disciples asked each other, “What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey him?” Jesus must also be God. God is described in Psalm 65:7-8 as the One who “who stills the roaring of the seas, the roaring of their waves, the tumult of the peoples, so that those who dwell at the ends of the earth are in awe at your signs.”

II. You don’t have to be afraid because Jesus is Savior.

A. If you are a careful reader of Matthew’s Gospel, you will notice right away who Matthew says that Jesus is. In Matthew 1:21-23 we read the words that an angel spoke to Joseph about the child that was to be born to Joseph’s fiancé Mary. Matthew 1:23 is a prophecy of Isaiah about Jesus. And the nickname given by Isaiah to Jesus is Immanuel. Matthew tells us that the name Immanuel means God with us. Jesus then is not only God. He is God with us. So, we do not have to be afraid.

B. Notice what else is said about Jesus’ identity in Matthew 1:21. Joseph was to give to this baby the name Jesus. Why? The name Jesus means the Lord saves. And Jesus came to save his people from their sins. Jesus is Savior. Whenever you get into a situation in which you need saving, Jesus will be there to save. So, in Matthew 8:25 the disciples say, “Save us, Lord; we are perishing.” They ask Jesus to save them. Lives are at risk. Unless Jesus saves them, they will drown. But Jesus saves them. The disciples did not have to be afraid because Jesus is Savior.

III. You don’t have to be afraid because Jesus silences evil.

A. In Matthew 8:26 to describe how Jesus rebuked the winds and the sea. The word rebuke means to sharply criticize someone because of their behavior. Why would Jesus rebuke a storm? A storm is not a person. But when Jesus casts out demons, do you know what word is frequently used to describe how Jesus silences evil? It is the word rebuked. Matthew 17:17-18: “And Jesus answered, ‘O faithless and twisted generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him here to me.’ And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him, and the boy was healed instantly.” It’s possible then that Jesus rebuked the storm because there was evil behind this storm just like there is evil behind demon possession. Why don’t we have to be afraid of Satan? Because Jesus is stronger than Satan. Jesus silences evil.

Application:
Put your faith in Jesus. Your faith will chase out your fear. Or your fear will chase out your faith.

Sources:
The Gospel of Matthew
Commentaries on Matthew by R.T. France, D.A. Carson and Craig Blomberg.

Sermon Discussion Questions

  1. How do we see the humanity of Jesus in this story in Matthew 8? And how do we see Jesus’ deity? What does God’s control over bodies of water at the Flood, at the Exodus, and at the Jordan River mean with regard to Jesus stilling the storm on the Lake of Galilee?
  2. How do we see the humanity of Jesus in this story in Matthew 8? And how do we see Jesus’ deity? What does God’s control over bodies of water at the Flood, at the Exodus, and at the Jordan River mean with regard to Jesus stilling the storm on the Lake of Galilee?
  3. How do we see the humanity of Jesus in this story in Matthew 8? And how do we see Jesus’ deity? What does God’s control over bodies of water at the Flood, at the Exodus, and at the Jordan River mean with regard to Jesus stilling the storm on the Lake of Galilee?