You Are As the Son

Mark 4:35-40 That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” 36 Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. 37 A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. 38 Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don't you care if we drown?” 39 He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. 40 He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”
 
HOW often have you asked Jesus, “Lord, don't you care if I drown?” When God seems to be sleeping on a cushion while the winds of frustration, doubt, worry or pain are threatening to sink you, you want to know, don’t you? How has Jesus answered you?
   Perhaps he’s answered as he did the disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” The disciples probably didn’t like his answer. Did he ridicule them for their fearful hearts?
   The Teacher used the raging winds and the swamped boat to teach the Twelve two faith-growing lessons: They need to remember who he is. They need to remember who they are.
   He showed them who he is. He is the merciful Son of God, who has authority over all nature to care for those he loves.
   His action also reminded them who they are. To this point in their relationship with Jesus, the disciples had seen Jesus do wondrous signs only God could do. But when they asked, “Don’t you care?” they rejected the essential reason for Jesus’ ministry. Read carefully Paul’s teaching on that reason in Galatians 4:4-7 But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, 5 to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons. 6 Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.” 7 So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir.
   Now, in our world today, there is great objection to the use of “sons” to talk of all people. But Paul and the Holy Spirit are not favoring males. The word “sons” here means that everyone who has faith in Jesus has the same status before the Father as the Son of God has! In the most amazing miracle of all, the Spirit of the Son has come into your heart. This grants us the privilege to call to God with the personal, “Abba, Father”. Sonship also means we have the same access to the Father as Jesus does. How deeply God blesses you and keeps you as his own!
   Jesus’ question, “Have you no faith?” urged the disciples to remember what he had done to restore bodies and to cast out demons. He pointed them to their faith, so they would trust he would care for them on the boat at that moment and for eternity.
   By faith, the Lord has granted this knowledge to you. Your faith must be your strength that tightens your grip on the Lord’s salvation. Know the Savior is with you to calm your fears. Trust his care to guide you safely into his home.
   Our next lesson will remind us how we respond to being sons of God.