Questions Jesus Asked: Why Are You So Afraid?

Scripture: Mark 4:35–41

1. Storms Can Come Even When We're Obedient

Mark 4:35–37

* Jesus instructed the disciples to cross to the other side.

* They were following Jesus, yet a powerful storm still came.

* Storms aren't always the result of disobedience.

* Following God doesn't mean life will always be easy or free from difficulty.

Key thought: Sometimes we encounter storms not because we're running from God, but because we're following Him.

Transition: The storm outside the boat soon became a storm inside the disciples.

2. When the Storm Outside Creates a Storm Inside

Mark 4:37–38

* These disciples included experienced fishermen who knew the Sea of Galilee.

* They had likely encountered storms before, but this one overwhelmed them.

* Their external circumstances produced internal panic, fear, and chaos.

* They cried out to Jesus: "Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?"

Key thought: Fear can cause us to question not only our circumstances but also God's character.

3. Fear Makes Us Question Whether God Cares

Mark 4:38

"Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?"

* Fear can make us interpret God's silence as His absence.

* When we don't understand what God is doing, we may assume He doesn't care.

* Jesus was in the boat, even when the disciples felt overwhelmed.

* God's presence isn't dependent on our ability to recognize or understand His activity.

Key thought: Just because you can't see what God is doing doesn't mean God is absent.

4. "Why Are You So Afraid?"

Mark 4:39–40

* Jesus calmed the storm with His authority.

* Then He asked the disciples why they were afraid.

* He wasn't simply asking why they were frightened by the weather.

* He was confronting the condition of their hearts and their lack of faith.

* The question invites us to consider what we believe about Jesus when life becomes frightening.

Key thought: The question isn't just, "How big is the storm?" but, "What do I believe about Jesus in the middle of it?"

5. Faith in the One Who Is Greater Than the Storm

Mark 4:40–41

* Faith isn't pretending the storm doesn't exist.

* Faith is trusting that Jesus is present and greater than the storm.

* Sometimes Jesus calms the storm around us.

* Other times, He works in us and gives us peace while the storm continues.

* We often love this story because Jesus changes the circumstances, but God can also change our fear in the midst of circumstances.

Key thought: Jesus doesn't always calm the storm the way we want, but we can trust Him to be with us in it.