Lessons From Fear

"There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear" (1 John 4:18).

Perhaps you have noticed something through the course of this study, and that is how often the disciples were afraid. All through the Gospels, we find time and again the disciples in various situations, and time and again the Bible records them as being afraid.

What was it in these various situations that caused them to fear? Matt. 14:27; 17:6, 7; Mark 10:32; Luke 8:25; 24:37; John 6:19. What can we learn from their experiences?  

In all these situations, the disciples appear to be afraid of Jesus. Jesus continually assures them that they do not need to be afraid of Him. Jesus wants us to trust Him; not to be afraid of Him. He gave His life for us, so there is no need for us to be afraid of Him. (Alastair)

Read Mark 9:30-32. What made them fearful here? What important point can we take away from this example?  

Again, the disciples were afraid to ask Jesus what He meant when He told them that He would be killed. Jesus does not want us to be afraid to ask Him for clarification if we don’t understand something. He wants us to have a reason for our faith; blind faith is not what he asks of us. Blind faith can be very dangerous. (Alastair)

What is so sad about this case is that they were fearing the one thing that offered them the greatest hope they could possibly have: salvation through the atoning death of Jesus on their behalf. They feared what they did not understand; they feared what they did not want to hear. Had they understood what the Cross was all about, they would not have feared. Hence, it was their ignorance that kept them fearful.

As disciples, as followers of Christ, we should, of all people, have the least to fear. The same Jesus who could walk on water during a storm, who could bring healing to a paralytic, who could feed five thousand with just a few loaves of bread, is the same Jesus who revealed His love to us by dying on the cross as our substitute. Sure, sin is real, the devil is real, hell will be real, and we need to be aware of the dangers to our souls (Matt. 10:28), but in the end, as disciples, as long as we cling to the reality of God's love as revealed in Christ, we should learn to live within the hope and comfort of God's amazing love for, and grace toward, us.

 

The Leaven of the Pharisees

Read Matthew 16:1-12 and then answer the following questions:

1.      What evidence do we have that the leaders who came to Jesus were not sincere in their question? After all, what is wrong with having a sign from heaven? Is the Bible not full of signs from heaven? What point should we as disciples take from what is happening here? See earlier chapters in Matt.; see also Luke 16:29-31.    

The disciples had witnessed miracle after miracle, but they were still filled with unbelief. The leaders who came to Jesus perhaps would have done the same if Jesus would have shown them a "sign from heaven." Would we do likewise?

2.      Look carefully at Jesus' words to the Sadducees and the Pharisees. What is the principle behind the specific warning to them (Matt. 23:23)?   

I believe the principle is not to trust in your own good deeds, but allow the Holy Spirit to dictate your actions. The Sadducees and Pharisees did not trust in the amazing grace that Jesus grants us, so they were not willing to admit that they were lacking and broken. They considered themselves to be just fine. Jesus pointed them towards their need for deliverance. (Alastair)

    3. Read Jesus' words to the disciples in Matthew 16: 8-11. What point is Jesus making to them? Why do we find it so easy to do the same thing, that is, to forget the great things God has done before our eyes?

As I stated in a previous post, we have short memories. God brings us out of the gutter over and over again, but we still do not fully trust or obey his words. If we would only trust Him, I know that everything would turn out right. (Alastair)

What a contrast between the Bread of Life and the leaven of the Sadducees and the Pharisees, and yet how easy to get them confused. All disciples of Christ need to be aware that belief, or following traditions, or defending the faith are not always the same as being a disciple of Christ. How easy, once we get established, even comfortable, in what we believe, or in how we worship, or in how we practice our faith, to let these things become ends in and of themselves, instead of a means to an end. That end, of course, is to be a faithful disciple of Christ, doing His will and revealing His love and His character to the world.

Lessons at Sea (Continued)

If you think about it, the sea is a good place to learn lessons about discipleship. After all, though as humans we are totally dependent upon God for everything (see Job 12:10; Dan. 5:23; Acts 17:28), it is not so easy to forget it when you are out on the water, where what is beneath your feet will not hold you up but will swallow you instead. Perhaps that is why the Lord chose to use the sea to teach His disciples a few more lessons about faith, the key element for any successful discipleship.

Following a successful missionary tour (Mark 6:6-13), the feeding of the five thousand, and their first encounter on the lake, the disciples finally should have been catching on. The evening after the feeding of the five thousand, another storm overtook them on the lake, now without Jesus in the boat with them.

Read Matthew 14:22, 33 and Mark 6:45-52. What are the numerous mistakes the disciples made in these two accounts?

The disciples, like us, had seen the power of Jesus. Yet, they continued to be afraid and doubt “because their hearts were hard.” This is why we need to pray that Jesus will create in us a new heart, one that is not hard. We need to become as little children and believe what our Father says, without doubt and fear. I pray that God will give us all hearts of flesh to replace the stony ones. (Alastair)

Though one account omits the story of Peter walking on the water, one point both make is that those who witnessed what happened were duly impressed. Some openly called Jesus the Son of God; in Mark's account, they were amazed beyond measure about what they had experienced. It was one thing to be able to get the weather to obey Him, but to have the power to walk on water, especially during a storm? Truly they had been witnesses to the power of God in ways that few people have ever seen. Read Mark 6:51, 52. What point do you think Mark was making about faith and belief? What lessons might there be for us in that point?

Mark is reminding us that we have short memories and hard hearts. Jesus had just performed two miracles, and the disciples were amazed. Yet, a short time later, they were back to being afraid again. Am I the only one that has had a similar experience? Jesus works wonders in all of our lives, continuously answering our prayers; but we continuously fall into doubt. I am convinced that His grace is sufficient for us all because where we fall short, His grace much more abounds. Praise God! (Alastair)

Lessons at Sea

By the time of the events in Mark 4, the disciples had already been with Jesus for a while. How much they must have learned at the foot of the Master.

Read Mark 4:36-41. What is so revealing about their words to Him in verse 38? How often do we find ourselves having a similar response in frightful times?

I sometimes find myself wondering if Jesus really cares what happens to me when things are not going according to “my” plans. However; as my plans unravel and I find myself in a complete mess, Jesus is always there to pick up the broken pieces and love me back together again. Such was the case with the disciples in the boat. (Alastair)

It is so easy for us to do the same thing, to wonder, when tragedy and problems strike, if God cares at all. The irony, of course, is that Jesus was right there the whole time. He was the one who first told them to take the boat across to begin with. This storm did not take Him by surprise, and neither do our trials.

What significance (if any) can be found in the fact that the disciples, not the storm, woke Jesus?

Perhaps there is little significance to be found in the fact that the disciples woke Jesus. I am inclined to believe that they were simply demonstrating how sorely afraid they actually were. I am curious to see everyone’s comments regarding this question. (Alastair)

Notice the element of fear in the disciples all through the account. They feared the storm; and then, after the storm was calmed, they seemed to fear Jesus. The manifestation of such power was impressive, of course, but one would have thought by now that, after their time with Christ, they would have known that they had nothing to fear from Him. On the contrary, this power should have been a source of great hope and comfort to them, because by now they should have known the character of the One who possessed all that power. This account shows that these men still had a lot to learn about what it means to be a disciple of Christ.

When was the last time you wondered if the Lord cared about you and your situation, whatever it was? What lessons did you learn from that trial that you could use next time you face a trial or tragedy?

Sometimes, I find myself watching the wealthy; they seem not to have a care in the world. Then I ask God, “Why do so many wick people prosper while I am left to struggle?” Then I am comforted by His promises and example. Jesus was not rich or afraid. I can never recall the bible saying that Jesus was ever “afraid.” Even in the Gethsemane, His perfect love for the Father cast out all the fear that tempted Him. My prayer is that our perfect love for Jesus will cast out all of our fears. (Alastair)

More Lessons in Discipleship

Read for This Week's Study:

Matt. 14:22-33; Mark 4:36-41; 6:51, 52; Luke 8:25; 24:37; John 6:19.

Memory Text:

"But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid" (Matthew 14:27).

Jesus selected His disciples so that they could be with Him and could learn from Him. Apparently, they were not as sharp and quick-witted as one would expect. How much different are we? Some of us have been walking with God for several years, and we still do not understand fully what the demands of discipleship are. As in the natural world, so it is in the spiritual. Growth is essential for life. Every day should bring some growth in depth, width, or height. What preparation of soil and nutrients are you making to assure growth and success in discipleship? As I continue to grow in Christ, I understand that I can trust Him more. He always comes through for me! I know that I do not deserve the gracious mercy that He provides for me, but I must learn to accept and trust His love for me. As I except His love, it will "cast out all fear." (Alastair) This week's lesson will look at more examples from the Word of God that can help us understand what it means to be a disciple of Christ.

This Week at a Glance:

Why were the disciples of Christ often full of fear? What can we learn from Jesus' warnings about the leaven of the Pharisees? How do we respond to those who purposely close their hearts to our witness?

*Study this week's lesson to prepare for Sabbath, March 15.