He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” . . . Jesus said, “Do not fear, only believe.” – Mark 4:40; 5:36

In Mark 4:35-5:43 we are given three distinct stories that all tell us something of the sovereign power of Jesus and how people ordinarily respond to His strength. 4:35-41 show He is sovereign over storms, 5:1-20 show He is sovereign over demons, 5:21-34 show He is sovereign over sickness, and 5:35-43 show He is sovereign over death. Mark’s point, of course, in setting theses stories next to one another is to show that Jesus is in fact the very Son of God. These various displays of power all happen over the course of one day and the day concludes with 5:42 saying the people “were immediately overcome with amazement.” How about you? Does the sovereign strength of Jesus amaze you?¹

I think war soundtracks are the most appropriate sermon preparation music. Last week I was listening to the soundtrack from the movie The Gladiator while preparing for my sermon on this passage. There is a moment in the film where Maximus – the movie’s hero and protagonist –  is in the gladiator ring, he swiftly dispatches of a competitor, and then cries out “Are you not entertained? Is this not why you are here?” It was a display of strength that generated amusement from the crowd, which Maximus’ questions imply is the wrong response.

The sovereign strength of Christ is on full display in Mark 4:35-5:43 and how should we respond to it? The text says there are two right responses for those who behold the power of Christ.

First, see the sovereign strength of Jesus and respond with fear. The disciples see Jesus’ sovereignty over storms and seas and they were filled with mega-fear (4:41). The townspeople see the healed demoniac and the Jesus’ power over demons and they were afraid (5:15).

It’s quite fascinating to see that the disciples’ fear of the windstorm was exceeded by their fear at what Jesus had done. They ask in 4:41, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?” So, the presence of supernatural strength is even more terrifying than the most destructive of natural disasters. In this instance, God’s nearness in Jesus is not something reassuring but something profoundly unsettling, and even terrifying. Such a sense is entirely appropriate according to this text and the rest of Scripture. You should fear this God and Savior for nothing can stand against Him, nothing can rival Him, and nothing can compete with Him. Mark wants us to see that not only is such fear appropriate, but such fear ought to drive us to the second response . . .

Second, see the sovereign strength of Jesus and respond with faith. Fear the Lord and put your faith in Him, these are the responses to omnipotent power. In what does your faith lie? Looking normally consists of what our two eyes see and if we are to respond in faith to Jesus we need use the two eyes of faith in this text:

1. See the total inability of man. The disciples could do nothing to calm the waves; the people could do nothing to subdue the man possessed by Legion; doctors and money could do nothing to heal the woman’s disease; Jairus’ status as a synagogue ruler could do nothing to prevent or help his daughter from dying. Faith means seeing the total inability of man, and second . . .
2. See the total ability of Christ. With a word mega-calm comes over the waves (4:39); with a word demons depart (5:13); with a touch a woman is healed (5:34) and a daughter is raised to life (5:42). Behold your God who is able. Behold your Lord who is strong. “Do not fear, only believe.”

One of the universal realities of humanity’s fall into sin is that we have fears and phobias. What do you fear most? What doubts cripple your soul? In this text we find people in the first century suffering under fears that are still common today – fears of thunder and lightning, of spiritual oppression, of physical suffering, of the death of loved ones. The main point of these stories is for us to see that “faith in Jesus drives out fear.” Consider that our worldly fears come in areas where we believe ourselves to be sovereign, to be in control? If we have control, fear is a natural response because we might bungle it all up. But the reality is that Jesus is sovereign over everything. Respond to His control over all things with reverent fear and childlike faith, and rest in the glorious reality that faith in Jesus drives out fear.