polaroidcalmJesus was bringing a boatload of love and compassion to that side of the Galilee, and 1 John 4:18 tells us that “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment.”

Love was on His way to cast out fear, therefore, “legion” had to do everything possible to try and stop Jesus and His men. I don’t doubt that all 6,000 devils were zeroed in on that boat that night.

Now obviously, “legion” did not expect to be able to stop the anointed Son of God. There’s no way they could have drowned Jesus. But they could make a play for the whole boatload and hope to at least take out a few disciples. And that’s exactly what they set out to do, even to the point of trying to divide the disciples from Jesus through fear and offense. After all, a house divided against itself will fall. (Luke 11:17)

In Mark 4:38, the disciples protested, “Master, carest thou not that we perish?” They feared for their safety and thought Jesus didn’t care. But Jesus was resting in the fact that His Father had instructed Him to go to the “other side” of the Galilee. Hebrews 4 tells us that faith rests. The disciples could have done the same thing. Peter could have stood up and declared, “The Master told us we’re going to the other side so we’re going to the other side, and no storm is going to keep us from getting there. Peace, be still!”

Instead, they got caught up in the danger of their circumstances. They allowed themselves to be tossed about by every wave of fear. And then, when they finally did turn to the Master, He was asleep, resting in faith. But they mistook His rest as irresponsibility. They must have thought He should have joined them in being fearful and worrying.

Before it was over though, Jesus stood up and dealt with the storm. Then He addressed their fear and their lack of faith.

The City of Faith
In contrast to Decapolis, an area of fear, there was a coastal region over which I believe there was a stronghold of faith. We read about it in Mark 5:21-24.

And when Jesus was passed over again by ship unto the other side, much people gathered unto him: and he was nigh unto the sea. And, behold, there cometh one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name; and when he saw him, he fell at his feet, and besought him greatly, saying, My little daughter lieth at the point of death: I pray thee, come and lay thy hands on her, that she may be healed; and she shall live. And Jesus went with him; and much people followed him, and thronged him.

Again, Jesus had no sooner stepped out of the boat and onto the land, than a man was there to meet Him. This time, however, the man who met Jesus at the shore was not a man dominated and driven by fear. Rather, he was a man dominated and driven by faith. That man was Jairus, ruler of the synagogue.

Notice, too, that on the journey to this side of the Sea of Galilee, there was no storm. The atmosphere was completely different—there was a spirit of faith in this region. Jesus was actually welcomed instead of being asked to leave.

And the fact that Jairus welcomed Jesus and invited Him to his home was even more significant from the standpoint that Jairus was an important public figure. He was a leader, a pastor, and president of the synagogue. He was a man of great wealth and position in the community. Everyone knew him. And all eyes were sure to be on him—especially when he fell on his face before Jesus while “much people” were around. And the truth was, Jairus could have lost everything by simply associating with Jesus.

However, Jairus was a man of faith. Had he been a man of fear, he never would have fallen down in front of Jesus in such a public display. Had he been a man of fear, there probably would not have been any other open display of faith that day. And by that, I’m referring to the woman with the issue of blood who got healed when Jesus stopped and told her, “Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.” (Mark 5:34)

Again, faith was out there on the road that day, indicating there was an atmosphere of faith in that place, not fear and doubt. In fact, when someone from Jairus’ house came with the news that his daughter had died, Jesus turned to Jairus and said, “Fear not: believe only, and she shall be made whole.” (Luke 8:50)

In other words, the spirit of fear was trying to push its way into Jairus’ mind, will, and emotions. It was trying to gather up like a storm cloud of darkness and quench his faith. But Jesus commanded him to remain in that place of faith, and that’s exactly what Jairus did. And in the end, his daughter was raised up.

Jesus could only perform miracles where there was faith—an atmosphere and a spirit of faith. And as a man of God, Jairus’ spirit of faith had great influence over that region.

This is the same principle we see at work when Adam and Eve sinned against God in the Garden of Eden. Fear caused them to run from God instead of to Him. In fact, fear will always separate us from God. Why? Because fear is not of God, and fear and God never go together.

Deuteronomy 28:66 tells us that fear is under the curse. But Galatians 3:13 and Hebrews 2:14-15 assure us that we’ve been delivered from that curse of fear through the blood of Jesus—the same as we have been delivered from sickness, lack, and hell itself.

There’s no denying we live in a fear-based world but we can and must resist fear. It’s not enough just to be in the boat with Jesus. We have to resist every wave of fear that would come crashing against us. Jesus gave us the power. He gave us the authority. Now, it’s up to us.

So rest in faith by believing the love. (1 John 4:16-18) And when you have to, stand up in your boat and declare—Peace, be still!



Copyright © Kenneth Copeland Ministries
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