Category Archives: Mark

I fear having unbelief take root in my heart. I don’t want to doubt God. So I’m particularly interested in the next Sunday School lesson in the sequence from Christian Light Publications.

The title of this post is the title of that lesson. The text of the passage is Mark 6:1-13. I read it this morning and forthwith present some excerpts that caught my attention.

His disciples follow him.

From whence hath this man these things?

A prophet is not without honour, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house.

And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them.

And he marvelled because of their unbelief.

And they went out, and preached that men should repent.

What effect do my doubts and unbelief have on my own prayers?

Am I enough of a disciple to do what disciples do — follow the Master?

Those “few sick folk” Jesus healed — amidst the surrounding swamp of unbelief, from where did their faith come?

I am also impressed by Jesus’ faithfulness in teaching, despite the dishonor and unbelief.

So earlier this morning I was reading over the Scripture text for this morning’s Sunday School lesson.

I came to verses 37 and 38 (naturally, since the passage is Mark 4:26-41):

And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.

And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow; and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?

What should have they done?

What do you think you would have done?

More importantly, what did Jesus want them to do?

Not what they did. That’s quite obvious from what He said to them (v. 40) after He calmed the storm:

And he said unto them,
Why are ye so fearful?
how is that ye have no faith?

Frankly, I don’t know what they were supposed to do.

I mean…yeah, I know they were supposed to be full of faith and without fear.

But in practical terms, what were they supposed to do?

And when my “boat” is being pounded by the wind and filled by the waves, what am I to do?