Who do you say that I am? This question was pointedly asked of the apostles by the Lord Jesus. These were the same apostles whose acts are recorded in Mark 4:35-41 (TPT).

That same day, after it grew dark, Jesus said to his disciples, “Let’s cross over to the other side of the lake.” Leaving the crowd behind, the disciples got into the boat in which Jesus was already sitting, and they took him with them. Other boats sailed with them. Suddenly, as they were crossing the lake, a ferocious storm arose, with violent winds and waves that were crashing into the boat until it was nearly swamped. [This gale of wind and ferocious tempest was demonic in nature, as Jesus was about to confront a powerful principality on the other side of the lake. (See Mark 5:1–20.) Jesus would not have rebuked the storm if it was from God. The devil knew that if Jesus crossed to the other side, he would cast out the demon horde that had long terrorized the entire region.] But Jesus was calmly sleeping in the stern, resting on a cushion. So they shook him awake, saying, “Teacher, don’t you even care that we are all about to die!” Fully awake, he rebuked the storm and shouted to the sea, “Hush! Be still!” [In Aramaic, the language Jesus spoke, it is “Peace. Submit to the will of God!”] All at once the wind stopped howling and the water became perfectly calm. Then he turned to his disciples and said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Haven’t you learned to trust yet?” But they were overwhelmed with fear and awe and said to one another, “Who is this man who has such authority that even the wind and waves obey him?”  Mark 4:35-41 (TPT)

What is amiss between the confession of Matthew 16:15-17 and Mark 4:35-41? Do we truly know God? The Hebrew writer wrote in Hebrews 11:6b (TPT)—Anyone who approaches God must believe “knowing that he is real and that he rewards the faith of those who passionately seek him.”

A head knowledge is unprofitable in our walk with God, for believing with the heart must align with confession with the mouth to receive full and complete salvation! (Romans 10:10). Why did the disciples collapse? Let us beware lest we fail in our confidence in the Lord just as these fearful men failed. We may have spoken of our safety in Him in fair weather, but in stormy weather, when the heavy billows thunder upon us we must hold firmly to the fact that He cannot fail.

Rather than get to question His care, let us remember 1 Peter 5:7 (AMPC)—Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully…even when we think He is sleeping!!! He never sleeps neither does He slumber. Shalom.

Pastor Afolabi Oladele