On that day, when evening had come, [Jesus] said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him. And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?” (Mark 4:35-41 ESV).

Although we are not told explicitly that the disciples were afraid during the storm on the lake, their actions tell us something. They woke Jesus, asking, “Don’t you care that we are perishing?” Could they really wonder whether Jesus cared?! But their response to his care is what really astounds us as readers of this event. After calming the storm in their midst we read, they “were filled with great fear.” That was an appropriate response. They were at the very beginning of starting to “get it.”

The Proverbs were starting to take shape in their lives. “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is insight” (9:10). “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction” (1:7). They still had a long way to go, but they were on the right track. John would later write in his gospel, “All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made” (1:3). The writer to the Hebrews tells us, “He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power” (1:3a). And Paul to the church in Rome, “For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen” 11:33). The fear of the Lord was the right response to such a display of his mighty power.

One particular teaching moment with Jesus is quite striking regarding his discussion of fear. “So have no fear of them [that is, people who hate you for your faith in Christ], for nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. What I tell you in the dark, say in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops. And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 10:26-33). Do not fear man, for that is a snare (see Prov. 29:25). Do not fear the devil, resist him (see James 4:7). The fear of the Lord is what matters. Because in that fear is revealed an answer to Jesus’ prayer in John 17:3, “And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.” Friends, if you have a healthy fear of the LORD, then you have nothing else to fear. “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand” (Isaiah 41:10).