“And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?” Mark 4:40.

At the close of a day of much preaching, the Saviour and the apostles are crossing the Sea of Galilee when a storm springs up and threatens the ship.

The Saviour is asleep and the alarmed disciples awaken Him with the chiding words, “Master, carest thou  not that we perish?”

The Saviour arises and rebukes the storm and then chides the disciples with the words of our text.

While they were correct in coming to Christ in their distress, they were wrong in the manner in which they spoke to Him.

I. A LACK OF FAITH WILL SHOW ITSELF

Faith may be professed but empty or weak faith will show itself. It will be flushed out into the light. Here is why trials come upon us - to test us.

1. It will show itself on the approach of danger. Verse 37. True faith will bring grace to calmly face the storm. Ps 23:4; 27:3-4; 46:2; Isaiah 12:2.

2. Lack of faith will blind our eyes to God’s love and mercy. “Master, carest thou not that we perish?” What a wicked suggestion! The love of Christ has been displayed so often and no time more clearly than at Calvary. “Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us,” 1 John 3:16. 

Faith keeps the cross ever before our eyes. “Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord,” Romans 8:39.

3. Lack of faith will accuse the Saviour unjustly and irreverently. Unbelief blinds us to Christ’s person and will boldly charge God with wrong. What charges have been made against the Lord throughout history?