He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. He said to His disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” Mark 4:39-40.

No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man. 1 Corinthians 10:13.

Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Romans 12:2.

And continuing our 351 Old Testament prophecies, promises of God, fulfilled in Jesus Christ, we come to number 146: Messiah is the Preexistent Son. Psalm 102:25-27: Of old You founded the earth, and the heavens are the work of Your hands. Even they will perish, but You endure; and all of them will wear out like a garment; like clothing You will change them and they will be changed. But You are the same, and Your years will not come to an end. And, Hebrews 1:10-12: And, “You, LORD, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the works of Your hands; they will perish but You remain; and they will become old like a garment, and like a mantle You will roll them up; like a garment they will also be changed. But You are the same, and Your years will not come to an end.” Hebrews 1:10-12.

I have been reading and rereading Hearing God by Dallas Willard for a few years now and yet this today struck me in a new way: “Jesus Himself lived by faith in God and His kingdom. His followers did not have this faith within themselves. They regarded it only as His faith, not theirs. Even after they came to have faith in Him, they did not share His faith. Once in the middle of the Sea of Galilee, the disciples’ boat was almost beaten under by the waves while Jesus slept calmly. His disciples woke Him crying, “Teacher, don’t You care if we drown?” (Mark 4:38). After speaking powerful words to the sea, He reproachfully replied, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” Didn’t the disciples have faith? They called on Jesus, counting on Him to save them. They had great faith in Him, but they did not have His great faith in God. It was because they did not have His faith that He spoke of them having no faith. Meditate: Read Mark 4:36-39. Picture yourself as one of the disciples. Feel fear at the wind and waves and then hear Jesus’ powerful words. Watch the squall die down and be amazed. Ask God to give you the faith of Christ.”

Imagine how easy it must have been to see everything Jesus did as His faith and His alone. They didn’t have that in themselves. They must have felt that so keenly. As I read over this, I realized that the disciples are just the beginning of all of us – and our example of all Creator God can do – because just like they were before He ascended back to the Father and sent the Spirit, we too are blind. Jesus came from the Father and trusted Him and His kingdom. He knew personally because He is the Word, the Son, Creator God, the Messiah, the Preexistent Son. That’s why He came. To show us the Father. To give us the example of trusting God as the only one who truly ever has. And when He returned to the Father He sent the Spirit to guide and teach us. And when Jesus returns, He will make everything new! We talk a lot about going to heaven. I want to be where Jesus is! He will return here to bring healing to all of His creation, including to us. As N. T. Wright says, our life after life after death. I trust Him. He has already shown us the way and it is trusting Him, Creator God – Father, Son, Spirit. What will it be like when Jesus returns here? Wow. I can only imagine! The Psalm below is a beautiful place to start to begin to see and trust Him for everything needed in us, and by extension, for all of His creation He created and called Good!

***WASH ME THOROUGHLY – Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your steadfast love; according to Your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Against You, You only, have I sinned and done what is evil in Your sight. You are blameless in Your judgment. Behold, You delight in truth in the inner being, and You teach me wisdom to the inner heart. Wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Let me hear joy and gladness. Hide Your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from Your presence and take not Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and uphold me with a willing spirit. Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, and sinners will return to You. O LORD, open my lips, and my mouth will declare Your praise. Truly, the sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, You will not despise. Psalm 51:1-17. Adapted.***