It was a test of faith.  The trainee apostles obeyed Jesus' command to sail their open fishing boat across the lake at night.  Jesus went with them and, being tired, He fell asleep in the back of the boat.  As happens in such large lakes surrounded  by mountains, as the temperature fell large volumes of air swept down the hill sides, whipping the sea into a frenzy of waves.  The disciples, despite their knowledge of such conditions and expert seamanship, were terrified.  But Jesus slept through the mayhem of nature, only to be rudely woken by the disciples blaming Him for putting their lives at risk and not caring that they might drown (Mark 4:35-38).

Their fear demonstrated their lack of faith.  However, immediately the disciples failed the faith-test Jesus came to the rescue.  He had no interest in destroying them and was amazingly compassionate.  He did not abandon them in their failure.  Growing in faith is a gospel essential (James 1:3), and here Jesus was quite stern in rebuke.  Sometimes a well-aimed question is more effective to stir thinking, than a bald statement of disapproval.  Jesus wanted them to learn from their mistake.  They needed to know that even the wildest of storms would be quiet at Christ's command.  If the student apostles could not learn to trust Jesus at all times and in every circumstance, they could not lead His church.

Jesus' voice of command used language similar to a man commanding his dog to stop barking and sit quietly.  Instantly the air was still and so were the waves – remarkable because the water motion would normally continue for some time. The solution to their problem, a flat sea, proved to be another test: another opportunity to believe in Jesus.  But as the story goes on, it is clear that the disciples had no idea that Jesus was God (John 1:1-3).  Now the disciples were more afraid of the power of Jesus, to subdue wind and waves, than of sinking!  Nevertheless, the whole episode forced them past a concern for their personal safety ... to confront the key question of the gospel, "Who is this man?"  That was the point that Jesus wanted them, and indeed everybody, to reach.

Much time may be wasted with friends and colleagues talking about church or religion, when the only question that needs an answer is, "Who is this man, Jesus?"  The more we read of His consistent authority over people, religion, demons, sickness and nature, the more reason we have to advertise that Jesus is Lord, God the Son, the Creator of all things, the Sovereign Lord to whom we must give account (Hebrews 4:13).  The identity of the all-powerful Jesus, and the realisation of sinful human weakness, will lead seekers to salvation if we explain the gospel.  Saving faith is not about religious correctness but trusting that Jesus wants to save weak and sinful people, and is able to do so (Ephesians 3:20).  We may need to be humbled and rebuked when we fail tests of faith, but it is for our good so that we can stop admiring or despairing of ourselves, and worship Jesus as Lord of all.