Last week we saw that the disciples faced a tough lesson. While going across the sea to Gentile country God schooled them, He caused the sea to rage and billow and then calmed it through the Word of Christ. He did this so that the disciples might pay close attention to what was happening; so that they would move from fear – fear of the sea, fear of other nations, fear of demon possessed folks, fear of demons, fear of tombs, fear of swine – so that they would move from fear to faith.
So foundational was this lesson that in the next story, in the healing of the Gadarene demoniac, the disciples never show up, never intrude. They’re sitting in the background, watching, listening, learning, soaking it in. They’re trying to figure out – “Who then is this that even the wind and the waves obey him?”
In our text today, we come to two stories that revolve around the same lesson – the contrast between fear and faith and the transition from fear to faith. “Who is this man? What has he come to accomplish? What are these events highlighting? What are they teaching us?” Here again Jesus is unfolding his glory, “Do you get it yet?” He asks. “Do you see? Do you believe?”