Faith

(part one of a three part series)

Free your mind

Or, Faith as the power of Mind over Matter.

There are several interactions in the New Testament between Jesus and his disciples which we always tend to interpret allegorically.

And, while certainly these allegorical interpretations are valid and applicable, we ought not to dismiss the quite literal interpretation of these passages either.

Two of these interactions take place on the sea of Galilee, the third, on the plain just below Mt Tabor after the Transfiguration.

The first instance is recorded in the Gospel according to Matthew.

Jesus and his disciples have just had a very eventful day. Jesus and the disciples had gone up to a mountain top to where 'great multitudes' of people followed them and there, He taught them many things as recorded in Matthew 5-7.

After which, they came down from the mountain and made their way towards Capernaum where, along the way Jesus proceeds to heal a leper and the Centurion's servant.

Upon reaching Capernaum, Jesus First of all, heals Peter's mother-in-law of a fever and then, as the evening begins, "they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick..."

Finally, He commands the disciples to get into a ship and set out across the Sea of Galilee to the other side, after which, having had a long and tiring day, he falls asleep in the back of the boat.

Then, this occurs:

 "... behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep.

 And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish.

 And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.

 But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!"

(Matthew 8:24-27)

Jesus asks them, "Why are you fearful?" And accuses them of having "little faith".

He 'rebukes' the wind and the sea, which results immediately in, 'a great calm'.

The disciples marvel, saying amongst themselves, "What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!"

What Jesus doesn't reply to them because he promptly goes right back to sleep, is: "...the same kind of man that I created you to be, if only you realized it! Now, let me get some sleep, I've had a busy day!"