What are you afraid of? I’m not asking about spiders and snakes. I’m asking about deeper fears—fears that affect your daily life. Our fears tend to center on an approaching evil or an impending danger. What are you afraid might happen, or might not happen, in your short- or long-term future? What do you fear?

I bet that most of what you’re afraid of is both frightening and possible. And if what we fear is genuinely frightening and possible, then why is the one true God so opposed to fear? “Do not fear!” is easily one of the most repeated commands in the Bible. Why is God anti-fear when what we fear is often both frightening and possible? The answer is found in our passage this morning.

During the Scripture reading, you may have noticed that one theme present in each of the three scenes in our passage is the contrast between fear and faith. During the storm, the disciples were gripped with fear and terror, but after the Lord Jesus rebuked the storm, he said to his disciples, “Where is your faith?” Jesus contrasts fear and faith. Similarly, after the Lord healed the man controlled by a legion of demons, the people who knew the man asked Jesus to depart from them because they were “seized with great fear” (Lk. 8:37). There is a contrast between fear and faith. Finally, when people from Jairus’ house came and said that Jairus’ daughter had already died and all hope was lost, Jesus said to Jairus, “Do not fear; only believe, and she will be well” (Lk. 8:50). Jesus contrasted fear and faith.

Why is God anti-fear, even though what we fear is frightening and possible? Our passage teaches that God is anti-fear because fear is anti-faith. Controlling fear will (1) cause you to do things God forbids, (2) forbid you from doing things God commands, and (3) keep you from setting your hope on God, who gives us all things to be enjoyed (1 Tim. 6:17). God is anti-fear because fear is anti-faith.

Now, one of the wonderful things about biblical Christianity is that it doesn’t merely say, “Do not fear.” Biblical Christianity grounds and anchors the command “fear not” in something greater than what we fear. In our passage, that something greater is Jesus’ authority over everything we fear.

And that brings us to the big idea of our passage this morning: Don’t fear; only believe that Jesus has authority. Don’t fear; only believe that Jesus has authority over everything you fear.

In our passage, we learn that Jesus has authority over four specific things that we fear. Don’t fear; only believe that Jesus has authority. Authority over what?

1. Disasters (vv. 22–25)
2. Demons (vv. 26–39)
3. Disease & death (vv. 40–56)

DISASTERS (vv. 22–25)

Are you facing disaster financially, in your career, in a challenging moral situation, in a relationship, in the number of decisions and responsibilities you have, and so forth? Our passage begins with Jesus and his disciples caught in a literal disaster.

Luke 8:22–23 – One day he got into a boat with his disciples, and he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side of the lake.” So they set out, [23] and as they sailed he fell asleep. And a windstorm came down on the lake, and they were filling with water and were in danger.”

The disciples are caught in a “natural disaster” so violent that the nearly thirty-foot boat is filling with water. The skilled fishermen are in danger of drowning to death. And Jesus is sleeping through it all. So, the disciples wake Jesus up—always a wise thing to do when you’re facing disaster.

When Jesus wakes up, what he does is astonishing, but what he says is perplexing.

Luke 8:24–25a – And they went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we are perishing!” And he awoke and rebuked the wind and the raging waves, and they ceased, and there was a calm.”

That’s astonishing; Jesus has authority over disaster!

What Jesus says, however, is perplexing.

Luke 8:25a – He said to them, “Where is your faith?”

That’s perplexing. Jesus’ rebuke implies that the disciples’ fear was anti-faith. Is Jesus saying that it’s wrong for you to be afraid during a disaster or afraid of a possibly impending one? The answer is yes and no.

This is where the Puritans are so helpful. At the beginning of my devotions, I’ve been reading Triumphing Over Sinful Fear by the 17th-century Puritan John Flavel. In the book, Flavel distinguishes three types of fear: natural, sinful, and religious.

Flavel says that natural fear “is the trouble or agitation of mind that arises when we perceive approaching evil or impending danger,” like a violent storm or the possibility of physical or spiritual harm coming to my children. Such fear is natural and not always sinful. You could call it “concern.” I don’t think Jesus is rebuking the disciples for being concerned about drowning.

On the other hand, Flavel says that the sinfulness of fear lies in five things:

• • • • • • Its cause
          •  Its excess
          •  Its inordinacy
          •  Its influence
          •  Its power

Jesus rebukes the disciples not because they were appropriately concerned about drowning, but because their fear was excessive, inordinate, and influenced them to be controlled by fear rather than faith.

OTHER GOSPELS: “Don’t you care?!”

Let’s return to what you fear. Honest question: is your fear natural or sinful? If you’re honest, is your fear excessive? Does it magnify the power of what you’re afraid of beyond what it should? Does it distract you from your duties and rob you of your joy in the Lord?

If so, then Jesus’ question to the disciples is his question to you: “Where is your faith?”

And that question leads us to the end of the first scene and the one way to triumph over our sinful fear of disaster.

Luke 8:25 – He said to them, “Where is your faith?” And they were afraid, and they marveled, saying to one another, “Who then is this, that he commands even winds and water, and they obey him?”

First, the disciples were afraid of the wind and the sea. However, after Jesus rebuked the storm, they were afraid and marveled at the One who was with them in the boat.

Who is he?

The Old Testament is clear that only the Lord God can calm a storm.

Psalm 107:28–29 says, Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. [29] He made the storm be still, and the waves of the sea were hushed.”

First the disciples are afraid of the disaster, but then they fear the One who can stop it.

This is the way to triumph over sinful fear of disaster: Trust in and fear Jesus because he has authority over disaster. When you trust in and fear Jesus, then he becomes your sanctuary from all other fears. Trusting in and fearing Jesus, who has authority over the disaster you’re facing, is the antidote to sinful fear of the disaster.

To triumph over sinful fear, fear the Lord Jesus daily; trust in and revere him. Build the muscle of trust and reverence. Then, when disaster or the fear of disaster strikes, cry out to the Lord Jesus to keep you from giving way to sinful fear.

John Flavel writes, “A reverential awe and dread of God will extinguish the creature’s slavish fear, as the rain puts out the fire… If we look to God in the day of trouble, fear Him as the Lord of hosts (i.e., the One who governs all creatures and commands all the armies of heaven and earth), and rely upon His care and love as a child depends upon his father’s protection, then we will know rest and peace.”

So first, do not fear; only believe that Jesus has authority over disaster.

Second, do not fear; only believe that Jesus has authority, secondly, over…

DEMONS (vv. 26–39)

After Jesus rebuked the wind and the waves, they sailed on to the country of the Gerasenes, which was a non-Jewish territory. And as soon as they stepped off the boat, they met a man from the city who had demons.

Now, we have seen the Lord Jesus Christ rebuke demons and heal demonized people before. However, what Jesus is up against in our passage is genuinely unique. It is the greatest challenge of demonization that Jesus ever faced.

We know this, first, because it seems that this demonized man had lost complete control of his will and was totally subject to the domination of demons.

Additionally, the man was not oppressed by a single demon, or seven as in the case of Mary Magdalene. Rather, he was oppressed by a legion of demons—perhaps thousands.

Finally, the demonic influence on the man gave him supernatural strength such that he could break the chains he was bound with.

Luke includes these details because he is highlighting Jesus’ greatness, his power, and his authority over even the strongest of demons. He has authority over the worst disasters and the most deadly demons.

Don’t fear; only believe that Jesus has authority over demons.

Interestingly, since demons are fallen angels, these demons know exactly who they’re facing, and they beg in the face of Jesus’ authority.

Luke 8:28, 31 – When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell down before him and said with a loud voice, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, do not torment me.” … And they begged him not to command them to depart into the abyss.”

The Book of Revelation teaches that the abyss is the final and eternal destination for Satan and his demons. Since it’s not time for the final judgment yet, Jesus does not send the demons into the abyss, but sends them into a herd of pigs that rush into the sea and drown.

Jesus has authority over demons.

Now, the point of this scene centers on the two different responses to Jesus’ authority over demons: fear on the part of the townspeople and faith on the part of the man who was saved. But before we get to that, I want to offer one brief encouragement about how to think about the demonic: avoid all-or-nothing thinking.

Avoid all-or-nothing thinking.

For example, if you’ve been struggling with what is commonly called depression, avoid all-or-nothing thinking. Yes, see your primary care physician to ensure that your hormone levels are good and that you’re sleeping and exercising enough. Yes, talk to one of your pastors so that you can learn to apply what the Bible teaches about suffering to your melancholy feelings. But don’t forget the Devil. Ask your pastor and trusted Christian friends to pray in the name of Jesus Christ that, if any of your depression is caused or exacerbated by demonic oppression, he will save you from it because Jesus has authority over the demonic.

Similarly, if you’re stuck in a particular sin that is overtaking your life, don’t assume that it’s only a physical addiction or spiritual rebellion. It may be both, but rebellion can welcome demonic influence and oppression. So, ask your pastors to pray in the name of Christ against any additional demonic influence that is making it harder for you to kill the sin.

Close parenthesis.

Let’s get back to the two responses to Jesus’ authority over demons: first, the response of fear, and secondly, the response of faith.

The response of fear.

Luke 8:34–37 – When the herdsmen saw what had happened, they fled and told it in the city and in the country. [35] Then people went out to see what had happened, and they came to Jesus and found the man from whom the demons had gone, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind, and they were afraid. [36] And those who had seen it told them how the demon-possessed man had been healed. [37] Then all the people of the surrounding country of the Gerasenes asked him to depart from them, for they were seized with great fear. So he got into the boat and returned.”

The first response to Jesus’ authority over demons was sinful fear—the fear that wants nothing to do with Jesus.

Darrell Bock captures their fear-over-faith response:

“The people who ask Jesus to leave their region recognize his power, but are afraid to be too close to him. Many fear divine accountability, preferring to be left on their own and to fend for themselves… The locals were so concerned with their own affairs that they could not appreciate the deliverance that had taken place before their eyes. Perhaps the biggest tragedy of all is to see God at work and pretend nothing has really happened.”

Are you like the townspeople? Do you see that Jesus is the real sovereign over the cosmos and has authority over demons, but you’re pushing him away? Do you believe his power, but don’t want his lordship over your life? That’s the response of fear.

But you don’t have to stay there. There is an alternative.

The response of faith.

Luke 8:38–39 – The man from whom the demons had gone begged that he might be with him, but Jesus sent him away, saying, [39] “Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you.” And he went away, proclaiming throughout the whole city how much Jesus had done for him.”

The response of faith is going where Jesus sends and proclaiming how much Jesus has done for you.

Have you been saved from demonic oppression? If you’re a Christian, then the Lord Jesus Christ saved you from the kingdom of darkness. Has Jesus saved you from following the prince of the power of the air who is now at work in the sons of disobedience? Has Jesus saved you from demonic false religion and false spirituality? Has Jesus saved you from a pattern of sin that was so persistent that there was likely demonic power intensifying your sinful tendency? Has Jesus saved you from being utterly enslaved to anger, depression, lust, greed, and so forth—not that you’re sinless, but you’re not enslaved in those areas any longer?

If so, belief in action looks like this: proclaim throughout our region all that Jesus, who is God, has done for you.

For example, I am so thankful to God for the men in our church who have been saved by Jesus from the grip of alcoholism and now proclaim at AA all that Jesus has done for them.

Don’t fear; only believe that Jesus has authority over disasters, demons, and finally, over…

DISEASE & DEATH

As soon as the Lord Jesus returned from the Gentile region, the crowds rushed around him. And from the crowd came a man named Jairus. He was a ruler in the Jewish synagogue, an important man who kept the worship services running smoothly. Jairus fell down at Jesus’ feet and implored Jesus to come to his house because his only daughter, who was twelve years old, was dying.

Death is a universal enemy, and even an important man like Jairus is not exempt. You and I are not exempt either. Death will come for us and everyone we love. Instead of burying our heads in the sand, we should face death head-on and look to the only One who has authority over it.

So Jairus implores Jesus to come to his home. This is the passage of Scripture that my daughter has requested I read to her more than any other. If you’ve ever had a child near death or a child who has suffered with an illness for a long time, you know the desperation and urgency that Jairus felt. You understand why Jairus is at Jesus’ feet imploring him to come.

So Jesus went with Jairus.

As Jesus was going to Jairus’ home, the crowds pressed in on the Lord Jesus. In the crowd was a woman who had a discharge of blood. Her plight was dire. She had the discharge for twelve years. She spent her entire living on physicians, but none could heal her. To make matters worse, the ESV Study Bible says that “her hemorrhaging would also have made her ceremonially unclean, which would have cut her off from many social and religious relationships.”

Despite the dire nature of her disease and her uncleanness, as soon as she touched the hem of Jesus’ garment, she was healed.

Isn’t that amazing?

In the Bible, when an unclean person touched a clean person, the clean person also became unclean. However, when an unclean person comes in contact with the Lord Jesus, Jesus remains clean and the unclean person is healed.

When Jesus perceived that power had gone out from him and asked who touched him, the woman was afraid. Like the fear of the disciples after Jesus calmed the storm, this was the good kind of fear that leads one to trust in, love, and revere Jesus. She came trembling, but Jesus gently called her daughter and told the woman that faith had made her well.

He truly has authority over disease.

Tragically, Jesus’ detour to heal the hemorrhaging woman seemed to cost Jairus everything. While Jesus was healing the woman, someone came from Jairus’ house and told Jairus not to trouble the teacher any longer. Jairus’ little girl had died.

I love the Lord Jesus’ response.

Luke 8:50 – But Jesus on hearing this answered him, “Do not fear; only believe, and she will be well.”

The Lord then came to Jairus’ house and raised the little girl from death with a word: “Child, arise.”

My friends, death is the worst of all fears because death brings judgment for sinners like us. But do not fear; only believe that Jesus has authority over death.

The Lord Jesus Christ showed his great authority over death by raising Jairus’ daughter with a word and then by rising on the third day after his crucifixion. Jesus Christ is the resurrection and the life. He died, rose, and lives forever. And if you receive and rest in Jesus Christ, if you believe in him, then though you die, you will live and never truly die.

So take comfort and do not give way to sinful fear.

As J. C. Ryle once wrote:

“Let us leave the passage with the consoling thought, that the things which happened in Jairus’ house are a type of good things to come. The hour comes and will soon be here, when the voice of Christ shall call all His people from their graves, and gather them together to part no more. Believing husbands shall once more see believing wives. Believing parents shall once more see believing children. Christ shall unite the whole family in the great home in heaven, and all tears shall be wiped from all eyes.”

Don’t fear; only believe that Jesus has authority over disasters, demons, disease, and death.