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*Mark 4:35-38a… *On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.”
36 And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was.
And other boats were with him.
37 And a great storm of wind arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already filling.
38 But Jesus was in the stern, asleep on the cushion.
*Commentary*
When Jesus finished teaching one day he instructed his disciples to get into a boat so that they could cross to the other side of the Sea of Galilee.
A boat that would hold 13 men, and possibly some women, would have been a sizable boat.
Of course the text also reveals that “other boats were with him” which shows that other “disciples” were following him.
Four kinds of disciples are described in the Bible.
First, there were the curious.
They followed Jesus to see him perform, but they wouldn’t commit to him and fell away after a time (cf.
John 6:53, 60, 66).
Second, there were those who were intellectually convinced of Christ’s lordship but who had no participation in His kingdom (e.g.
Nicodemus in John 3).
Third, there were unprofessed disciples who feared ridicule for their beliefs (e.g.
Joseph of Arimathea in Matt.
27:57-58).
Finally, there were the public confessors of Christ.
These included more than simply the Twelve (excluding Judas who was a traitor from the beginning).
So it was then; so it is today.
While traveling on the sea a great storm or “squall” overtook them in v. 37.
These storms were common on the Sea of Galilee, for it sat some 600 feet below sea level.
When cooler air would come through the mountains surrounding the sea it would mix with the warmer air below and cause storms that would stir up quickly over the sea.
Fishermen like James, John, Peter, and Andrew were likely very familiar with such storms because they regularly worked there.
But while the storm began to overtake the boat, Jesus was below the deck sleeping peacefully.
Verse 38 sounds sarcastic.
In the midst of a life-threatening storm, when the boat is taking on water and it appears as if death is knocking at the door, Jesus was fast asleep – on a nice soft pillow.
While everyone else was working Jesus was calm enough to sleep peacefully.
The fact that these experienced fisherman were afraid that they were going to die attests to how strong this storm was.
Death apparently seemed imminent because the boat was taking on so much water and they were far from the shore.
It’s as if God put them in the worst and most hopeless of circumstances so that Jesus could once again show his power to them.
This is what God does for those who follow Christ faithfully.
They see and hear far more than unbelievers or those who do nothing with what they hear.
For to him who has, more will be given, but to him who doesn’t have, even what he has will be taken from him (cf.
4:23-25).
Truly the disciples were a privileged group who witnessed all the power and majesty of God through Jesus Christ.
The fear of the disciples reflects their timid and unsure faith.
They had already seen much from Jesus, but they apparently were hard-hearted enough to not really understand who he was.
Knowing Christ and believing what he can do don’t always go hand-in-hand.
They knew him, but they were put into a position where they HAD to believe.
So they called to him.
*Food for Thought*
In the midst of life’s difficulties some folks panic while others sleep like babies.
A calm and peaceful demeanor is a virtue that only true believers can possess.
They know that there is nothing to fear, not even death, because God is in perfect control – even when it may seem like He’s asleep.
John says, “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love” (1 John 4:18).
Trust God fully today in all matters and prove to yourself and to God that His love is perfected in you.
*Mark 4:38-41… *But Jesus was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care if we perish?”
39 And he awoke and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace!
Be still!”
And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.
40 He said to them, “Why are you afraid?
Have you no faith?”
41 And they were filled with awe, and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even wind and sea obey him?”
*Commentary*
In the midst of the life-threatening storm the disciples had nowhere to turn but to Jesus.
They had used all of their human expertise to save the boat and themselves, but when all seemed hopeless they went to Jesus and woke him up.
Their cry is somewhat sarcastic: “Teacher, do you not care if we parish?”
In v. 39 Jesus woke up and simply rebuked the wind and the sea, saying, “Be silent!
Calm down!” Immediately the wind stopped, and the sea became dead calm, to the astonishment of his disciples.
But in doing so he proved his Lordship over the earth.
After all, he’s the God who created it in the first place (cf.
John 1:3; Col. 1:16; Gen. 1:1), and all nature is submissive to Him.
The storm began quickly as most storms do on the Sea of Galilee which lies 600 feet below sea level and looks up at Mt. Hermon which rises 9,200 feet above the sea.
But though powerful, the storm was stilled in an instant simply by a word from Jesus – the Creator of all things.
It was by this same word that all things came into existence in the beginning.
In v. 40 Jesus literally asked them, “Why are you such cowards?
Where is your faith?”
The disciples’ fear reflects their timid faith.
They had already seen much, but they in fact were ignorant enough to not really understand fully who Jesus was.
Knowing Christ and believing what he can do don’t always go hand-in-hand.
They knew him but not fully – not as God.
Clearly then, faith in God translates to faith in Jesus, for they are one and the same.
Jesus wasn’t just demonstrating his power, he was revealing that He Himself was God.
Verse 41 is basically, “And being overwhelmed with great fear…” This makes perfect sense given that Jesus had just revealed himself as God.
Fear is the response man has upon coming face-to-face with God Almighty.
After *Job* witnessed God’s rebuke to his face he said, “I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear; but now my eye sees You; therefore I retract, and I repent in dust and ashes” (Job 42:5-6).
*Isaiah* saw Yahweh sitting on His throne and said, “Woe is me, for I am ruined!
Because I am a man of unclean lips… for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts” (Isa.
6:1, 5).
Upon seeing the Lord *Daniel* said, “No strength was left in me, for my natural color turned to a deathly pallor, and I retained no strength.
But I heard the sound of his words; and as soon as I heard the sound of his words, I fell into a deep sleep on my face, with my face to the ground (Dan.
10:8-9).
When *Peter* saw Jesus bring in a miraculous catch of fish he fell down at Jesus’ feet and said, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord! (Lk.
5:8).
And when *Paul* encountered Christ while traveling to Damascus, “he fell to the ground… And though his eyes were open he could see nothing” (Acts 9:4, 8).
So it is when men realize they are standing in the presence of God Almighty; they become gripped with fear and are so beleaguered they cannot stand His presence because he is so holy and they are so sinful.
* *
*Food for Thought*
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