Introduction
‘That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, ‘Let us go over to the other side.’ Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, ‘Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?’ He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, ‘Quiet! Be still!’ Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. He said to his disciples, ‘Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?’ They were terrified and asked each other, ‘Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!’ Mark 4:35-41
This event is also recorded by Matthew in Matthew 8:23-24.
In the evening Jesus suggest that He and his disciples go to the other side, that is, the other side of the Sea of Galilee, Mark 4:35. One of the reasons Jesus chose fishermen was because of their easy access to boats, they may even used a specific boat for Jesus’ ministry, Mark 4:36.
A great storm arose, Mark 4:37, and the disciples panicked, these hardened fishermen were scared, this must have been some storm! Remember that most of the disciples were hardened fishermen and they would be used to being in storms.
THE STORM
Barclay, in his commentary, says the following.
‘In one sense this was a very ordinary scene on the Sea of Galilee. The Sea of Galilee is small; it is only thirteen miles from north to south and eight miles from east to west at its widest. The Jordan Valley makes a deep cleft in the surface of the earth, and the Sea of Galilee is part of that cleft. It is 680 feet below sea level. That gives it a climate which is warm and gracious, but it also creates dangers. On the west side there are hills with valleys and gullies; and, when a cold wind comes from the west, these valleys and gullies act like gigantic funnels. The wind, as it were, becomes compressed in them, and rushes down upon the lake with savage violence and with startling suddenness so that the calm of one moment can become the raging storm of the next. The storms on the Sea of Galilee combine suddenness and violence in a unique way.’
Bruce, in his commentary, says the following about the boat.
‘It was covered, hidden, the waves rising high above the boat, breaking on it, and gradually filling with water.’
Jesus consistently demonstrated His authority by doing things that were totally beyond human capacity. In this case, while the disciples were crossing the Sea of Galilee by boat, Jesus fell asleep on a cushion, Mark 4:38.
In desperation, they awoke Jesus saying, ‘Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?’ Mark 4:38. He got up and calmly rebuked the wind and the sea, Mark 4:39 and the storm ceased. The word, ‘quiet’ means to muzzle.
Notice that Christ calmed the storm with one word, what a difference one word can make. When our lives are filled with turmoil, one word from Christ can change everything. Matthew also records that Jesus uses similar words to calm the storm, Matthew 8:26.
This is the point that Jesus wanted the disciples to understand. At this time, all things were under the care and control of Jesus because He was head over all things, John 13:3 / John 17:2.
Jesus then turned to the disciples and reproved them for their lack of faith, Mark 4:40. Though they had seen Jesus perform many miracles, they were always amazed by each new one. They said, ‘Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?’ Mark 4:41 / Psalm 89:8-9 / Psalm 93:4.
Coffman, in his commentary, says the following.
‘It was then plain that every area of existence was totally under our Lord’s authority. The spiritual world, the physical world, time, life, and death were, and are, utterly subject to his will.’
Once we recognise that Jesus is God and the Creator of all that exists, Colossians 1:16, then we will realise that nothing is outside the power of Jesus to control. For this reason, it is faith in Jesus that brings peace of mind, Psalms 4:8 / Acts 12:6 / Philippians 4:7.
How well do we sleep? Considering the things that the disciples had already seen Jesus do, their doubts about His ability to quiet the storm are astonishing.
They had seen Him heal multitudes of people, cast out demons and prove Himself equal to any task at hand. Suddenly, they despaired because of a storm on the sea. Obviously, they didn’t really think Jesus could solve this problem because they were amazed when He did.
How could they have been so slow and so distrustful? What about us? Do we not believe that Jesus can handle any situation if we trust and obey His will? Have we not seen in the Scriptures how Jesus can solve every problem?
How do we react when we confront a fresh crisis in our lives? Do we trustingly and confidently turn to Jesus, or do we throw up our hands in despair? How well do we sleep?
In the presence of Jesus, there should be a great emotional calm in our lives, Psalm 65:7 / Psalm 89:9 / Luke 4:39. Sometimes the best thing to do amidst life’s storms is simply stop, be still, and know that God is there and present, Psalm 46:10.
