Mark 4:35-41

 We allow our lives to be orchestrated by God when we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior. I had just listened to Matthew’s account of this with Beth Moore. What a wonderful God we serve!

Do not doubt His power in your life…just believe!

Jesus’ answer to the disciples reveals much about the purpose of His teaching. He quoted Isaiah 6:9, 10 to demonstrate that those with physical sight and hearing may still not be able to perceive the truths presented to them. For Isaiah, the “dullness” or hardness of the human heart directly affects spiritual insight and understanding. People need to soften their hearts, humble themselves before God, and honestly seek the truth in order to find it.

Jesus’ stories are like wrapped gifts. The packaging of the story can either distract or captivate. But unless the package is opened, the gift itself remains unseen. Likewise unless one seeks the core of the parable—its truth and application—the lessons will remain hidden. Yet when discovered, these lessons prove extremely valuable. The testimony of millions of changed lives over two thousand years attests to this fact. NKJ Bible.

Mark 4:35–41

35 On the same day, when evening had come, He said to them, “Let us cross over to the other side.” 36 Now when they had left the multitude, they took Him along in the boat as He was. And other little boats were also with Him. 37 And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling. 38 But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?”

39 Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. 40 But He said to them, “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?” 41 And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, “Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!”

Jews considered day to begin at sundown. Decapolis was a federation of cities east of the Sea of Galilee. Although Jewish communities existed in these cities, Mark depicts this region as Gentile (non-Jewish) territory. 

Jesus’ words mirror His response to the unclean spirit at Capernaum. Jesus shows Himself to have power over both spiritual and elemental forces, demonstrating His divinity. Jesus has made clear that He is God’s chosen agent. He expects the disciples to recognize this and have faith in His ability to act with divine power. Jesus’ command of the raging sea demonstrates His unique authority and power. In the old testament, God alone is able to control the sea. Faithlife Bible.

To cross over the Sea of Galilee, a lake only eight miles wide, would not seem difficult at first glance. Yet its unique geography produces a greatly varying climate. The lake is situated seven hundred feet below sea level and is surrounded by mountains that rise three to four thousand feet above sea level on the west, north, and east. Tropical conditions prevail around the lake’s surface, where even bananas are grown today. Yet the higher elevations can produce chilling night air. It is not unusual even today for a sudden great windstorm to appear on the Sea of Galilee during the evening hours. The warm tropical air from the lake’s surface rises and meets the colder air from the nearby hills. The resulting turbulence stirs up great waves which make boating extremely treacherous.

The mention of Jesus being asleep on a pillow shows His true humanity. He was fully human and needed food and rest just as all people do. Jesus’ command over the wind and the sea demonstrates His full and complete deity. Only God the Creator can calm wind and sea. Mark uses the disciples’ question “Who can this be?” to evoke a similar response in the minds of his readers. Mark relates the works and words of the one he calls “Jesus Christ, the Son of God”. NKJ Bible.

Matthew 8:18 And when Jesus saw great multitudes about Him, He gave a command to depart to the other side.

Matthew 8:23 Now when He got into a boat, His disciples followed Him.

Matthew 8:26 But He said to them, “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?” Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm.

Luke 8:22 Now it happened, on a certain day, that He got into a boat with His disciples. And He said to them, “Let us cross over to the other side of the lake.” And they launched out.

Luke 8:25 But He said to them, “Where is your faith?”And they were afraid, and marveled, saying to one another, “Who can this be? For He commands even the winds and water, and they obey Him!”