Stilling the Storm

Mark 4:35-41

35That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, "Let us go over to the other side." 36Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him.

37A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. 38Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion.

The disciples woke him and said to him, "Teacher, don't you care if we drown?"

39He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, "Quiet! Be still!" Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. 40
He said to his disciples, "Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?"

41They were terrified and asked each other, "Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!"


Things to Take Note of

Setting (Mark 4:35-36)
matt short and sweet, no conversation
mark mentions leaving crowd
mark mentions 'just as he was'
mark mentions 'other boats'

Action (Mark 4:37-40)
luke has storm coming 'down'
matt mentions storm had no warning
all 3 use different titles (Lord, Teacher, Master)
mark more combative question, 'don't you care'
matt puts question first
mark has miracle more like an exorcism

Result (Mark 4:41)
matt has amazed, mark terrified, luke both

Points to Ponder

1. This miracle teaches us that we should be slow to interpret the seeming inactivity of God as a lack of concern

2. This miracle transferred their fear to the proper realm, but actually increased it

3. This miracle pointed to the fact that Jesus was one ‘greater than Jonah’ or, perhaps, more than a mere man (Psalm 107:23-32)

4. This miracle carried the message that God offers peace through the storms of life in this world (Psalm 46)