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What's the wildest weather you've ever been caught in? A thunderstorm, a cyclone, hail hammering on the roof? And what can anyone do to stop a storm? Nothing. We can only take shelter and wait for it to pass.
In today's story from Mark's Gospel, Jesus and his friends get caught in a deadly storm on a lake. All term we've been asking "Who is this?" Today, for the first time, the disciples ask that question out loud.
What you'll learn
- What happened when Jesus calmed the storm
- Why calming a storm shows Jesus doing what only God can do
- Why the disciples were more afraid after the storm than during it
The storm
At the end of a long day of teaching, Jesus tells his disciples to cross to the other side of the Sea of Galilee. This "sea" is really a large lake, about 200 metres below sea level, with hills all around. Cool winds can rush down the hills and stir up sudden, violent storms.
That night, one does. The waves break over the boat and it starts filling with water. Several of the disciples are experienced fishermen who know this lake well, and they are terrified. And Jesus?
"But Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on the cushion. So they woke Him and said, ‘Teacher, don’t You care that we are perishing?’" (Mark 4:38)
Jesus is fast asleep on a cushion. He is truly human, and truly tired. The disciples' question sounds almost like an accusation: don't you care? Maybe you've felt like that too, when things went wrong and it seemed as if God was asleep.
Jesus speaks
"Then Jesus got up and rebuked the wind and the sea. ‘Silence!’ He commanded. ‘Be still!’ And the wind died down, and it was perfectly calm." (Mark 4:39)
Notice what Jesus doesn't do. He doesn't pray, bail water or grab an oar. He simply speaks, the way you might tell a barking dog to be quiet. And the calm is complete and instant. Normally, even after the wind stops, the waves keep rolling for hours. Not this time.
Then Jesus asks his friends a question, and they react in a surprising way:
"‘Why are you so afraid?’ He asked. ‘Do you still have no faith?’ Overwhelmed with fear, they asked one another, ‘Who is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?’" (Mark 4:40–41)
Look at when they were most afraid. Not during the storm. After it. Before, they had a boat full of water. Now they have a boat with someone in it who can boss the weather around. Being afraid in a storm is one thing. Being in awe of the person who stops it is something else.
Only God rules the sea
The disciples knew their Scriptures, and this would have rung a bell. In the Old Testament, who controls the wind and the waves? Psalm 107 describes sailors caught in a terrible storm:
"Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and He brought them out of their distress. He calmed the storm to a whisper, and the waves of the sea were hushed." (Psalm 107:28–29)
| Psalm 107 | Mark 4 |
|---|---|
| Sailors are terrified in a storm | Disciples are terrified in a storm |
| They cry out to the LORD | They cry out to Jesus |
| The LORD calms the storm | Jesus calms the storm |
| They are glad and thank God | They ask, "Who is this?" |
There's another famous storm in the Old Testament. In Jonah 1, Jonah is asleep in a boat during a storm while terrified sailors panic, and the sea goes calm. But here's the big difference: Jonah was running away from God and was the cause of the storm. Jesus is the one the storm obeys.
So who is the only one the sea obeys? The Old Testament answers clearly: God. And now Jesus does exactly what God does.
"Who is this?" clue
| Verse | Clue about who Jesus is |
|---|---|
| Mark 4:41 | Even the wind and the sea obey him. |
Key words
- Rebuke: to tell someone (or something) off firmly.
- Faith: trust in someone; here, trusting that Jesus cares and is in control.
- Awe: a mix of wonder and holy fear in front of someone far greater than you.
How this points to Jesus
Jesus didn't promise his friends there would never be storms. He got in the boat with them. Christians believe that the one who rules the storm is with them in theirs. Later in Mark, Jesus will face the biggest storm of all, the cross, so that his people will never be left alone.
Think about it
Why were the disciples more afraid after the storm was calm?Show answer
They realised that Jesus had done something only God can do. Being in a boat with someone that powerful was even more overwhelming than the storm.
How is Jesus different from Jonah, who also slept in a boat during a storm?Show answer
Jonah was running from God and caused the storm. Jesus commands the storm, and it obeys him.
Did this really happen?Show answer
It's a fair question. Mark tells it as eyewitness history, probably from Peter, who was in the boat. And if Jesus really is who Mark says he is, it isn't surprising that the weather listens to him.
Take it further
Is there something that feels like a storm in your life right now? Having big worries doesn't mean you have too little faith. Jesus was gentle with his scared friends, and he stayed with them. If something is weighing on you, talk to a trusted adult too. Your worksheet helps you compare Mark 4 with Psalm 107 and Jonah.
If you'd like to, you could pray:
Lord Jesus, even the wind and the waves obey you. When life feels like a storm, help me to remember who is in the boat with me, and to trust you. Amen.