The Gospel of Mark 4:35-41

 Brian Hirvela

3/15/24

35 And on that day, when evening came, He said to them, “Let us go over to the other side.”36 And leaving the crowd, they took Him along with them in the boat, just as He was; and other boats were with Him.37 And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat so that the boat was already filling up.38 And Jesus Himself was in the stern, sleeping on the cushion; and they got Him up and said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?”39 And He woke up and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Silence! Be still.” And the wind died down and it became perfectly calm.40 And He said to them, “Why are you so cowardly? Do you still have no faith?”41 And they became very afraid and were saying to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?”

It was the same day that Jesus had taught the doctrine of God, the heart of mankind, and His glorious kingdom. It grew late and being on the boat where He preached, He turned to His disciples and said to them “Let us go over to the other side.” Jesus had finished all that was required of Him, and it was late, it would prove quicker to sail to the other side for the work He had there.

Some of the multitudes followed Him in other boats, desiring to learn more as they sailed with Him. This is the devotion set by those who follow Christ that they would follow Him. None of them knew what was to come and so it is with those who follow Jesus for we “do not know what our life will be like tomorrow. For we are a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away.” (James 4:14)

But “a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat so that the boat was already filling up.” This was a terrible storm that struck the hearts of those who were on the sea. They knew who Jesus was, but they feared the storm before them. Do you fear what is before you? I tell you there are many things that we encounter that cause us to fear and be anxious. But where do you go?

The disciples immediately went to Jesus, but He was sleeping in the back of the boat. Their prayer to Him was first on their mind for in their fear they forgot to use the oars, but seeing Him asleep their fear became incredulous, and they cried out “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?” We can be so full of fear that we blame God for our situation. Nothing has gone right in your expectation and so you are quick to accuse God of the trouble in front of you.

But God is sovereign over all things and that which is looming over you will be small in comparison to the might of God. For Jesus “woke up and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Silence! Be still.” And the wind died down and it became perfectly calm.” Jesus commanded the storm to cease with but a little of His power. He had no fear of the storm saving not just the boat He was in but also the other boats that were following Him.

And He said to them, “Why are you so cowardly? Do you still have no faith?” So, I ask you, why are you so cowardly? Do you have faith? For though the disciples knew Jesus they had strong prayer, but little faith. Faith is built up in trusting in God by believing in who He is as Yahweh. Jesus demonstrates His power despite their fear that woke Him.

This marveled them and they became very afraid not of the storm, but of Jesus saying, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?” in Matthew 8:27 it’s recorded as “What kind of a man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?” The disciples see a man in front of them. Though Jesus has performed miracles, cast our demons, and healed people they had not seen this power before and the revelation of the power of the Creator scared them straight. They saw Jesus as God.

Why are you so cowardly? Do you have faith? Yahweh is a living God and has power over all things. He is Almighty, who created the heavens and earth, obliviated Sodom and Gomorrah, destroyed the gods of Egypt, including Pharaoh, split the Red Sea open for His people to pass, and led His people to salvation. Jesus is Yahweh.

Jesus came to save sinners. Sinners repress the truth and hide in their darkness because they love the darkness, they are unbelieving, vile, foolish, rebellious, haters of God who have adopted the ideologies of this world and the doctrines of men, become slaves to their sexual desires, perverting the flesh and mind, who rebel at the created order of God doomed to condemnation and will be judged by Jesus and sent to Hell where they will burn for eternity in the lake of fire.

But God so loved His creation, Mankind, that He sent His Son Jesus, who can forgive you of your sins and restore you whole again, for He has the authority and the power. Jesus brings life to all who repent and believe. For Jesus bore all our sins; He bore all the sins of all who believe in Him. Jesus was born and lived a perfect life of obedience to God as a man. Jesus was condemned to be executed and die in the sinner’s place. He suffered the totality of God’s Wrath upon Himself on the Cross, which every sinner deserves, so that those who believe in Jesus may have peace with God. Jesus rose from the dead, conquering death, and lives, and ascended to the right hand of God the Father. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life and He is in your midst with us, come out of the darkness as we proclaim the light of His salvation.