The Great Windstorm

Background Text: Mark 4:35-41

One the same day, when evening had come, He said to them, "Let us cross over to the other side." 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. And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling. 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?"

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.

But He said to them, "Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?"

And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, "Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!"

***

The Great WindStorm

That day, when evening had come,
He said to them, ‘Let us go over to the other side’;
So they took leave from
The multitude, and went for what they supposed was
Another boat-ride.

And there arose a fierce gale of wind
And the waves broke over the boat and poured inside;
And waking Him who was asleep in the stern,
‘Teacher, don’t You care we’re perishing? ’ they cried.

Fatigued by a hard day’s work
He slept on a cushion through the fierce storm,
But, aroused by their pitiful cries, He rebuked the wind
And the sea died down to a perfect calm.

He rebuked them also for their fear
And lack of faith in Him. And they, when they saw
The sea still as glass, with hardly a stir,
Looked at one another and were filled with awe:

‘Who is this who commands the wind and the waves
That even they immediately obey? ’
Did they not know that they travelled in a boat
With the Creator God that tempestuous day?

© Tom Prato/Pratonix

*****

Commentary on Mark 4:35-41

1. It is clear that the Lord was teaching His disciples lessons in the life of faith. After all, He initiated the 'crossing over'. He said, "Let us cross over to the other side."

2. He was in the boat with them. So where was the need for them to be afraid? He was not only their Redeemer, but He was also Creator. 'All things were created by Him', Col 1:16. He created the wind and the waves.

3. It was a 'great windstorm'. This was a storm that was not unusual on the Sea of Galilee, but it was certainly unusual for the hardy fishermen disciples, for they cried out, "We are perishing!" It seems that Satan was stirring up the wind and the waves against the Lord and His disciples as the Lord set out to the land of the Gadarenes to deliver the demon-possessed man.

4. There were other little boats with Him. Mark 4:36b. But when the Lord crossed over with His disciples to the land of the Gadarenes, His was the only boat that reached the other side. Apparently the 'little boats' could not withstand the storm and turned back to shore.

5. 'He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow.' Mark 4:38a. We see the Lord's humanity here. He was tired, because He was physical like you and me. He walked in the flesh when He was in Palestine 2000 years ago. He went through all our infirmities of the flesh. He knows all our weaknesses.

6. It is marvellous to note that the Lord was asleep during the storm. Nothing could upset Him; not even a 'great windstorm'. He is the Prince of Peace.

7. The disciples found fault with the Lord. 'Teacher, do You not care?' Of course, He cares for us. That's why we cast all our cares upon Him, for He cares for us. 1 Pet 5:7.

8. He rebuked the wind and the sea. The original Greek in verse 39 is "Be muzzled!" The Lord knew that Satan was behind the storm.

9. Just as there was a great windstorm, there was a great calm. The sea became as still as glass. What a mighty demonstration of our Lord's power! Psalm 107:29 says, 'He calms the storm down to a whisper!'

10. 'Why are you so fearful?' Mark 4:40a. Fear is the opposite of faith. That's why we have the exhortation in the Old Testament: 'Be strong and of good courage!' Doubt, worry and fear are three great weapons in the armoury of Satan. The only way to counter fear is to keep trusting the Lord, holding on to His promises and carrying His peace in our hearts. Prayer and praise are two ways of maintaining the peace in our hearts.

11. 'They feared exceedingly.' Mark 4:41. This is a different kind of fear. It is awe. The disciples witnessed a mighty demonstration of the Lord's power. Were they in the presence of the Almighty God?

12. The main thought in this passage is that the Lord is with us in all our troubles, and He will carry us through. He is the God of peace, the Lord of peace and the Prince of Peace Himself. With Christ in the vessel, we will ride through the storm! We will smile at the storm! He will carry us through all the storms of life, and bring us safely to our destination!

©Pratonix