Mark 4: 35 – 41
The Perfect Storm
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!”
In the Gospels of Matthew and Luke we find their reports on this same situation. So, let us see what they have to say.
Matthew 8:23-27, “23 Now when He got into a boat, His disciples followed Him. 24 And suddenly a great tempest arose on the sea, so that the boat was covered with the waves. But He was asleep. 25 Then His disciples came to Him and awoke Him, saying, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!” 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. 27 So the men marveled, saying, “Who can this be, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?”
Luke 8: 22 – 25, “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. 23 But as they sailed He fell asleep. And a windstorm came down on the lake, and they were filling with water, and were in jeopardy. 24 And they came to Him and awoke Him, saying, “Master, Master, we are perishing!” Then He arose and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water. And they ceased, and there was a calm. 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!”
By most historians findings the Gospel of Matthew was written before Mark and Luke penned their Gospels. Matthew was an apostle who was also called Levi. Our Lord approached him while he was working as a tax collector and instructed him to leave his profession and become the Lord’s follower. Matthew had over three years of personal interaction with our Precious Lord. He was an eyewitness to this entire amazing occurrence
Mark was Peter’s step son in the faith. Peter was a disciple before Matthew. He was also in the Lord’s inner circle and witnessed more fantastic displays of the Lord’s Power and Authority. Peter rehashed all that he knew about his life walking with the Lord to Mark who wrote down all the information as inspired by our Wonderful Holy Spirit.
Luke probably never saw the Lord, yet he was an excellent investigator. He probably was able to talk to Peter, Matthew, Mark and the other Apostles about this situation.
In our study we are now going to come across three incidents which reveal that our Lord Jesus Christ is the Creator. Without Him nothing was Created. What an Awesome and Amazing God we have folks. In the Gospel of John chapter 1 we read, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.
That ‘darkness’ that did not comprehend the Creator is the ‘darkness’ that all of us have. We need His Power to bring forth light in our lives. We read in the book of Ephesians chapter 4, “17 This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, 18 having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart; 19 who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.
In today’s study we will see how The Messiah, our Lord and Savior, Is the Creator. He quiets the storm over nature and over the hearts and minds of His disciples. In the next study we will see how our Master quiets the storm in a man’s life that is bombarded by evil spirits. And then in the study after we will see how He stills the storm in the lives of various people.
You will hear over and over from me how great and important it is to study the Scriptures. Memorize this verse out of the Gospel of John chapter 5, “38 But you do not have His word abiding in you, because whom He sent, Him you do not believe. 39 You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. 40 But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.”
He Is The Beginning and The End. Everything in our existence is truly about Him.
You see our Holy Spirit throughout our Lord’s daily activities has planned out different situations which point out the Majesty of our Lord Jesus. When you look at each event you see that our Wonderful Holy Ghost sets about a particular occurrence which will point to all mankind that our Lord Jesus Christ Is the Promised Messiah.
Look at just some of these Scriptures which point out how the Messiah deals with the storms of life.
Psalm 8, “9 You rule the raging of the sea; When its waves rise, You still them.’
Psalm 65:6-8, “6 Who established the mountains by His strength, being clothed with power; 7 You who still the noise of the seas, the noise of their waves, and the tumult of the peoples. 8 They also who dwell in the farthest parts are afraid of Your signs; You make the outgoings of the morning and evening rejoice.”
Do you catch the significance of this Psalm 65. Not only will out Lord show His disciples that He Is the Creator God, He will also equip them to be able to deal with the storms in life that they will experience after He has completed His work on earth and has gone back to Heaven.
Let’s now take a look at today’s passages.
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.
Peter who was there at the time of this boat cruise, gives us more details than Matthew and Luke. For one thing he points out to his adopted son in the faith, Mark, that it was evening when everyone set out. Also, please note that it says in Mark, ‘that other little boats were also with Him.”
Doesn’t this give you a better picture when we include all versions of the event?
37 And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling.
The Sea of Galilee is in reality a lake. However, it is very deep and its location and setting allow for sudden storms to come out of no where. This storm, however, I believe was not just a regular storm but was brought on by Satan who wanted to destroy all those in the boats. You will see my point in a little while.
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?”
Now in the boat at the front which is the ‘stern’ many times there is a mat or cushion. Please note how exhausted our Lord was? I mean, that He, along with the disciples, is getting soaked, and yet He stays fast asleep. The boat was filling with water from the waves. The forceful rocking of the boat from the waves and even being wet did not wake up the Lord. I believe Satan observing this thought that he had an opportune time to attack when he thought our Lord wouldn’t be expecting it.
Now here is something important that I believe many bible teachers miss. Look again at what the disciples said to our Lord in trying to wake Him up ‘24 And they came to Him and awoke Him, saying, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?’
Our Precious Holy Spirit was aware of all this situation. He set it in motion. Satan can’t outfox God, Who Is El Shaddai – God Almighty.
Remember that all of these guys were experienced fishermen. They have lived their lives on this sea and had experience being out there in various storms. This one was different because, please notice, that our Great God rebukes it.
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?”
Our Wonderful Holy Ghost had set about to teach our Lord’s disciples on Who they were following. They were following Jehovan Elyon – The Lord Most High. You see by there remarks given by Mark and Matthew, their address to our Holy Adoni Yeshua, was evidence that they did not know of His Importance and Significance. They called Him ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord’
You might be saying now, ‘Well they did recognize Him as ‘Lord’, didn’t they. Yes, but it was not as LORD. Do you see my point? He was respected by some as being the one in charge, but they had not come to full grips of His deity.
41 And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, “Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!”
Luke was a believer in the Son of God and he was a companion of the apostle Paul. In his Gospel he now gives our Lord the Title He does deserve which is ‘Master.’
One last thing I want to zero in on and it is this, ‘Why did out Lord say to them all, ‘Why are you afraid, where is your faith?’
I do not know about you but I would probably be quite afraid if I was with these guys. So, why did our Lord address them regarding their lack of faith?
It is because He had told them that they were going to the other side of the lake. It doesn’t matter what storms or road blocks that the enemy tries to throw in our paths. If our Lord said that they were going to the other side, then they will make it to the other side.
You see our Lord gives us His Word. And all that He says can be taken to the bank. If He has said it, then it will happen. If He has said, that He has gone to prepare us a place and that where He Is, He will come again to receive us, it will happen.
Do you believe everything in the bible? If not please call a local bible believing church no later than tomorrow and ask to speak to someone. Please get this matter settled once and for all in your heart and mind.
