“But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said, ‘Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?’ And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, ‘Peace! Be Still!’ And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. He said to them, ‘Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?'”
Mark 4:38-40
The Story: This passage of Scripture recounts the events of Jesus and the disciples’ boat trip across the Sea of Galilee. On this particular evening, they decided to leave the crowd that had gathered to listen to Jesus teach throughout the day. They entered their boat and set out for the country of the Gerasenes.
To provide some context, in the earlier verses of Mark 4, Jesus began his teaching with the “Parable of the Sower” and concluded the day with the “Parable of the Mustard Seed.” This Gospel records that Jesus had to enter a boat and sit in it because the crowd was so large. Later, as they cast off, Jesus took the opportunity to sleep, tired from a full day of preaching and teaching. He left the navigation responsibilities to his disciples, who were mainly experienced fishermen.
The Storm: The Bible recounts a violent windstorm that arose, causing their boat to take on water and throwing the disciples into fear and panic. While chaos brewed at the front of the boat, Jesus was still sleeping in the stern, located at the back. Finally, out of desperation, they abruptly awakened him, crying out (v38), “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” Jesus arose from his nap and immediately rebuked the wind and the sea with his words (v39), “Peace! Be still!” By the word of his mouth, the raging winds ceased, and there was great calm in the sea.
Jesus then turned his attention to his bewildered disciples. This Gospel account highlights three questions worth examining that are still instructive for us today. Like the disciples, we often lose sight of God, the Lord of all Creation, when we lapse into unbelief.
Question #1: Why Are You So Afraid?
The disciples’ reaction to this peril demonstrates how quickly we can abandon our hope in God and succumb to doubt. The prophet Elijah is another excellent example of someone who experienced the might and glory of God in defeating 450 prophets of Baal at Mt. Carmel. Yet, in the next moment, he fled from Ahab’s wife (Jezebel) when she threatened his life (1 Kgs 18-19). God had to address Elijah’s issue of faith. It is not a sin to be afraid, but lapses of faith can occur when we give in to our fears. Hopelessness grows within us as we doubt God’s ability to effect positive change in our situations. This attitude is reflected in the hearts of the disciples when they awaken Jesus and say to him (v38), “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?”
Question #2: Where Has Your Faith Gone?
Up to this point in the Gospel of Mark, Jesus performed several signs and miracles that demonstrate His identity as the God-man, the Son of God. The disciples witnessed him healing the sick, casting out demonic spirits, cleansing lepers, and even performing a miracle for a paralytic man, granting him the ability to walk. Even after all they witnessed, they doubted whether Jesus could save them from the perilous storm. This is the heart behind why Jesus charges them (v40), “Have you still no faith?”
When we suffer trials, we can often respond like the disciples, especially if our problems drag on and it seems God is delaying in answering our prayers for deliverance. When we lose hope in God, it is often because we have lost sight of His character and power.
Question #3: Who Then Is This, That Even the Wind and Sea Obey Him?
Why is it important to remember who Christ is in the midst of life’s storms? His identity reminds us of His character, power, and divine purposes. The disciples had experienced Jesus as:
- Forgiver of Sins (Mk 2:10)
- The Word of God (Mk 1:22)
- Sovereign over Heaven & Earth (Heb 1:2-4; 2:8)
Now, He demonstrates authority over nature. We are reminded that all creation was made through Christ and for Christ. John says (Jn 1:1-3), “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 was not anything made that was made.” Paul affirms this truth when he taught the church in Colossae (Col 1:15-16), “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. (16) For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible…” The disciples had to be reminded that as Lord of all Creation, Jesus could suspend the laws of physics, thus stilling the winds and calming the seas.
Closing Thoughts
As believers, God has given us faith that enables us to focus on His character and identity, especially in the midst of trials. We must remember that God does not make mistakes. He never arrives too soon, nor is He ever late. He is always right on time and has a divine purpose for everything we experience in our lives. Though our circumstances constantly fluctuate, we can be confident in faith that our God never changes. We can also trust that fear is not from God, but a manifestation of our earthly, fallen condition. Paul teaches (2 Tim 1:7), “…for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.” In the face of trials, we can stand…not in cowardice…but in the strength that God supplies through faith.
In the focus passage, the disciples erred by placing their faith in human strength, skills, and experience to navigate their boat in treacherous waters. Instead of trying to save themselves, they should have imitated Jesus’s disposition. He rested quietly during the storm, knowing that God the Father would preserve and deliver them through trial. We must recognize that at times God will allow our human efforts to fail us so that we can learn to depend on Him, not on our own self-sufficiency. Paul learned this same lesson in his missionary journeys and shares his testimony with the church in Corinth when he says (2 Cor 1:8-10), “For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. (9) Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. (10) He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again.” Amen.
Dr. Jason S. Price, Th.D
www.springoflivingwaters.com
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