Mark 4:35-41

3. THE FIRST WITHDRAWAL 4:355:20

a. The Stilling of the Tempest 4:35-41

TEXT 4:35-41

And on that day, when even was come, he saith unto them, Let us go over unto the other side. And leaving the multitude, they take him with them, even as he was, in the boat. And other boats were with him. And there ariseth a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the boat, insomuch that the boat was now filling. And he himself was in the stern, asleep on the cushion: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? And he awoke, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. And he said unto them, Why are ye fearful? have ye not yet faith? And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?

THOUGHT QUESTIONS 4:35-41

202.

On what day (or night) did this incident occur?

203.

What is meant by the expression unto the other side? Where was it? Mark 4:35.

204.

Explain the expression even as He was. Mark 4:36.

205.

How far was it to the other side?

206.

Describe in your own words the storm.

207.

Why was Jesus asleep?

208.

What did the disciples imagine Jesus could do about the storm? Did they lack faith?

209.

Could this power here exercised by Jesus be compared with the creation of the world? How?

210.

There are two uses of the word fear: Mark 4:40-41. Explain each.

COMMENT

TIMEImmediately after the telling of the last parableon the same daysometime in the autumn of A.D. 28.
PLACEIn the midst of the Sea of Galilee somewhere between Capernaum and Gerasa.

PARALLEL ACCOUNTSMatthew 8:23-27; Luke 8:22-25.

OUTLINE1. The day of the miracle, Mark 4:35. Mark 4:2. The voyage to the other side, Mark 4:36. Mark 4:3. The storm, Mark 4:37. Mark 4:4. Jesus asleep, the fear of the disciples, Mark 4:38. Mark 4:5. Jesus stills the storm, Mark 4:39. Mark 4:6. The calm of Jesusthe reverence of the disciples, Mark 4:40-41.

ANALYSIS

I.

THE DAY OF THE MIRACLE, Mark 4:35.

1.

The same day as the parables.

2.

At eventide.

II.

THE VOYAGE TO THE OTHER SIDE, Mark 4:36.

1.

Left multitude.

2.

Jesus taken in the little boat from which He taught the parables.

III.

THE STORM, Mark 4:37.

1.

The great wind.

2.

Waves into the boat.

3.

Boat filling up.

IV.

JESUS SLEEPS, THE DISCIPLES FEAR, Mark 4:38.

1.

Jesus in the stern on a cushion.

2.

Awaked and asked for help.

V.

JESUS STILLS THE STORM, Mark 4:39.

1.

Rebuked the wind.

2.

Stilled the sea.

VI.

THE CALM OF JESUSTHE REVERENCE OF THE DISCIPLES, Mark 4:40-41.

1.

No need of fear when there is faith.

2.

What manner of man is this?

EXPLANATORY NOTES

I.

THE DAY OF THE MIRACLE, Mark 4:35.

These verses describe a storm on the Sea of Galilee, when our Lord and His disciples were crossing it, and a miracle performed by our Lord in calming the storm in a moment. Few miracles recorded in the Gospel were so likely to strike the minds of the disciples as this. Four of them at least were fishermen. Peter, Andrew, James and John, had probably known the Sea of Galilee, and its storms, from their youth. Few events in our Lord's journeyings to and fro upon earth, contain more rich instruction than the one related in this passage.

II.

THE VOYAGE TO THE OTHER SIDE, Mark 4:36.

Let us learn, in the first place, that Christ's service does not exempt His servants from storms, Here were the twelve disciples in the path of duty. They were obediently following Jesus, wherever He went. They were daily attending on His ministry, and hearkening to His word. They were daily testifying to the world, that, whatever Scribes and Pharisees might think, they believed on Jesus, loved Jesus, and were not ashamed to give up all for His sake. Yet here we see these men in trouble, tossed up and down by a tempest, and in danger of being drowned.

III.

THE STORM, Mark 4:37.

Let us mark well this lesson. If we are true Christians, we must not expect everything smooth in our journey to heaven. We must count it no strange thing, if we have to endure sicknesses, losses, bereavements, and disappointments, just like other men. Free pardon and full forgiveness, grace by the way, and glory at the end,all this our Saviour has promised to give. But He has never promised that we shall have no afflictions. He loves us too well to promise that. By affliction He teaches us many precious lessons, which without we should never learn. By affliction He shows us our emptiness and weakness, draws us to the throne of grace, purifies our affections, weans us from the world, makes us long for heaven. In the resurrection morning we shall all say, It is good for me that I was afflicted. We shall thank God for every storm.

IV.

JESUS SLEEPS, THE DISCIPLES FEAR, Mark 4:38.

Let us learn, in the second place, that our Lord Jesus Christ was really and truly man. We are told in these verses, that when the storm began, and the waves beat over the ship, he was in the hinder part asleep. He had a body exactly like our own,a body that could hunger, and thirst, and feel pain, and be weary, and need rest. No wonder that His body needed repose at this time. He had been diligent in His Father's business all the day. He had been preaching to a great multitude in the open air. No wonder that when the even was come, and His work finished, He fell asleep.

Let us mark this lesson also attentively. The Saviour in whom we are bid to trust, is as really man as He is God. He knows the trials of a man, for He has experienced them. He knows the bodily infirmities of a man for He has felt them. He can well understand what we mean, when we cry to Him for help in this world of need. He is just the very Saviour that men and women, with weary frames and aching heads, in a weary world, require for their comfort every morning and night. We have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities. (Hebrews 4:15.)

V.

JESUS STILLS THE STORM, Mark 4:39.

Let us learn, in the third place, that our Lord Jesus Christ as God, has almighty power. We see Him in these verses doing that which is proverbially impossible. He speaks to the winds, and they obey Him. He speaks to the waves, and they submit to His command. He turns the raging storm into a calm with a few words,Peace, be still. Those words were the words of Him who first created all things. The elements knew the voice of their Master, and like obedient servants, were quiet at once.

Let us mark this lesson also, and lay it up in our minds, With the Lord Jesus Christ nothing is impossible. No stormy passions are so strong but He can tame them. No temper is so rough and violent but He can change it. No conscience is so disquieted, but He can speak peace to it, and make it calm. No man ever need despair, if he will only bow down his pride, and come as a humbled sinner to Christ. Christ can do miracles upon his heart,No man ever need despair of reaching his journey's end, if he has once committed his soul to Christ's keeping. Christ will carry him through every danger, Christ will make him conqueror over every foe,What though our relations oppose us? What though our neighbors laugh us to scorn? What though our place be hard? What though our temptations be great? It is all nothing, if Christ is on our side, and we are in the ship with Him. Greater is He that is for us, than all they that are against us.

VI.

THE CALM OF JESUSTHE REVERENCE OF THE DISCIPLES, Mark 4:40-41.

Finally, we learn from this passage, that our Lord Jesus Christ is exceedingly patient and pitiful in dealing with His own people. We see the disciples on this occasion showing great want of faith, and giving way to most unseemly fears. They forgot their Master's miracles and care for them in days gone by. They thought of nothing but their present peril. They awoke our Lord hastily, and cried, Carest thou not that we perish? We see our Lord dealing most gently and tenderly with them. He gives them no sharp reproof. He makes no threat of casting them off, because of their unbelief. He simply asks the touching question, Why are ye so fearful? How is it that ye have no faith?

Let us mark well this lesson. The Lord Jesus is very pitiful and of tender mercy. As a father pitieth his children, even so the Lord pitieth them that fear Him. (Psalms 103:13). He does not deal with believers according to their sins, nor reward them according to their iniquities. He sees their weakness. He is aware of their short-comings. He knows all the defects of their faith, and hope, and love, and courage. And yet He will not cast them off. He bears with them continually. He loves them even to the end. He raises them when they fall. He restores them when they err, His patience, like His love, is a patience that passeth knowledge. When he sees a heart right, it is His glory to pass over many a short-coming.

Let us leave these verses with the comfortable recollection that Jesus is not changed. His heart is still the same that it was when He crossed the sea of Galilee and stilled the storm. High in heaven at the right hand of God, Jesus is still sympathizingstill almighty,still pitiful and patient towards His people.Let us be more charitable and patient towards our brethren in the faith. They may err in many things, but if Jesus has received them and can bear with them, surely we may bear with them too.Let us be more hopeful about ourselves. We may be very weak, and frail, and unstable; but if we can truly say that we do come to Christ and believe on Him, we may take comfort. The question for conscience to answer is not, Are we like the angels? are we perfect as we shall be in heaven? The question is, Are we real and true in our approaches to Christ? Do we truly repent and believe? (J. C. Ryle)

FACT QUESTIONS 4:35-41

232.

Who shared in this storm and calm? Cf. Mark 4:36.

233.

Try to approximate the activity of Jesus during the day to understand how weary He was at the close of the day.

234.

Be specific in the reason for the rebuke of Jesus in Mark 4:40.

235.

Do you believe this storm was planned?

236.

What is the greatest lesson in the incident?