Jesus Calms a Storm

Lesson Text: Mark 4:35-41

 Related Scriptures: Psalm 10723-32; Jonah 1:1-16; Matthew 8:23-27; Luke 8:22-25; Acts 27:13-44

 

TIME: between A.D. 26 and 30                                       PLACE: Sea of Galilee

 

 Introduction

 Over the last two weeks, we have seen God's overwhelming power. This week. we see Jesus display that same power to calm a violent storm and control the weather.

 

Only God has the power to control the raging sea, and Jesus therefore demonstrated His divinity in this passage. And yet, He also grew tired and needed sleep. demonstrating His real humanity. In response to His demonstration of power, the disciples marveled and wondered, "What manner of n is this, that even the wind and the obey him?" (Mark 4:411.

 

One implication of this passage is Jesus can deliver us from troubles of our lives. No matter how  the Storms of life may rage around us, He is all-powerful and able to deliver us easily. At the same time, however, that is not the main point of the story. The main point is Jesus' identity truly God and truly man. Every one of us must answer the disciples' question: Who is Jesus?

 

LESSON OUTLINE

1. The Setting Mark 4:35-36

2. The Storm—Mark 4: 37-38

3. Jesus' Response Mark 4L39-40

4. The Disciples' Response Mark 4:41

 

Exposition: Verse by Verse

 

THE SETTING

4:35 And the same day, when was come, he saith them, pass over unto the other side.

36 And when they had away e, they him even as in the ship. And there him other little ships.

 

After a long day of teaching, Jesus told the disciples to go to the other side of the Sea of Galilee. Presumably, He did that to rest, as He did on other occasions with the disciples (cf. Mark The long day had exhausting. As a human being, Jesus had physical needs for food, water, and sleep (cf. Matt. 4:2; 21:18). So did the disciples; they needed a break. (Tangentially, if even Jesus needed rest, why do some of us think that we don't?)

 

{This passage comes immediately after a series of parables (Mark 4:10 34). Jesus had been teaching about the kingdom of God, and now He was about to demonstrate its power.}at It Seems probable that these were some of the parables Jesus had told just before getting into the boat  or perhaps from the boat. Would the disciples prove to be rocky ground or rich soil (cf. vss. 1-20)? Had they the secret of the kingdom of God (cf. vs. 1 1), and would they it grow (cf vss. 26-32)?

 

(Sometimes, when the crowd was thick and crushing, Jesus would get into a boat and put off a little from the shore. That way, He would not be tightly surrounded by people and could more easily seen and heard by a greater number of people. From there, He would preach to the people (Luke 5:1-11). That may have been the case here.)Q2 After a long day of preaching (Mark 4:1-34) and perhaps also performing miracles, He was tired, and they headed for the other side of the sea.

 

The remark in verse 36 that other boats were with Him has no real bearing on this story, but it have surprising importance for us. We never hear anything specific about the people who followed after Jesus and the apostles, what condition they were in, or even their names. They are not recorded interacting Jesus during or after the storm. {Although this may therefore seem like a wasted time, it is quite helpful for us, precisely ‘because it has no real relevance to the story. If you were making up a carefully crafted myth in the first (cf. 2 Pet. 1:16), you would not throw in random, irrelevant details like this. But we Say this sort of thing in passing all the time during everyday conversation when telling a story. This throwaway line about an incidental detail is the mark of a true eyewitness not a legend. It provides internal evidence that someone who was a real eyewitness (almost certainly Peter, according to church history) recounted this story to Mark, and he it faithfully for us }Q3

 

The Gospels present historical events, not myths. The details that Jesus Slept on a cushion and that He in the stern are like the mention of other they do not deeply impact the narrative but are marks of real eyewitness testimony. (The fact that the disciples are often portrayed in a less-than-flattering throughout all the Gospels is also a mark of authenticity.)

{The disciples did not get into this storm because they disobeyed Jesus. He did not command them to go in one direction only for them to flee the opposite way, as Jonah had centuries earlier. In fact, the disciples got this storm precisely because they obeyed His command to cross over to the other side. Q4  Not all difficulties in life are the result of disobedience—in fact: some difficulties may come p because we obey God! But He is i control of even those difficult circumstances and has the power to bring us through them.

When we experience hardships, we sometimes meticulously examine our lives to see whether we have sinned somehow and are being disciplined That is not inappropriate, because sometimes we are being disciplined But sometimes, we are not. If we assume that every time someone has trouble, they are experiencing God' discipline, we make the same mistake as Job's friends (cf. Job 4:1-321). Sometimes the difficulties we experience are because of our disobedience (Cf. I pet. 3:17). Did Jesus supernaturally know this storm was when He told them to get in the boat? We do not know, but it is very possible He did. If so, He led them directly and intentionally into the storm to further reveal who He is.

 

THE STORM

37 And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves into the ship, so it was now full.

38 And he was in the hinder part of the ship, on a and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?

 

A great storm Suddenly arose on the sea, shaking the boat and frightening even the most experienced sailors of the group. Although not all of Jesus' apostles were former fishermen, a lot of them were. These were not inexperienced men scared of a small wind and a little rain. Some of them had spent years on this very sea, yet they were frightened by the power of the Storm. Even with modern technology, ships can be battered by powerful storms. Imagine how terrifying it would have been in a first-century wooden vessel!

 

{Meanwhile, Jesus was fast asleep! is highlights Jesus' genuine humanity. He was completely exhausted! After long day of preaching, He was worn He was not a tireless superhero. truly experienced human weakness, and He needed rest.Q5

It seems that the disciples waited for a while to wake Jesus. They did not wake when the clouds gathered. They did not wake Him when the wind picked the waters got a little rough. Only when the waves were filling the boat did they wake Jesus. They had not wanted to bother Him before, but they needed Him. perhaps before thought that they could manage themselves, but now they recognized that they were truly desperate. How often do we do the same thing, trying to manage things ourselves and only coming to God as a last resort when we are truly desperate?

 

When the disciples asked whether Jesus cared about them, they were questioning His character, not His (They seemed to believe that He could do something—that was the Whole point of waking Him up, after all! It is not clear what they expected Jesus io do given their shock and fear when He did respond, and perhaps it was just nervous panic, but they expected Him to do something. Perhaps they thought He would call out to God in prayer, and they would be delivered.)Q6

 

JESUS' RESPONSE

39 And he arose, and rebuked the Wind, and said unto the peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.

40 And he said unto them, are so fearful? how is it that n0 faith ?

 

When Jesus woke, He stood up and rebuked the Wind and the sea, and the storm died down immediately. It was not a gradual calming but a dramatic and sudden stillness. He did not repeatedly pray to the Lord about the weather as Elijah had done (1 Kgs. 18:41-46). Nor did He act in response to a command from God, as Moses had when parting the Red sea (Ex. 14:16-21). That might have shown He was at least a true prophet, but this was far more dramatic. He did not perform some elaborate ceremony or ritual. He did not even pray' He simply commanded the Storm, and it instantly obeyed Him.

The sudden storm had been frightening, but the eerie calm was even more terrifying. Before, their fear had been for their lives, but now their fear.

was the reverent realization of Jesus' tremendous power. The man in the boat was far more powerful than the storm that had previously frightened them. No wonder they were terrified as this suddenly dawned on them with startling clarity.

 

The disciples had seen Jesus miraculously heal many people and cast out demons already (Mark 1:29-34, 3:7-12), but this miracle had an epic scope to it. {Jesus had power that belonged to God alone. Only God could calm a storm (cf. Ps. Q7

 

The apostles had woken Jesus up because, they rightly He could do something, but He still rebuked them for having no faith. They might have thought, “Wait a minute, we do have faith that's why we woke you! They seemed to believe that He had the power to do something. {But genuine faith involves more than just belief in Jesus' power. It also includes trust in His love. Q8  When we believe that God is all powerful but question God's care for us and doubt His love for us, we are not displaying true faith. We may that He has all the power in the world, but if we question His character, we are not showing genuine faith in Him. We must have belief in both His power and His goodness.

 

Faith also involves trusting God when He is seemingly doing nothing. Jesus had been asleep, and the storm had been raging. Yet if the disciples had deeply believed that Jesus was the Messiah, that He had a divine mission, and that God would not allow Him to drown in boat, they could have had confidence, even though God appeared to be doing nothing. The faith- filled act may have still been for them to wake Jesus up and ask Him to help them, but they would have asked Him differently. Lest we be too hard on the disciples, we should remember that we can all too often question whether God really loves us when He allows difficulties in our lives.

 

After calming the storm, Jesus asked the disciples why they ‘were afraid. When we have faith and a proper fear of God, we do not need to fear anyone or anything else. He rules over all of creation. He commands storms, demons, disease, and death. We do not need to fear other people(cf. Prov. 29:25). We do not need to fear circumstances.  If God is for us, who can be against us? Nothing can separate us from His love (Rom. 8:31-39). The practical question is, What do we fear, God or circumstances? If we fear our circumstances, we need to spend more time reflecting on who  God is—both the fact that He has all power and that He is love (1 John' 4:8). He has the power to solve all the problems in our lives, and He loves and cares for us.

 

{Also, note that the storm and saved them even though He rebuked them for having no faith.} Q9 Even when our faith is weak and mi With fear, He hears us. Even when have doubts, He hears us. Even when we think He does not care, He h us, and He acts. We do not need waste time worrying whether our faith is strong enough before we come to Him for help. He Will not turn us a just because our faith is weak. When we call out to Him, He will respond.

 

THE DISCIPLES' RESPONSE

MARK 4:41 And they feared Exceedingly, and said one to another What manner of man is this, that the wind and the sea obey him?

 

{The disciples' question in verse is the main point of the story. }Q10  Who was this, who both needed sleep a could calm the storm with a word. While it is right to say that Jesus calm the metaphorical storms in lives, that is not the main point of t passage. The focus 'is on Jesus and his identity. Perhaps Mark allows the question to hang unanswered in the narrative for rhetorical effect. He provides us with clear evidence, but we must reach the obvious conclusion ourselves. Everyone must answer the question: Who is Jesus?

 

Mark does not ultimately leave that question unanswered. This story provides clear evidence of Jesus' identity; indeed, all of Mark's Gospel demonstrates that Jesus is the Son of God (1:1), something that becomes increasingly clear throughout the book. From this specific Story we see clearly that is a real man Who gets tired and needs to rest. He is fully and truly human, with real needs and weaknesses. When Jesus took on humanity, He was made like us in every way, except that He never sinned (Heb. 2:17).

 

Jesus is also fully and truly God, able to command the Winds and the waves. No one else possesses the power to control a storm. He did not need to plead With God to change the weather, as the prophet Elijah had. He did not act 'in response to God's command, as Moses had. He personally had the power to change the weather in an instant. He is not partly divine or part of the divine; He is completely God (Col. 2:9). He is fully human and fully divine.

 

As difficult as it is to comprehend how both these things can be true at once, we must affirm them both. The earliest heresies in the church usually denied that Jesus was truly human. Today, false teachers are more likely to acknowledge His humanity but question His divinity. No credible historian questions Jesus' existence as a historical figure, but many deny that He is who He claimed to be. But if Jesus had not been God, He would not have been capable of redeeming us. If He had not been man, He could not represent us before God. We must Bible and affirm both Jesus' humanity and His divinity. There is no one like Him!

 

This account is primarily about Who Jesus is. Before we allegorize this Story and say that Jesus can guide us through the storms of our lives (which He can), we first need to answer the question the disciples asked. Who is this? Who do you say that Jesus is? We must accept that He is fully God and fully man to accept Him as He is.

 

Do you tend to forget either Jesus' divinity or His humanity in your daily life? If we forget His divinity, we will miss His authority and If we downplay His humanity, we will miss that He understands and sympathizes with our weakness. What might that have on our lives? Tom Greene

 

QUESTIONS

1. What happened immediately before this passage?

2. How did Jesus sometimes preach to crowds?

3. How is the details that there were other boats helpful to us?

4. Why were the disciples caught in the storm?

5. What does Jesus falling asleep demonstrate?

6. Why did the disciples awake Jesus in the storm?

7. What did Jesus' Calming of the storm demonstrate¯

8. What two things genuine faith involve?

9. How did Jesus respond to the disciples' lack of faith?

10. What is the Main point of this story?

 

Preparing to Teach the Lesson

 

 Today's lesson is one of the most popular events in the life of Christ. This account is in Matthew, Mark, and Luke (the Synoptic This miracle further explains God's omnipotence, showing that Jesus Christ has power over nature. As the Son of God, Jesus has to the Father's.

 

TODAY'S AIM

Facts: to observe Jesus calming the storm.

Principle: to understand that He has power over nature.

Application: to realize God is in control of every aspect of Our lives.

 

INTRODUCING THE LESON

This Story shows us that the Lord isn't Surprised or worried about anything. The disciples were anxious about the storm and worried for their lives, but Jesus slept.

 

DEVELOPING THE LESON

1. Jesus crosses the sea With His disciples (Mark 4:35-36).

Chapter 4 begins with Jesus’ teaching in parables. A uses a simple Story to explain a deeper truth. When Jesus used parables, the hearer knew He was illustrating something With a story. Parables are not historical accounts of real people. They are stories. Sometimes Jesus would explain the meaning of a parable, other times He chose not to (cf. Matt. 13: 10-17)

 After teaching, Jesus decided to leave crossing the sea to the area of the Gadarenes. Verse 85 tells us that it was His idea to leave that evening via boat. This is an interesting example of the Lord placing His followers in stressful situations to grow their faith. He knew the storm was coming 16, 2025 that day, just as He knows about the storms in our lives. In verse 36, we are told that Jesus was teaching from that same boat previously mentioned. The people gathered along the Galilean shore and the water helped carry His voice. It was like an amphitheater. other boats went with them carrying other followers.

 

2. Jesus sleeps as a terrifying storm (Mark 4:37-38).

The Sea of Galilee is quite large. It is surrounded by hills, and ravines with mighty Winds that can funnel storms onto the lake. In the back of some of our Bibles, there are of this area of the world. It is about thirteen miles long and seven miles Wide. This was the same lake some of the-disciple had lived by when Jesus called them and upon which Jesus later walked on the water.

 

Verse 37 says a windstorm started suddenly and the boat began to fill with water. Jesus was in the stern (the back) of the boat, asleep on a cushion We can imagine the extreme image a horrible storm to a sleeping teacher. He showed the disciples (and us) that in times of stress, we should trust God. But in the heat the moment, the disciples woke Him and asked if He cared if they die. They thought He did not care abo their safety, but He was in control a at peace. This must have been a very bad storm to scare this group of that included professional fisherman Who had probably experienced severe weather on that same body of water,

 

It is interesting to compare this eve to the story of Jonah who fell asleep on a boat during a storm and had been awakened by others. In Jonah 1 read that the sailors worried that they would die in the terrible Storm, so they begged Jonah to pray to his God.  Jesus Himself, Jonah's God, was also asleep on a boat in a storm.

 

3. Jesus calms the storm and chastises the disciples for their lack of faith (Mark 4:3941).

Jesus got up and rebuked the Wind and told the waves, (vs. 39). The storm ended, and there was calm. The Lord has power over nature. This amazing po er contained in the spoken words of Christ reminds us that He created the universe by speaking. Psalm 107:23-32 tells of God's amazing power to great storms and to calm them.

 

Jesus also took this opportunity to rebuke His disciples by asking, "Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?' (Mark 4:40). We see two interconnected things: fear and lack of faith. They should have trusted Him. This was near the beginning of their three-year apprenticeship With Christ, but they still should have known that God is our refuge and strength even when the waters roar (Ps. 46: 1-3).

 

It is interesting to think about the situation. If we were in a boat with Jesus, would we afraid of a storm? Many would probably answer "No!" But isn't the Lord with us every day, yet we experience fear? Is possible to be in a situation of great stress and then choose faith over fear?

 

The response recorded here (and in Matthew and Luke) is interesting in a few ways. They did not immediately repent. Nor did they rejoice that Jesus saved them from drowning. Verse 41 says they were and asked one another what kind of man Jesus is, that He Can calm Winds and waves. of course, we know the answer: He is God! Multiple times in the Gospel of Mark, we see people amazed by the miracles of Jesus. Mark's proportionally records the most miracles of Jesus compared to the other three Gospels. These miracles indicated J sus' identity as God's Son (Mark I :I).

 

ILLUSTRATING THE LESON

Jesus' disciples were afraid the storm would overtake them. Jesus was not afraid. He can calm any Storm. Jesus can calm any storm.

 

CONCLUDING THE LESSON

It makes sense that the Creator has complete control over His creation. This is one of multiple occasions on which the Lord showed His power Over nature. How can this characteristic of God help you in your life? How do you respond to situations beyond your control? Do you pray big prayers? Do you trust Him to do even more than you could expect (cf. Eph. 320)? Jesus rebuked the storm and His disciples. He was disappointed in their lack of faith. What does the Lord think about our faith? We know that the storms of life come. Do we trust the Lord to take care of us in the storm?

 

ANTICIPATING THE NEXT LESON

 

Next week's Bible study picks up where this one leave off. Mark 5, Jesus and the disciples finish their boat trip by arriving at area of the Gadarenes. Jesus is immediately met by a demon-possessed man. In our next lesson, we will explore the Lord's power over demons. Adam Clagg

 

PRACTICAL POINTS

1. Sometimes obeying Jesus’ lead, us into difficulty (Mark 4:35-37).

2. Jesus understands our needs, so we can pray confidently (vs. 38).

3. When difficulty comes, sometimes we doubt God's goodness. But even when we only have a little faith, Jesus answers prayer (vss. 38-39).

4. Jesus has power that belongs to God alone and is fully (Mark 4:39; cf. John 8•58; Col. 1:15-20).

5. Doubting God's goodness shows we lack true faith, even if we believe in His power (Mark 440). 6. God is to be feared (Mark 4:41; cf. Deut. 10:12; Eccl. 12:13).

 

RESEARCH AND DISCUSSION

l. Do you tend to emphasize either Jesus' divinity Or His humanity more than the other? Why is that?

2. How does it negatively impact our lives if we forget Jesus' humanity? What are some verses that clearly teach His humanity?

3. How does it negatively impact our lives if we forget Jesus' deity? What are some verses that clearly teach His deity?

4. If God still answers the prayers of those who have weak or no faith (Mark 4:40), What are we to make of calls to pray in faith, such as James.1:6-8?

5. What does a proper fear of God look like (cf. Ps. 130:3-5; Prov. 9:10)? How does this fit with 1 John 4:18?

6. If you don't fear God in your daily life, what can you do to help that?

 

ILLUSTRATED HIGH POINTS

He saith unto them, “Let us pass over (Mark 4:35)

When Susan converted from Islam to Christianity in 2009, her father beat her, threatened to kill her, and locked her up. When the Ugandan police finally rescued her, she was severely malnourished. She will likely require crutches her whole life, but she has mostly recovered. Did Susan do something wrong to suffer this way? No, she did not.  Smetimes our obedience to Jesus results in difficulty.

 

Master, carest thou not (vs. 38)

The famous musical Les Miserables opens in a harsh work camp. In response to one prisoner's prayer, the others sing "Sweet Jesus doesn't Care." This illustrates how many feel in the face of disaster. But God does care. Joseph was imprisoned in Egypt so that good would come (Gen. 5020). Jesus cried out on the cross, asking why had abandoned Him (Matt. 2746). But on the cross, He won the greatest victory the world has ever known. Even when it seems God does not care, He does.

 

What manner of man is this (Mark 4:41)

C.S. Lewis argued in Mere Christianity that Jesus must be a lunatic, a liar, or the Lord. If He was a lunatic or a liar, His followers would have realized that shortly after His death. However, they claimed to have seen Him risen from the dead, and they maintained this under torture and death. A few atheists try to a fourth option: that Jesus was e made-up legend. But reliable secular sources mention Him, and no credible historian doubts Jesus' existence. There is only one possible conclusion: Jesus is who He-said He is—the Lord!