Mark 4:36, commentary and pictures

After the multitude was sent away the disciples took Jesus just as He was in the fishermen's boat and hurried across the Sea of Galilee by night toward the quieter, more deserted eastern shore for rest and seclusion, while other little crowded boats eager for more of His teaching followed and landed with them in the morning. Worn out from long teaching and healing, He lay asleep on the hard plank in the stern undisturbed when a sudden fierce tempest with wind and high waves threatened the boats and showed them as mere specks in deadly danger. Though He was aboard with them, they forgot He was there until their own strength and skill failed, and then by His own power over the elements His command stilled the raging sea, bringing quiet and reverent awe under the majesty of God who holds the winds and guards the little boat. To take Him even as He was is to have the Saviour in the heart on land or sea, so that instead of battling temptation's tempests alone believers remember Jesus, bring Him their difficulties, and call to save with living faith that is heard and delivers in the way He knows best. The occupants of the other boats witnessed the stilling and told it abroad, and the disciples remembered it with the transfiguration glory as evidence that He is Messiah and Son of God, yet the Gadarenes who heard of the night's danger and miracle let worldliness and fear of loss turn them from One who could control the elements, cast out demons, and heal.

Crossing to Seclusion

After the multitude was sent away, the disciples took Jesus just as He was in the ship and hurriedly set out across the Sea of Galilee to the other, eastern shore at night. Even as He was meant without delay or preparation, and the vessel was a fishermen's boat in which He was already sitting. The crossing was hasty, undertaken at once upon the dismissing of the crowd.

The eastern shore was sought because it offered rest and seclusion from incessant labor. It was quieter and comparatively deserted and less inhabited than the crowded western shore. Though it had towns here and there beside the lake, it was a desolate region compared with the west, with a population more heathen than Jewish and little communication with Galilee, and thus it gave the quiet that was desired.

Other little ships crowded with people eager to see Jesus and hear more of His teaching quickly followed across the lake. Fishing boats were lying near at hand, and the people pressed into them to go after Him to the other side. After the night upon the water they landed together with Jesus and the disciples in the early morning on the shore of the Gadarenes.

Overcome and exhausted with weariness from long teaching and healing, and for the moment free from the crowd's demands, Jesus stretched out on the hard plank in the stern of the boat and fell asleep. He slept on undisturbed as the storm arose, though the danger grew around Him. His sleep showed utter exhaustion, lying in the stern while the disciples were left to manage the boat.

A sudden, fierce tempest arose with high running waves, strong wind, and spray that threatened the boats. The storm drove the accompanying boats close to the disciples' boat, so their occupants shared the same deadly danger and terror and witnessed what followed. All on the broad deep waters were in peril together, showing finite beings as mere specks upon the sea.

Presence and Deliverance

Jesus was in the boat with His followers when the storm threatened on the crossing. Exhausted and asleep in the stern, undisturbed by the danger, He was forgotten by them in their struggle until their own strength and skill and efforts to save the ship failed. Then His presence became their only hope, and they turned to Him.

By His own power over the elements His command stilled the raging sea and rescued them. His word brought quiet that ended fear and turned it to reverent awe. The deliverance displayed the majesty of God who holds the winds in His hand and controls the waters, who at a glance beholds the highest heavens and the midst of the sea, and who guarded the little careening boat by angels amid high running waves, strong wind, and spray, showing finite beings as mere specks upon the broad deep waters. The event remained vivid in the disciples' memories.

His presence in the boat pictures that people in peril should call on Him rather than rely on themselves and battle the storm alone. He hears the earnest cry and does not forsake those who trust Him. Though He sorrowfully reproves unbelief and self-confidence, and seeking Him only after relying on self and wearing out efforts to save oneself, He never fails to give needed help and accepts the humble petition.

Taking Him even as He was means having the Saviour in the heart, whether on land or on sea, sleeping or waking, so there is no need of fear. When the tempests of temptation gather and the waves sweep over believers till hope is lost and they are ready to perish, living faith that remembers Jesus, brings Him its difficulties, and calls to save does not cry in vain. That living faith smooths the sea of life and delivers from danger in the way He knows to be best, so through tossing crises believers should strengthen faith and press on with courage and hope.

The other little ships crowded across with them, were driven close to the disciples' boat, shared the same deadly danger and terror, and their occupants witnessed the stilling of the tempest. Those who crossed told others about the danger and the miracle, so the voyage became a public witness to His power. They told the Gadarenes about the danger of the previous night and the calming of the storm, yet the Gadarenes, blinded by worldliness and fear of further loss of property, refused the advantage of having among them One who could control the elements, cast out demons, and heal by word or touch, and sent Him from their coast.

That power to speak peace to the troubled sea was evidence of His Messiahship. The disciples remembered the calming of wind and sea together with the voice and glory witnessed at the transfiguration as evidence that Jesus was the Son of God, which strengthened their faith and their hope that He would use His power to free Himself and disperse the crowd.