Mark 4:41, commentary and pictures

After a day of teaching the lake was crossed toward the eastern shore when a sudden storm threatened to sink the boat while Jesus slept, leaving even the fishermen helpless until they cried to him as their only hope, and at his command the wind stopped and the waves sank to rest on a calm sea. A sudden hush fell and the disciples whispered among themselves in astonishment at what kind of person this is that even wind and sea obey him. Their question expresses reverent awe at extraordinary authority over nature, for nature recognized the voice of her Lord and Master, revealing his divine majesty and power as equal with the Father. Their fear in the storm revealed unbelief and self-reliance in trying to save themselves instead of turning at once to Jesus who was with them, and he reproved their lack of faith yet heard their earnest cry and gave the help they needed. The calming stands through all time as evidence of his divine mission and mighty power as Messiah and Son of God, assuring believers in danger and in life's troubles to call on him from the first moment rather than battle alone, for he hears humble petitions, smooths the sea of life, and brings his people safely to land.

The Storm and the Wonder

The crossing took place after a day of teaching and healing, when Jesus sought seclusion on the less-populated eastern shore, yet people followed him in other boats across the lake. A sudden storm rose while Jesus slept and threatened to sink the boat, leaving even the experienced fishermen helpless, fearing death and despairing when they could not control it. They had forgotten that Jesus was with them and had commanded them to cross the sea, so they first tried to save themselves, and only when their efforts failed did they remember him as their only hope and cry out to him.

At his command the angry wind and sea obeyed him and the storm ceased, saving his followers from peril at sea. The wind stopped, the waves sank to rest, the clouds rolled away, the tumult was quieted, and the boat sat motionless on a calm sea. A sudden hush fell so that not a word was spoken aloud, even the impulsive Peter saying nothing, and then the disciples whispered among themselves asking what kind of person this is that even wind and sea obey him. The fury of the storm had driven the boats into close nearness, so all in the other boats that had followed and shared the peril also beheld the miracle.

Their question expresses reverent awe and astonishment at his extraordinary authority over nature. It reveals his divine majesty, power and identity, for the wind and sea obey his command. He rested in faith in the Father's love and care, slept as an exhausted man yet awoke without alarm as a commander equal with the Father, and at his word nature recognized the voice of her Lord and Master and obeyed, proving him master of the situation by the power of God. The impressive, majestic scene was never forgotten by those who witnessed it and remains an enduring cause of reverence and awe for God's children.

It reveals a majesty far above human comprehension by one who holds the winds in his hand, controls the waters, and beholds at once the highest heavens and the midst of the sea. Though human beings are mere specks on the broad deep, he sends angels from excellent glory to guard the little boat careening over the waves. Those who witnessed the stilling of the tempest told the people on shore of both the danger and the deliverance, showing he could control the elements. Yet concern over loss of property kept the Gadarenes from valuing the presence of one who had such power.

Divine Power to Trust

The disciples' fear in the storm exposed unbelief, for they tried to save themselves instead of turning to Jesus who was with them and had power to command the wind and the sea. They should have called to Him when danger first appeared, remembering He was with them and trusting He could help them. People in danger are to call on Jesus from the first moment rather than rely on their own strength and skill.

Jesus reproved their fearfulness, lack of faith, self-confidence and self-reliance. Yet He heard their earnest, sincere, fearful cry of faith and gave the help they needed, and He does not forsake those who trust Him. At His rebuke and command the wind ceased, the waves sank to rest, the clouds rolled away and the boat sat motionless on a quiet sea, and all fear was allayed once the danger was over. A sudden hush crept over the disciples so that not a word was spoken aloud, even impulsive Peter saying nothing, and they whispered among themselves asking what kind of man this is that even wind and sea obey Him. The fury of the storm had driven the boats into close nearness, so all in the other boats that had followed Jesus and shared the same peril beheld the miracle. The impressive scene was never forgotten by those who witnessed it and will never fail to inspire reverence and awe in the children of God.

The event assures those in danger that Jesus hears their cry and will not forsake those who trust in Him, for He commanded the storm to cease and the angry wind and sea obeyed Him, saving His followers from peril at sea. The fearful cry of faith always meets with a response, for He hears sincere cries for help and never fails to respond to humble petitions, though He may reprove self-confidence and deliver in the way He knows is best. Living faith in the Redeemer smooths the sea of life and delivers from danger in the way He knows to be best. Believers may be rebuked for not seeking Jesus at the very beginning of trial and for wearying themselves in efforts to save themselves, yet He still accepts humble petitions. Whether on land or on sea, sleeping or waking, there is no need of fear if the Saviour is in the heart, for the wind and the wave are under His command as Saviour, so His control over danger makes hearts brave in the midst of dangers, because He will bring His people safely to land. The stilling of the storm thus gives believers reason to trust Jesus amid life's troubles and to have no need of fear when He is with them.

The calming was wrought for present believers as well as for the disciples in the boat. The disciples' fear in the tempest is the experience of believers when temptations gather like storms, with flashing lightning and sweeping waves, while they battle alone in their own strength and forget that One can help them until hope is lost and they are ready to perish. Calling on Jesus to save is never in vain, for He sorrowfully reproves unbelief and self-confidence yet never fails to give the help needed. Through the storms of difficulty Christ is with His people, and when circumstances toss the boat they must remember that the Master is on board, look to Him and trust Him rather than relying on finite human strength, strengthen their faith, and go forward with hope and courage.

The display was given to increase the faith of the disciples and to stand through all time as evidence of the divine character of His mission as the Sent of God and of His mighty power as Messiah and Son of God. Jesus slept as an exhausted man but awoke without alarm as a commander to be obeyed, speaking as one equal with the Father with authority over the boisterous elements, and at His word nature recognized the voice of her Lord and Master and obeyed, and the sea became perfectly calm, proving Him master of the situation. The disciples remembered the calming of the elements as evidence that He was the Son of God, yet during His trial they still hoped He would use His power to free Himself and prove that He was Israel's King. His authority over wind and sea stands with His walking upon the heaving billows and by a single word silencing their angry roaring, walking on the waves to their rescue from danger on the Sea of Galilee. This stands with His being ever touched by human woe, healing the sick, restoring sight to the blind, hearing to the deaf and speech to the dumb, feeding the hungry, comforting the sorrowful, casting out devils who in departing acknowledged Him to be the Son of God, breaking the slumbers of the dead, and holding thousands entranced by words of wisdom, as evidence of who He is. Yet He who did these things was driven from the people He labored to save, unable to reach hearts blinded by prejudice and insane hatred who resolutely rejected the light. He trod the foaming, white-capped billows on the Sea of Galilee as the Pattern Man just as certainly fulfilling His mission as when He toiled as a carpenter hiding the great secret of His divine mission, as when He raised the dead to life, and as when He died as man's sacrifice on the cross to lift the whole race to a new and perfect life.

That same authority continued on land, so His power over nature was evident before He confronted the demons. When the two demon-possessed men rushed toward Him He stood calm and did not flee, beckoning with His hand for the waves to rest. Because He had met Satan before and conquered him, demons could not drive Him back, and the raised hand that calmed wind and sea also held the demoniacs back so they could come no nearer.