Rev Kev's - Jesus Calms the Storm

This passage immediately follows the section on the parables. The section on teaching is followed by another on the power of Jesus. We turn to healing the sick, exorcising the demoniac and raising the dead. All cross to the other side of the Lake of Galilee. We know from other passages that this is pagan country, the Unholy Land! There are huge cliffs on the edge. (Remember the pigs!!). The land is on the edge of the desert and the heat and the cliffs can affect the weather to make huge storms. They are unpredictable by normal weather patterns and they can be very violent. Even though the apostles are experienced fishermen they can still get caught out. So begins our story.

These men are experienced fishermen. They are afraid. Jesus is asleep. They wake him with the question: ”Do you not care?”. (This is Martha’s question to Jesus after the death of Lazarus!!!) Then they say very forcefully, “we are going down.” The gospel says ever so simply ‘and he woke up and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “quiet now! be calm” and the wind dropped and all was calm again.’

There is a constant theme in Mark between the authority of Jesus and the lack of faith in the apostles. This is a rebuke. ‘Why are you so frightened? How is it that you have no faith?”

Their response is predictable. Who is this man? Who can this be? Even the wind and the sea obey him”.

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