“…when evening came, Jesus said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” Leaving the crowd behind, they took Him along, just as He was, in the boat. There were also other boats with Him. A FURIOUS SQUALL CAME UP, and the waves broke over the boat, so that IT WAS NEARLY SWAMPED. Jesus was in the stern, SLEEPING ON A CUSHION. The disciples woke Him and said to him, “TEACHER, DON’T YOU CARE IF WE DROWN?” He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Peace Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was COMPLETELY CALM. He said to His disciples, “WHY ARE YOU SO AFRAID? DO YOU STILL HAVE NO FAITH?” THEY WERE TERRIFIED (phobeō: to be seized with fear) and asked each other, “WHO IS THIS? EVEN THE WIND AND THE WAVES OBEY HIM!” (Mark 4:35-41)
WHAT CAUSED THE DISCIPLES TO BE TERRIFED?
- A FURIOUS SQUALL CAME UP: They were sailing on the Sea of Galilee. Such storms result from differences in temperatures between the seacoast and the mountains beyond. The Sea of Galilee lies 680 feet below sea level. It is bounded by hills, especially on the east side where they reach 2000 feet high. These heights are a source of cool, dry air. This results in strong winds suddenly dropping to the sea, funneling through the hills. The Sea of Galilee is small, and these winds may descend directly to the center of the lake with VIOLENT RESULTS.
- THE BOAT WAS NEARLY SWAMPED: When the contrasting air masses meet, a storm can ARISE QUICKLY AND WITHOUT WARNING. Small boats caught out on the sea are in IMMEDIATE DANGER.
- JESUS WAS ASLEEP: He had been ministering for some time and was very tired in His human body.
- THIS FURIOUS SQUALL BECAME PERFECTLY PEACEFUL: Jesus, GOD THE SON, who on the fourth day of creation, spoke the sun, moon and all the stars into existence, told the sea to BE STILL.
- THE DISCIPLES WERE TERRIFIED: The disciples were SEIZED WITH FEAR because Jesus could speak and nature would immediately RESPOND, devils would be CAST OUT, blinded eyes would be OPENED, broken bodies would be HEALED, food would miraculously APPEAR.
As they said, “WHO IS THIS?”
WE KNOW THIS IS GOD THE SON, OUR LORD AND SAVOR, OUR REDEEMER, OUR PERFECT PEACE…
Your Personal Pastor -Bill Stockham