Comments on Mark 4:35-41 Mark's account is the most verbose of the Synoptic Gospels, as is the case with the events covered in Mark 5 as well. Hence the reason Mark's account was selected. On this particular passage, Matt 8:1 makes it clear the reason they set out in the boat was to escape the throngs of sign-seekers. Throughout these passages we see that as Jesus becomes more popular he garners a greater following. However, he is avoiding this popularity, choosing rather to preach the gospel. This section of text and the subsequent one in Mark 5:1-20 form complimentary units. The present text addresses Jesus' power over things physical in that nature obeys him. The following text presents Jesus power over things spiritual in that evil spirits fear and obey him. And, we see Jesus exercising this power not to promote himself, but to protect people from both physical and spiritual danger. This is the nature and purpose of the Priesthood. v35-41 Jesus is being thronged by the crowds he is teaching (cf. Matt. 8:1), and decides to leave the multitude by sailing over to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, but some others follow him by also taking to boats (v. 35-36). Jesus retires to the rear of the boat and goes to sleep (v. 38). While at sea a terrible storm occurs, threatening to sink the boat (v. 37). Yet, Jesus sleeps on despite the tumult, and so his disciples, in panic, wake Jesus (v. 38). After being waken up, Jesus tells the wind to "Hush, be still", and it does (v. 39). He then turns to the disciples and asks them why they are afraid and lacking in faith (v. 40). They are stunned and fearful of what they have just witnessed and wonder who Jesus is that nature obeys him (v. 41). Verse 40 closes the passage with a set of stunned disciples, and rightly so. Here is a man who controls the nature, something only God can do! Hence their astonishment. How could this man do such a thing unless he were God? He couldn't, so he must be God. To put this in context we have to compare what Jesus does with the other OT prophets who have dealings with nature control. Take Elijah for example. Elijah pronounces droughts and later supplies rain, all in the Lord's name. Here, Jesus does not do it in the Lord's name, he simply speaks and it is done. Failing to acknowledge the Lord as the source of the power in doing such a thing would be blasphemy (e.g., Moses and the water from the rock, cf. Num. 20:10-12, Deut. 32:51), unless the speaker was the Lord. But, who could imagine such a thing, standing in the presence of the incarnate Lord? Note the other boats which started out with them appear to not have made it to the other side as did Jesus' boat. Whether they turned back at the sight of an impending storm, or were sunk, or just thrown to a different shore we know not. We do know that Jesus was trying to get away from them, and apparently as a result of the storm they are separated from him. What then is the purpose of the storm? To separate the more faithful from the less faithful, with the less faithful being turned away and the more faithful witnessing a miracle and being taught a lesson on faith. Copyright © 2002 by S. Kurt Neumiller . All rights reserved. No part of this text may be reproduced in any form or by any means for commercial gain without the express written consent of the author. Digital or printed copies may be freely made and distributed for personal and public non-commercial use.