Mark 4:35 - Meaning and Application

This miracle, where Christ calmed the storm for his disciples, was already told in Matthew 8:23 and following, but Mark gives a fuller account here. It happened on the same day that Jesus had been teaching from a boat, when evening had come (Mark 4:35). After spending the whole day laboring in teaching, he did not choose rest for himself. This teaches us not to expect constant ease before we reach heaven. The end of one hard task may only be the start of another trouble. Yet the boat that Christ used as his pulpit came under his special care, and though it was in danger, it could not sink. What is used for Christ, he will watch over in a special way.

Jesus himself proposed crossing to the other side, because he did not want to waste time: “Let us go over to the other side.” We learn in the next chapter that he had work to do there. Christ went around doing good, and no trouble in his path should stop him. We should be just as active in serving him and doing our duty in our own time, as he has ordered it.

They did not put out to sea until they had sent the crowd away, that is, until each person had received what he came for and all their requests had been answered. Christ never sent anyone home complaining that they had waited on him for nothing. Or, they may have sent the people away with a solemn blessing, for Christ came into the world not only to speak blessing, but also to command it and give it.

They took him “as he was,” meaning in the same clothes he had worn while preaching, without a cloak to keep him warm for a night trip on the water. We should not take this as permission to neglect our health, but we may learn not to be overly fussy or anxious about the body.

The storm was so fierce that the boat was filling with water (Mark 4:37). This was not simply from a leak, but perhaps partly from heavy rain, since the word used can mean a windstorm with rain. The boat was small, and the waves beat into it so hard that it filled. It is no new thing for the ship that carries Christ and his disciples, his name, and his gospel, to be badly shaken and in danger.

There were also other small boats with him, and they no doubt shared the same danger. These boats likely carried people who wanted to go with Christ for the sake of his teaching and miracles on the other side. The crowd left when he set out, but some were willing to trust themselves to the water with him. Those follow the Lamb rightly who follow him wherever he goes. Anyone who hopes for happiness in Christ must be willing to take their lot with him and face the same dangers he faces. It is safe and bold to put out to sea with Christ, even if we can already see a storm coming.

Christ was asleep in the storm, and here we are told he was in the back of the boat, the place where the pilot would be. He lay near the helm, to show that, as George Herbert put it, Christ preserves and steers us even when the boat seems to pitch hardest. Storms show the power of his skill. Though he may close his eyes, his heart never sleeps. He had a pillow there, likely a simple one such as a fisherman’s boat would provide. He slept to test the faith of his disciples and to awaken prayer. When the test came, their faith appeared weak, but their prayers were strong.

Sometimes, when the church is in a storm, Christ seems to be asleep, as if he does not care about his people’s troubles or hear their prayers. He does not appear at once for their rescue. Truly, he is a God who hides himself (Isaiah 45:15). Yet when he seems slow, he is not truly slow (Habakkuk 2:3), and when he sleeps, he does not sleep in the way we do. The keeper of Israel does not even slumber (Psalm 121:3, Psalm 121:4). He slept, but his heart was awake, like the bride in Song of Solomon 5:2.

His disciples took comfort in the fact that he was with them. They thought the best use of that was to appeal to him, and to pray rather than only to work the oars. Their confidence rested on this, that their Master was with them. The ship that has Christ in it may be tossed, but it cannot sink. The bush that has God in it may burn, but it will not be consumed. Caesar encouraged the shipmaster who had him on board by saying, “You carry Caesar, and Caesar’s fortune.” In the same way, the disciples had Christ aboard.

They woke Jesus. If the need had not forced them, they would not have stirred their Master until he pleased to wake (Song of Solomon 2:7). Still, they knew he would forgive them for it. When Christ seems asleep in a storm, he is awakened by the prayers of his people. When we do not know what to do, our eyes must be on him (2 Chronicles 20:12). We may be at the end of our own wisdom, but not at the end of our faith, as long as we have such a Savior to go to.

Their words to Christ are very forceful: “Master, do you not care that we are perishing?” This sounds a little severe, more like a complaint than a request. The only excuse for it is the close freedom he had allowed them, and the great fear they were under, which made them speak without thinking. Those do Christ great wrong who suppose he does not care for his people when they are in trouble. It is not so. He is not willing that any should perish, much less any of his little ones (Matthew 18:14).

The command Christ used to rebuke the storm is given here, though not in Matthew (Mark 4:39). He said, “Peace, be still.” That is, “Be silent, be quiet.” Let the wind stop roaring, and let the sea stop raging. Scripture often speaks of the roaring of the sea and its waves as something loud and frightening (Psalm 65:7; Psalm 93:3, Psalm 93:4). The noise is threatening and terrifying, and he brings it to an end.

This is also a word to us. When our sinful hearts are like the restless sea that cannot be still (Isaiah 57:20), and when our feelings rise up and become wild, let us hear Christ saying, “Be silent, be quiet.” Do not think in confusion. Do not speak without care. Be still. It is also a word of comfort. No matter how loud or strong the storm of trouble may be, Jesus Christ can still it with a word. When there is trouble around us, and fear within us, and our spirits are in turmoil, Christ can bring peace. If he says, “Peace, be still,” there is a great calm right away. Scripture says that it belongs to God to command the seas (Jeremiah 31:35). So Christ, by doing this, proves himself to be God. The one who made the seas can make them calm.

Christ’s rebuke of his disciples’ fear is even stronger here than in Matthew. There it says, “Why are you fearful?” Here it says, “Why are you so fearful?” There may be some reason to fear, but not to such a degree. There it says, “O you of little faith.” Here it says, “How is it that you have no faith?” This does not mean the disciples had no faith at all.

No, they did believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. Yet at this moment, fear took over so strongly that they seemed to have no faith at all. Their faith was out of use when they most needed it, so it was as if they had none. Christ could rightly ask them, "How is it that, in this matter, you have no faith, and think I would not come with timely and effective help?" Those may well doubt their faith who can imagine that Christ does not care though his people perish. Christ takes such a thought as a serious wrong.

The effect this miracle had on the disciples is described a little differently here than in Matthew. There it says the men marveled, and here it says they feared greatly. They were filled with great fear, as the original wording suggests. But now their fear was put in the right place by their faith. When they feared the winds and the sea, it showed a lack of the reverence they should have had for Christ. After they saw his power over the storm, they feared the storm less and him more.

They now feared that they had offended Christ by their unbelieving fear, and they wanted to honor him. Before, they had feared the power and anger of the Creator in the storm, and that fear brought only trouble and panic. Now they feared the power and grace of the Redeemer in the calm. They feared the Lord and his goodness, and that fear brought joy and peace. In this way they gave glory to Christ, like Jonah’s sailors, who, when the sea stopped raging, feared the Lord greatly and offered a sacrifice to him (Jonah 1:16). Their sacrifice here was their praise of Christ: "What kind of man is this? Surely more than a man, because even the winds and the sea obey him."