The Stilling of the Tempest

St Mark Chapter IV : Verses 35-40

Christ sleeping in the storm. J-J Tissot

[35] And he saith to them that day, when evening was come: Let us pass over to the other side.

[36] And sending away the multitude, they take him even as he was in the ship: and there were other ships with him. 

[37] And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that the ship was filled. [38] And he was in the hinder part of the ship, sleeping upon a pillow; and they awake him, and say to him: Master, doth it not concern thee that we perish?

 

Peace, be still. And the wind ceased: J-J Tissot.

[39] And rising up, he rebuked the wind, and said to the sea: Peace, be still. And the wind ceased: and there was made a great calm. 

[40] And he said to them: Why are you fearful? have you not faith yet? And they feared exceedingly: and they said one to another: Who is this (thinkest thou) that both wind and sea obey him?

[35] Et ait illis in illa die, cum sero esset factum : Transeamus contra.[36] Et dimittentes turbam, assumunt eum ita ut erat in navi : et aliæ naves erant cum illo. [37] Et facta est procella magna venti, et fluctus mittebat in navim, ita ut impleretur navis. [38] Et erat ipse in puppi super cervical dormiens : et excitant eum, et dicunt illi : Magister, non ad te pertinet, quia perimus? [39] Et exsurgens comminatus est vento, et dixit mari : Tace, obmutesce. Et cessavit ventus : et facta est tranquillitas magna. [40] Et ait illis : Quid timidi estis? necdum habetis fidem? et timuerunt timore magno, et dicebant ad alterutrum : Quis, putas, est iste, quia et ventus et mare obediunt ei?

Notes

35. when evening was come. After the day’s work, when Jesus was probably spent with His labours, since they take Him even as He was, and our Saviour soon lay sleeping on a pillow.

pass over : to the district of Decapolis, east of the Sea of Galilee.

"This side being more rocky and barren, was not so thickly peopled as the eastern side. “ There is no recess in the eastern hills, no towns along its banks corresponding to those in the plains of Gennesareth. Thus the wilder region became a natural refuge from the active life of the western shore." — Dean Stanley.

36. sending away the multitude. The disciples put off at once, leaving the multitude on the sea-shore, and without making any special preparations. As they were embarking, three of Christ’s hearers asked to follow Him :

(1) A scribe.(St Matt. viii 19-22.)

(2) The disciple who wished first to bury his father. (St Matt. viii 19-22.)

(3) The man who desired to bid farewell first to his friends and relations (St Luke ix. 57-62).

in the ship. The boat which Jesus had desired to be kept in readiness (iii. 9), and from which He had been preaching. The disciples seem to have insisted on our Lord’s resting awhile, for they dismissed the

multitude.

other ships. Most likely belonging to some of Christ’s listeners who had utilised their boats that they might be nearer to our Lord. If so, these people would have been dismissed as well as those on the land. In such a busy place many boats for transports would be at hand. Some of these people perhaps, crossed the lake with our Saviour.

37. a great storm of wind. One of the sudden and violent squalls to which the lake was exposed. As it lies 600 feet below sea-level, and is surrounded by mountain gorges, these serve “like gigantic funnels to draw down the cold winds from the mountains.” — (Thomson.)

beat : were continuously beating.

38. a pillow. The steersman’s leathern cushion. In relating this miracle St Mark alone gives the following graphic touches :

(a) Evening was come.

(b) There were other ships with Him.

(c) A great storm of wind.

(d) The waves beat into the ship.

(e) He was in the hinder part, sleeping on a pillow.

(f) He said to the sea, Peace, be still.

Master , doth it not concern? etc. There was evidently danger, and the Apostles were afraid. St Matt, gives Lord , save us, we perish (viii. 25) ; St Luke, more briefly, Master , we perish (viii. 24). Naturally some may have said one thing, some another, since all the Apostles were present, and perhaps other disciples and strangers.

39. He rebuked the wind. All the Synoptists give this detail. St Mark alone gives the words which follow, Peace, be still, literally “ be muzzled.”

wind ceased, etc. The effect of our Lord’s words was instantaneous and complete. There was no heavy swell, such as usually takes place after a storm.

40. Have you not faith yet ? St Luke gives Where is your faith ? (viii. 25). St Matt, has, O, ye of little faith (viii. 26). Their faith was not sufficiently strong to enable them to believe that Jesus, though sleeping, was still watching over them by His divine power and could save them.

feared exceedingly. The first fear had a natural cause, the violence of the tempest ; now, their fear had a supernatural cause. They felt the working of a mightier power than the storm, and were awed by Christ’s divinity. The expression “ the men ” is unusual in speaking of the Apostles (St. Matt. viii. 27). It may be that others were present, perhaps disciples of our Lord, or those of the multitude who may have crossed the lake with them.

Who is this ? Evidently their faith is increasing, and they are drawing the correct inference from what they have seen and felt : — Jesus is God, since He commands both wind and sea.

Additional Notes

Many commentators think that the tempest was caused by a special providence of God in order to try the faith of the disciples ; others think it was a natural phenomenon ; but in either case it served our Lord’s purpose equally well.

The boat. Peter’s bark is looked on as a type of the Church. The waves break over her, the winds toss her hither and thither, but Jesus is in that bark, and though often He appears to sleep on, heedless of our cries of distress, yet in His own good time He will arise and calm the winds and seas. As long as we are in the bark of Peter we are safe for eternity, but this presupposes a living faith, which is shewn by good works that are the fruit of the habitual indwelling of God’s grace in the soul. This miracle also teaches a lesson to those who are harassed by temptations. Though these may be very violent, yet so long as we are united to Christ by grace, though at times He may appear not to heed our prayers, yet, if we pray with confidence, He will enable us to resist these temptations and calm the interior tempest.

Totus tuus ego sum

Et omnia mea tua sunt;

Tecum semper tutus sum:

Ad Jesum per Mariam.