Mark 4:35-41, Jesus Calms a Storm

[The uniqueness of Jesus’ authority is now taken a step further by Mark’s first recorded nature-miracle. As God blew across the Red Sea to make a path for his people in the exodus, now Jesus will make a path across the Sea of Galilee for a new people of God.]

35 On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” [Jesus needs these fishermen’s skill as they provide transport and watercraft knowledge and experience.] 36 And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him. [Matthew and Luke do not mention “other boats.” Is there any importance in this added detail? The importance will be in the number of witness who experience the upcoming nature miracle.] 37 And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. 38 But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. [Jesus experiences human tiredness.] And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” [There is reproach in their question. Do you think Jesus has purposefully devised this trip to teach them something? Blaming God is always an interesting topic to explore in the sense people tend to want to have pain-free lives without testing and suffering. Yet peace is only seconds away.] 39 And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea [asserting his personal authority over the created order], “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. 40 He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” [Discipleship involves faith as practical trust, but here it is lacking. Notice that Jesus brings peace to the created order, including the human order.] 41 And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?” [Jesus is progressively being revealed as the Messiah and more. Perhaps this is a point where Mark wants the reader/hearer of his gospel to begin to make a decision about who exactly Jesus is.]

“Peace” in the Evangelical Dictionary of Theology: The primary and basic idea of the biblical word “peace” is completeness, soundness, wholeness. It is a favorite biblical greeting, and it is found at the beginning or end of the epistles except for James and 1 John. It means cessation from war. Friendship between companions is expressed by it, as well as friendship with God through a covenant. Contentment or anything working toward safety, welfare, and happiness is included in the concept of peace.

Peace has reference to health, prosperity, well-being, security, as well as quiet from war. Peace is a condition of freedom from strife, whether internal or external. Security from outward enemies, as well as calm of heart for those trusting God. Peace is so pleasing to the Lord that the godly are enjoined to seek it diligently. It is to be a characteristic of the New Testament believer. Peace is a comprehensive and valued gift from God, and the promised and climaxing blessing in messianic times.

The innumerable blessings of the Christian revolve around the concept of peace. The gospel is the gospel of peace. Christ is our peace. God the Father is the God of peace. The inalienable privilege of every Christian is the peace of God because of the legacy of peace left by Christ in his death. These blessings are not benefits laid up in eternal glory only but are a present possession. Thus, peace is a conception distinctly peculiar to Christianity, the tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and content with its earthly lot, of whatever sort that is.