The attitudes of Christians, who accept the mystery that Jesus was equally human as divine, will fall somewhere along a spectrum. You remember that in this section of Mark we are dealing with a theme which Mark emphasizes in several incidents -- the effects of popularity upon the ministry of Jesus. How Jesus manages to stay asleep though this is unknown but traditional commentaries on the passage say that he slept deliberately in order to test the faith of the apostles. Commentary on Mark 4:35-41 (Read Mark 4:35-41) Christ was asleep in the storm, to try the faith of his disciples, and to stir them up to pray. At the same time, Mark would develop two further themes, as the narrative would immediately indicate: One theme would be the disciples’ continuing struggle to faith, their inner journey from initial fascination and response to deeper insight and commitment. EXEGESIS: MARK 8:22 – 10:45. It is not coincidental that the following stories of Jesus involve further instances of combating forces more powerful than what has been seen thus far. Mark may have wished to make a statement about Jesus. Two miracles of Jesus Christ recorded in Scripture tell of Him calming storms on the Sea of Galilee. During the journey, Jesus’ disciples seemed unable to see anything clearly. HENRY ALFORD The Greek New Testament Commentary on the Gospel of Mark. The disciples are traveling with Jesus on his way to Jerusalem. First, if we have faith, then no harm is to come to us. As will become more obvious as the story unfolds, the basis of the community’s identity would not lie in ethnic identity, religious background or simple friendship or congeniality. The advent of the Kingdom, as well as something of its nature and its potential, had been introduced and briefly pondered. Mark would begin a new section of his narrative where Jesus would be continually moving around, across the sea, on the sea, in pagan territory, in Jewish territory. Second, if you act like Jesus and simply command the chaos to "be still," then you will at least achieve some inner sense of peace and thus be less troubled by what is occurring. In Mark’s mind it became important to review next the consequences for the community of disciples. And what did many of them do for a living? Alternate First Reading. In the overall structure of Mark's Gospel we now move into material that follows the Parable of the . Austin Cline, a former regional director for the Council for Secular Humanism, writes and lectures extensively about atheism and agnosticism. God made the escape possible by means of a strong wind that blew all night and dried the seabed, so enabling the Hebrew people to cross dry-shod and safe. on this passage. THE CONTEXT. Personal ownership of the dreams and values espoused by Jesus would be the fruit of inner growth and discovery. Now we’re in a place where we can see what Jesus’ disciples are made of. They had no clear idea of what people in the Western world today call the laws of nature. 1. When a violent storm threatens to destroy the boat and its inhabitants, Jesus somehow manages to remain “asleep on the cushion.” In the introduction to his work he had claimed that Jesus was both Christ and Son of God (1:1) At the beginning of the story he had presented the vision of the heavens torn apart, the Spirit of God descending, and the (unidentified) voice from heaven proclaiming to Jesus that he was God’s son, the beloved (1:9). New situations would present constant challenge to the Church across the centuries, provoking particularly in those in positions of leadership consternation and paralysis instead of openness to possibilities trusting in the guiding protection of the Spirit. iii. Actually, this short transition is vastly important for setting the stage for this familiar story of the stilling of the storm. For the Jew the same phenomena were the result of either the direct action of God or of angelic powers, who also were the sources of the winds, etc.. Alternate First Reading. Chapter 4 opens with a series of parables (the sower, the lamp and the bushel basket, the growing seed, and the mustard seed). Was his purpose simply to create a display of naked power in order to impress his apostles? EXEGESIS: MARK 4-8. Was Mark reporting as fact stories that could not stand up to the rigorous critique of today’s scientific mindset? He did not consider that he had a specific mission to non-Jews. Mark 4 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries; Parallel Passages. To the Jew generally, the water was a symbol that touched powerfully into their sense of the unfamiliar and the fearful. Mark 4:35. I was sitting in the middle seat of the bulkhead row between a missionary buddy of mine and a woman who seemed to want nothing to do with a gringo and who sat as far away from me as she could. Jesus did not say, “Let’s do the best we can and maybe we’ll all drown.” He promised a safe arrival, and the disciples could have chosen to trust in that promise, but they didn’t. Ed. It's strange, though, that they don't understand who he is. THE CONTEXT. David is introduced to the reader in Ruth 4:17. June 21, 2009. Jesus’ disciples are traveling across the Sea of Galilee. 35 That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” 36 Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. Here Jesus is sleeping because the story of Jonah has him sleeping down in the ship. Mark 4:35-41. Mark 4:35-41 35 On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” 36 And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. Or if they had, do they simply not believe him? And again he began to teach by the sea side and there is gathered unto him a very great multitude, so that he entered into a boat, and sat in the sea; and all the multitude were by the sea on the land. Chapter 4 In this chapter, we have, I. In this incident, the disciples and Jesus moved away from the shoreline, and put out over the water. As Mark tells the story, the disciples were terrified that the boat was going to break up and everyone would die. B. Since its inception, people have cherished David … Mark 4:35. ἐν ἐκείνῃ τῇ ἡμέρᾳ, on that day) See App. The locale would change, as would the mood. It seemed now that the condemnation formerly reserved for the people generally was now directed sharply at the disciples. Faith in self is faith misplaced. "Crossing to the other side with Jesus may be a risky, unpredictable proposition, and in this passage, the wind and the sea create a visual manifestation of the dangers of being in the boat with him." Mark 4:35-41. He was indeed making a new statement about Jesus. ii. Read commentary on this popular Bible verse and understand the real meaning behind God's Word using John Gill's Exposition of the Bible. 36 And when they had sent away the … COMMENTARY ON THE LESSONSLesson 1: 1 Samuel 17:(1a, 4-11, 19-23) 32-49 (C) Proper 7; Pentecost 6-- Mark 4:35-41-- Richard A. Jensen-- 1996. He may also have wished to indicate that the unfolding story would chart the definition of the new community of disciples soon to exercise the mind of Jesus. The first miracle of this type appears in Matthew 8:23-27; Mark 4:35-41; and Luke 8:22-25.For Jesus, this is a day of both significant teaching, including the seven parables of Matthew 13, and considerable testing. Once the discourse on the parables was finished (Mk 4: 1-34), Jesus said, “Let us cross over to the other side!” They take Him on the boat just as He is in the boat in which He had made the discourse on the parables. Commentary on Mark 4:35-41. Were non-Jews fit to become members, and, if so, under what conditions? Hadn't they covered who he is and what he is doing? Jesus’ role as teacher is important in this Gospel. For Jesus, this is a day of both significant teaching, including the seven parables of Matthew 13, and considerable testing. First Reading. If that is the case, then they failed, because they were so scared that they woke Jesus up to find out whether he cared if they all drowned. A. Mt 13:1-2+ “That day Jesus went out of the house and was sitting by the sea. Commentary on 1 Samuel 17:[1a, 4-11, 19-23] 32-49 . I am delighted to accept Jesus’ invitation to board the boat, and all goes well for a while. Confining the sea itself is depicted in Genesis as an aspect of divine power and privilege. Mark 4:35 - And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side. Most of the disciples were former fishermen. Some thoughts on today's scripture. Jesus had been addressing the crowds from a boat moored at the edge of the lake. This would take him into territory controlled by Gentiles, pointing to the eventual expansion of Jesus' message and community beyond Jews and to the Gentile world. Let's read the account of a severe storm on the Sea of Galilee. If so, he succeeded because they appear to be just as afraid of him now as they were moments ago of the storm. Other boats were with him. When our wicked hearts are like the troubled sea which cannot rest, when our passions are unruly, let us think we hear the law of Christ, saying, Be silent, be dumb. Although it is still relatively early in his ministry, he has been explaining to them all of the secret meanings of his parables. God’s speech from the whirlwind is a long time coming. Why did they even wake him if they didn't think he might be able to do something? • Mark 4:35-36: The starting point: “Let us cross over to the other side”. What does he know about storms and waters? , After all, Jesus was a carpenter. The first miracle of this type appears in Matthew 8:23-27; Mark 4:35-41; and Luke 8:22-25. In this sense they had no faith. It carried feelings associated not just with otherness but with uncleanness and an instinctive abhorrence of idolatry. God’s speech from the whirlwind to Job has been a long time coming. A more plausible explanation is that the author of Mark has Jesus sleeping out of literary necessity: Jesus' calming the storm is designed to evoke the story of Jonah. Jesus and the disciples crossed to the other shore. Jesus’ prime focus of mission had been his own Jewish compatriots. Returning once again to traditional commentaries on this passage, many say this story is supposed to teach us not to be fearful of the chaos and violence around us in our lives. Commentary on 1 Samuel 17:[1a, 4-11, 19-23] 32-49 . Commentary on Job 38:1-11. It was as if he were seeking to remind his readers, before outlining a further significant development in the unfolding drama, just who and what this Jesus was. To the Jew, pagan meant more than simply non-Jewish. Some years ago I was on a flight from Puerto Allegre in the far south of Brazil to Buenos Aires, Argentina. The little phrase, ‘Let us go over to the other side’ has strategic importance for Mark, and for my training as a disciple. The other theme would be the intriguing question about the identity of Jesus: Who then is this? Mark 4:35-36 (NASB) And on that day, when evening had come, He said to them, "Let us go over to the other side." 2 And large crowds gathered to Him, so He got into a boat and sat down, and the whole crowd was standing on the beach. Text: Mark 4:35-41. On a first read, Mark 4:35-41 looks like a demonstration of Jesus’ astonishing power — and so it is. They had overcome many storms before. Mark seldom dates his incidents, but he takes pains to tell us that this run across the lake closed a day of labour, Jesus was wearied, and felt the need of rest, He had been pressed on all day by ‘a very great multitude,’ and felt the need of solitude. Accepting such an explanation, though, requires accepting the idea that this story is a literary creation by the author and not an accurate historical narrative. Jesus responded negatively to the disciples’ panic. And leaving the multitude, they took Him along with them, just as He was, in the boat; and other boats were with Him. Mark obviously wished that the point not be lost on his own community. They believed in experience, strength, and skills. Be silenced!”. Two miracles of Jesus Christ recorded in Scripture tell of Him calming storms on the Sea of Galilee. One tendency leans more in the direction of some sort of “operational divinisation” of Jesus’ humanity, such that he could perform actions beyond the possibility of other humans (as, for example, rebuking the wind and stilling the sea). 37 And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. Default. The "sea" being crossed by Jesus and his followers is the Sea of Galilee, so the area they are moving on to would be the present-day Jordan. It would be based purely on the common acceptance in faith of the driving dream and mission of Jesus. Crit. ), all the birds of the air can find shelter in its shade; where, despite the apparent inadequacy of resources, the harvest is capable of the thirty, sixty, hundredfold. It is possible to raise in regard to this incident the same queries made about Jesus’ vision at the Jordan and about his healings and exorcisms. This identity would always therefore be fragile and vulnerable, since faith was not a once and for all enlightenment but a gradual growth in insight and commitment. In the non-Jewish world many people had “mythical” explanations for simple things like the rising and setting of the sun, moon and stars, or accepted them without question. As mentioned in relation to Jesus’ acts of healing, wonders were accepted as part of life by people of the time. And leaving the crowd behind, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. What is the worst storm you've ever been through? Commentary on Mark 4:35-41 “On that day.” The phrase is so brief the reader could almost ignore it. The outcome of that conversion would be the intuition that the “face” of Jesus was nothing less than the most perfect human expression of the “face” of God. Mark seldom dates his incidents, but he takes pains to tell us that this run across the lake closed a day of labour, Jesus was wearied, and felt the need of rest, He had been pressed on all day by ‘a very great multitude,’ and felt the need of solitude. And other boats were with him. The end of a toil may perhaps be but the beginning of a toss. Jesus proceeds to end the storm and restore the sea to calm - but why? Mark 4:35-41. 1 The *parable of the four soils 4:1-9. It would be the product of a never-ending conversion. During the trip across the Sea of Galilee, a large storm comes up - so large that the boat threatens to sink after so much water has entered it. Copyright © 2016 John McKinnon - Site by Patrick Lim. Gospel. How did the disciples react to this storm? Yet Mark would be insistent that Jesus did on occasion enter their territory and did engage with them. The advent of the Kingdom, as well as something of its nature and its potential, had been introduced and briefly pondered. Resume Prayer. Jesus Walks on Water: Faith During a Storm (Mark 6:45-52), Jesus Walks on Water Bible Story Study Guide, Jesus Punishes the Swine With Demons (Mark 5:10-20), The Syro-Phoenician Woman's Faith in Jesus (Mark 7:24-30), The Woman Who Touched Jesus' Garment (Mark 5:21-34), Jesus Heals Jairus' Daughter (Mark 5:35-43), Saint Patrick's Friendship with His Guardian Angel, Victor, Jesus Heals a Blind Man in Bethsaida (Mark 8:22-26), Relive the Resurrection Story of Jesus Christ. The weakness of Jesus, more than anything else, would reveal the truth of God. Biblical Commentary (Bible study) Mark 10:35-45 . (They were fisherman: 1:16-19.) Active. The geography would be significant, not for its factual detail but for its symbolism. Whatever option readers may take about the historicity of the incident, its symbolism was what particularly interested Mark, and was the reason why he selected it, told it the way he did, and inserted it at this point in his narrative. A faith, not simply that Jesus was in control despite his apparent absence, but a faith that his message was essentially one of inclusion, the promise of a Kingdom where, despite all indications to the contrary (the mustard plant was really not all that impressive! A great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped. First Reading. This other shore was unknown territory, pagan territory. Jesus had spent the entire day teaching by the use of parables. After a … With this story Mark presented something quite different from exorcisms and healings. In Mark’s mind it became important to review next the consequences for the community of disciples. Why were you so frightened? Mark 4:35. Did it really happen? Depending on their culture they posited numerous external personal forces - angels, gods or demons - as the arbitrary causes of much of what went on in their world. Jesus teaches by means of *parables 4:1-34. 1. Whatever the case, this appears to be another example of the apostles being portrayed as dolts. Commentary, Mark 4:35-41, Meda Stamper, Preaching This Week, WorkingPreacher.org, 2012. This is a sermon I recently preached on Mark 4:35-41, the account of Jesus’s calming of the storm on the Sea of Galilee. ). In the Christian communities the opening to Gentiles caused many a storm, and led some Jewish Christians to fear that they would be swamped and consequently perish. Calming the storm doesn't appear to have been absolutely necessary because he rebukes the others for not having faith - presumably, they should have trusted that nothing would happen to them while he was around. Commentary on Mark 4:35-41. They each heard Jesus say, “Let us go over to the other side of the lake” (Mark 4:35). Mark 4:35-41 The New Community (1) Defining the Features. Jesus Stills the Storm (Mark 4:35-41) 23 analysis is an expression of the text. Mark 4:35-41: Faith Over Fear. What sort of faith, then, did he expect? Others tend to lean in the direction of an “operational emptying” of Jesus’ divinity, as Paul’s letter to the Philippians would have it: In this latter case, Mark’s description could be read as a further instance of apocalyptic symbolism expressing Mark’s own faith in the deeper mystery of Jesus. 35 And the same day, when the evening was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side. James Rosscup writes that "This was the great work in the life of the versatile Dean of Canterbury. So ostensibly, had he not stopped the storm they would have made it across just fine. Yet Mark would show the journey to be perilous. They were familiar with the sea of Galilee. At the beginning of the journey, Jesus healed a blind man whose “sight was restored, and (he) saw everyone clearly” (8:22-26). "Calming the Storm," Frederick Buechner, Peculiar Treasures. It is a short sermon, only about 12 minutes in length. The question would arise and be answered from a variety of sources. He had previously lamented the lack of faith of people, who look, but not perceive, who listen, but not understand, and indeed seemed to have exempted the disciples from the charge, explaining everything in private to them. That day, as it was getting later, [Jesus] said. The parable of the seed, and the four sorts of ground (v. 1-9), with the exposition of it (v. 10-20), and the application of it (v. 21-25). The locale would change, as would the mood. He was in the stern asleep on the cushion. Let's read verses 35-41. Many, perhaps most, things that happened to them were beyond their understanding. Mark 4:35-41 "On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, 'Let us go across to the other side.' June 21, 2009. They did not know that events beyond their own control had their own natural causes. Gospel. 2 Jesus explains … The chapter is concluded by the narrative of his calming the great storm (Mark 4:35-41). Biblical Commentary (Bible study) Mark 4:35-41 . He would present the listener with the Jesus who rebuked the wind and calmed the sea. The calming of a raging storm fits with other stories where Jesus' power is manifested against awesome, even mythic forces: raging seas, hordes of demons, and death itself. What does Mark 4:35 mean? He apparently saw a response of panic as a lack of faith. Acceptance would call for nothing less than death to the ego-oriented and originated self. It is an understanding “of the organization of material as related to a given context.”13 The emphasis of the relationship between words and phrases and Commentary on Mark 4:35-41. Commentary on Job 38:1-11. So how strong can we surmise this storm was? How is it you have no faith? The Jews were familiar with the story of Moses who led the Hebrew people from their captivity in Egypt to freedom in the Promised Land. Their faith appeared weak, and their prayers strong. Mark 4:35 Parallel Verses [⇓ See commentary ⇓] Mark 4:35, NIV: "That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, 'Let us go over to the other side.'" When he had been labouring in the word and doctrineall day, instead of reposing himself, he exposeth himself, to teach us not to think of a constant remaining rest till we come to heaven. On that journey through unfamiliar regions of the Sinai Peninsula, Moses had formed the unorganised rabble into a unified people, the People of God. In its turn, faith in the Jesus who proclaimed the Kingdom would be determined by people’s sense of the authenticity of Jesus himself. “Teacher, does it not concern you that we are sinking?”, and said to the sea, “Be calmed! (Mark 4:35-36 RSV) It is clear that this comes when our Lord was at the point of utter physical exhaustion. No doubt, He was completely exhausted, as any preacher could testify. Mark 4:35, ESV: "On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.”" Mark 4:35, KJV: "And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side." These two issues of faith and the identity of Jesus were not peripheral to the definition of the community of disciples. It had been a heavy day with much work. But Jesus was asleep (on a cushion no less, Mark notes, adding to the contrast between Jesus’ tranquility and the disciples’ panic), apparently oblivious to their pending doom. The crossing to the other side was dangerous – a very strong wind squall on an inhospitable sea. Mark 4:35-41 Commentary by James Boyce “On that day.” The phrase is so brief the reader could almost ignore it. It was the same daythat he had preached out of a ship, when the even was come, Mark 4:35. In the midst of the Christian storm, Jesus seemed to be absent, asleep, certainly giving no clear direction. The issue was significant for many Christian communities that came into existence after Jesus’ death. Its truth had no other criterion than its resonance, beyond projection, with the deepest inner core of each person. An outcome of this production was the New Testament for English Readers (4 vols. Peripheral to the Jew, pagan territory to create a display of naked power in order to his. 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