COMMENTARY ON MARK
LESSON NUMBER 47
“ Mark 4:35 And the same day, when the even was come, He saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side. 36 And when they had sent away the multitude, they took Him even as He was in the ship. And there were also with Him other little ships. 37 And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. 38 And He was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake Him, and say unto him, Master, carest Thou not that we perish? 39 And He arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. 40 And He said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith? 41 And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of Man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?” (Mark 4:35-41; Matthew 8:23-27; Lk 8:22-25)
GOING TO ANOTHER PLACE FOR ANOTHER WORK
INTRODUCTION
The earthly ministry of Jesus teaches us much about the various responses of men to His presence. As we will see in this text, the presence of Jesus does not mean everything is going to be ideal, or that there will be no situations that challenge the faith of those who are with Him. We also see in His ministry how He responds to the conditions and expressions of His disciples. He is gentle, but He is also firm. He will not gloss deficiencies, or pretend as though they did not exist. Those who are reluctant to come into the light where they are fully exposed will not enjoy being around the Lord Jesus. We are living in a time when the ministry of “light” is greatly subdued. When a person speaks of things as they really are before the Lord, a certain risk of rejection, and even opposition, is taken. This is not the popular way of doing things, and does not blend with contemporary notions of speaking for Christ Jesus. However, the record God has given us of His Son provides a detailed glimpse of the “mind of Christ,” as well as His ways and accomplishments. His responses to men are a sort of plumb line that exposes us to the Divine nature. They will assist us in assessing our own condition and progress in the faith. The text before us is a most excellent example of these things.
GOING TO ANOTHER PLACE FOR ANOTHER WORK
“ 4: 35 And the same day, when the even was come, He saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side. 36 And when they had sent away the multitude, they took Him even as He was in the ship. And there were also with Him other little ships.”
STARTING OUT IN THE EVENING. There is something worthy of note in this passage. Here we will confront an activity that appears to be non-religious – a trip in a boat after the completion of a focused work in the name of the Lord: the expounding of the word of the Lord (Mk 4:34). Yet, because Jesus was in the vessel, this became a spiritual matter. It was an occasion when faith or the lack of faith would be made known. It proved to be an occasion where the help of the Lord was required. In this case, Jesus was in the vessel, just as surely as He dwells in our hearts by faith. Let it be clear, the presence of the Lord converts every circumstance into a spiritual one – one in which faith or belief is made known, confidence or fear, hope or hopelessness. The great weakness among professing Christians lies in their inability to perceive the association between Christ’s presence and where they are, as well as what they think, say, and do.
While other men were concluding the days activity – “when the even was come” – Jesus is preparing for the next day’s activity. He tells His disciples, “Let us pass over to the other side” – that is, the other side of the Sea of Galilee. This body of water was 13 miles long, and shaped like a pear with the widest breadth being 7 miles. The trip from Capernaum, in which vicinity Jesus had been ministering, was approximately 5-7 miles, and was probably negotiated by rowing, as at other times (Mk 6:48).
SENDING AWAY THE MULTITUDE. Having completed the work of teaching the multitudes, they were “sent away.” Only Mark refers to this event. Much teaching had taken place, both of the multitudes and of Christ’s disciples, to whom He “expounded all things.” Now, however, there comes the time of testing. Now we will see how much the multitudes want to be with Jesus. Also, we must see if the disciples have grasped what Jesus has taught them, and whether or not they can relate it to the hard experiences of life. There comes a time when those who hear Jesus must be put into the crucible of life, to see if they have taken hold of the word of the Lord, and are able to work with it.
THEY TOOK HIM AS HE WAS. Even though the day had been filled with activity, no time was taken to prepare for the trip, gather food and water, or refresh themselves. The disciples took Jesus “just as He was,” NASB weary from the day’s activities. Mark tells us He had been teaching all day from the ship (Mk 4:1). Of course, a weary Jesus is better than a strong and vigorous man! Mark says the disciples “took” Jesus. Matthew says Jesus entered the ship and the disciples “followed Him” (Matt 8:23). Luke says He “went into a ship with His disciples” (Lk 8:22). There is no contradiction in the texts. Mark emphasizes that the disciples had charge of the boat, preparing it for the trip, and managing the journey. The reference to Him entering the ship does not mean an initial entry into it, but going further into the ship itself, identified as “the hinder part,” or stern of the ship (v 38). For the disciples, there was no interruption of their fellowship with Jesus. He had used the boat for speaking to the multitudes on the shore, now he entered further into the ship as the disciples prepared to navigate to the other side of the sea.
OTHER LITTLE SHIPS. Again, Mark is the only writer who makes reference to these “other little ships.” Note, it is said that these “little ships” were “with Him.” That is, they had apparently moved in close to the ship from which Jesus was teaching, desiring to hear His words. Perhaps these were men who were fishing like Peter and Andrew when they were called (Mk 1:16), or mending their nets as James and John were doing when they were called (Mk 1:19). Maybe they were even carrying passengers to or from some other location. Whatever their activity, upon hearing the blessed Lord’s teaching, they had gathered themselves to Him, intent upon hearing His words.
I see in these “little ships” a host of people who forsook the normal flow of life to hear a Teacher to whom they were not ordinarily exposed. It is possible that they accompanied Jesus to the other aside, as though chosen by God to witness the great miracle that would occur in the land of the Gadarenes. The wording of the text suggests this did, in fact, take place. “And leaving the throng, they took Him with them, [just] as He was, in the boat [in which He was sitting]. And other boats were with Him.” AMPLIFIED
The emphasis is placed upon the Lord Jesus, not the people who were with Him, or the crowds who gathered around Him. They were with Him – He was not with them! This is the more precise perspective of any gathering in which Jesus is present. While it is true that there is a sense in which He is “in the midst” of those who gather in His name, those who are cognizant of that presence know Jesus is the primary attendee. All attention must be turned toward Him, to hear what He is sayings, and go where He is going.
TROUBLE WHEN JESUS IS PRESENT
“ 38 And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. 38 And He was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake Him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?”
Is it possible that when we are with Jesus, or He is with us, we will experience no trouble, no hardship, no severe tests? There is a tendency in men to imagine this is true. But it is an utterly false view. When it is embraced, it brings with it great danger, weakness, and spiritual debility, for it leads men to conduct their lives incorrectly. When speaking of the glorified state, when we are at last liberated from everything caused by sin, we are told the redeemed “Shall go no more out” (Rev 3 12). It is written they “shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heart” (Rev 7:16). We are told “God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away” (Rev 21:4). Until that blessed time, “the former things” are actually “present things.” We should not imagine that they shall pass away before we are glorified, before the heavens and earth that now are pass away, and before we are “ever with the Lord.”
Not only is this true in the normal stance of life in this world, it is also true when Jesus is with us, and we are with Him. His presence in the vessels of our body does not mean everything will be always pleasant, and no severe and fearful threats will come. These are tests in which the level to which we have apprehended Christ’s word will be made known.
THERE AROSE A GREAT STORM. This was not an average storm, but a “great storm.” Matthew says it was “a great tempest in the sea” (Matt 8:24). Luke says, “there came down a storm of wind on the lake” (Lk 8:23). The word “storm” means a whirlwind, or squall, which is a sudden and violent wind. A “whirlwind” is a rotating windstorm that is violent and destructive. As used here, it was a sort of hurricane, and it appeared to focus on the very boat in which Jesus and His disciples were found. Keep in mind, there were with Jesus “other little ships.” The storm, though subject to Jesus, did not go around the ship in which He was found.
WAVES BEAT INTO THE SHIP. The surface of the water was in an upheaval, and the mighty waves were pummeling the vessel, “breaking over the boat so much that the boat was already filling up.” NASB Matthew says, “the boat was covered with waves” (Matt 8:24). Luke says, “they were filled with water, and were in jeopardy” (Lk 8:23). It was a dangerous situation, and the disciples were certainly anything but complacent. Trouble does have a way of making men more sober, and more diligent to do the things that can be done. Remember, all of this was happening with Jesus in the boat – present with His disciples.
ASLEEP IN THE HINDER PART. Here we will find that an inactive Christ is really of no comfort. Further, safety is not maintained by a passive Christ, who really is not involved in the affairs of life. There is no form of spiritual automation that guarantees safety while there is no lively sense of the personal involvement of Christ Jesus. During this particular storm, the Lord is “in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow.” Matthew reminds us He was in the ship, “but He was asleep” (Matt 8:24). Luke says “as they sailed He fell asleep” (Lk 8:23). Thus, for all practical purposes, the disciples are left to navigate alone, and it appears that, for a while, they did precisely that. However, it soon became very apparent that their own labors were futile in this storm. Although seasoned veterans of the sea, this was a condition in which all of their expertise ran out, like water placed in a broken cistern.
CAREST THOU NOT? The disciples awakened Jesus and asked, “Master, carest Thou not that we perish?” They seemed to sense that although He was asleep, He knew what was going on. Matthew says they awakened Him and said, “Lord, save us: we perish.” Matt 8:25). Luke underscores their frantic cry, “Master, master, we perish!” (Lk 8:24). The ship was going under, and they knew it: “we are perishing,” NASB “we are going to drown!” NIV Notice how Matthew and Mark says they referred to Jesus: “Master, master!” Matthew says they cried “Lord.” Here, “Master” means “Teacher,” and is so translated in other versions. The point to see is that the disciples saw a connection between what Jesus taught, and the power that He had to work. His teaching differed vastly from that of the scribes and Pharisees, for it led people to the conclusion that He could DO what others could not do. A person who knows what Jesus has said, yet does not come to the conclusion that He has all power to work in the behalf of the individual, has not heard the teaching with a spiritual and discerning ear.
This text also confirms that if Jesus cares about us, He will do something about our situation. Therefore, the disciples interpreted that because He had not done something, He really did not care. They were wrong, and so are those who come to the same conclusion in their own troubles. This same call daily rises from those who are, at the very best, weak in the faith. They see their troubles, perceive Jesus is not apparently active, and thus conclude He does not care. We will now see how the Lord Jesus responds to such a conclusion.
JESUS’ RESPONSE AND ASSESSMENT
“ 39And He arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. 40 And He said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith? 41 And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of Man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?”
HE SPEAKS TO THE WIND AND THE SEA. When He spoke among men, they observed “His word was with power” (Lk 4:32). Here is a classic example of that unfettered power. He rebukes the wind, and commands the sea to be still. Matthew says He “rebuked the winds,” as though several tempests had converged in that area (Matt 8:26). Luke says He “rebuked the wind and the raging of the water” (Lk 8:24). He “rebuked” the winds, because they had caused the tumult in the water. He simply quieted the waters by telling them to “be still.”
Behold the unshakable confidence of the Lord! He does not try to cause the winds to cease, and the waves to be still. He does not reason with them, or ask them why they have focused upon the vessel in which He was found. His word was enough to alter the circumstance. Jesus does not need to fight, engage in combat, and map out military strategies.
THE RESULT OF HIS WORD. The word of Jesus was instant in its effects: “the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.” Luke says, “and they ceased and there was a great calm” (Lk 8:24). The waters did not return to their normal state, with gentle waves lapping on the sides of the boat. The calm was as unique as the storm. In the Divine economy, a “great calm” follows “a great storm of wind.” There is such a thing as extraordinary comfort, just as surely as there is unusual trouble. You see this lived out in Job who received “twice” as many possessions after he was tried than he had before the trial (Job 42:10).
When the saints of God experience trouble and deliverance, they should not expect things to return to “normal” after the trouble. They should rather anticipate that some progress will be made after their deliverance, so that a “great calm” is experienced within.
WHY ARE YOU SO FEARFUL? The resolution of the difficulty is not the end of the matter! The condition of the people is more important than the hard circumstances in which they find themselves. Matthew says that Jesus said “Why are ye so fearful,” and then spoke to the winds and the sea. And how is a person to answer when the Lord asks, “Why are you so afraid?” NIV Can anyone really come up with an acceptable response to that query? It is as though Jesus asked them, “Why did you think you were going to drown? Why were you moved to think in such a manner when You knew I was here? You had been exposed to my power. Why could you not associate what you have seen Me to do for others with your own selves?”
WHY DO YOU HAVE NO FAITH? Matthew says Jesus said, “O ye of little faith!” (Matt 8:26). Mark reads, “How is it that ye have no faith” (Mk 4:40)? Luke reads, “Where is your faith!” (Lk 8:25). While men tend to gloss the circumstance, Jesus always declares the real situation! Men are fond of claiming they believe, while acting in contradiction of that claim. Jesus will not allow such empty profession! Wherever confidence is lacking, fear moves in to dominate. The most favorably way of viewing such a state is “little faith.” It is good to consider that nothing good is said of “little faith.” There are five references to this phenomenon. Jesus said those who worried about their worldly needs had “little faith,” thus living in contradiction of the revealed care of God Almighty (Matt 6:30; Lk 12:28). When Peter, after taking his eyes off of Jesus, began to sink in the stormy wave, Jesus “stretched forth His hand, and caught him,” saying, “O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?” (Matt 14:31). When Jesus told the disciples to beware “of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees,” they reasoned that it was because they had not brought any bread with them. Jesus responded by saying, “O ye of little faith . . . Do ye not yet understand . . . How is it that ye do not understand?” (Matt 16:8-11).
From the practical point of view, “little faith” is totally powerless. It could not cause those possessing it to quit worrying about their needs. It could not keep Peter on top of the water. It could not cause the disciples to take hold of, and understand, the words of Jesus. For that reason, Mark has Jesus saying the disciples had “no faith.” Luke represents the case as though they once had some faith, but in the time of stress, it took wings and flew away: “Where is your faith.” No person can afford to be content when they respond in fear and unbelief during hard trials!
THE DISCIPLES RESPONSE. The response of the disciples is most intriguing. They marveled at what Jesus could do, but did not seem to have any concern about their lack of faith. “What manner of man is this?” Luke adds, “And they being afraid wondered” (Lk 8:25). Jesus, however, had not asked them to rehearse what He did. He had inquired why they were fearful, and why they did not have faith. Yet, it is as though they did not even hear His words.
One of the marks of “little faith” or “no faith” is that it cannot distinguish the cause for fear and unbelief. It also moves them to “marvel” at what the Lord does rather than give insightful thanks. It is of interest that following Christ’s exaltation, no believer is ever said to have “marveled” at the working of the Lord. Such marveling is an indication of unbelief.