Jesus has been teaching from a boat on the Sea of Galilee. He wraps up His lesson as evening comes and then gives instructions to the disciples. Mark tells us, "That day when evening came, He said to His disciples, 'Let us go over to the other side.' Leaving the crowd behind, they took Him along, just as He was, in the boat. There were also other boats with Him." (Mark 4:35-36)
We don't know who is in the other boats, perhaps the larger group of disciples that are not part of the Twelve. Whoever these people are, they are going to witness something miraculous along with the Twelve.
The point at which the men are crossing the sea is thought to be where it is about five miles wide. When they set out we can safely assume there are no signs of an approaching storm, for the group includes experienced fishermen who know the Sea of Galilee like the back of their hands. Had there been any hint a violent storm is coming, I would expect these fishermen (and Peter in particular, since he is never shy about advising the Lord) to speak up and advise the Lord to wait until the storm passes.
But this is not a natural storm. It has a Satanic origin, and if we harbor any doubts that Satan is capable of influencing the weather, we can consult the book of Job where he sends a tornado on the house where Job's children are holding a feast. (Job 1:18-19) We know this storm on the Sea of Galilee is of Satanic origin because of the passage we will study tomorrow. Jesus is on a mission when He crosses the sea. There's a man on the other side who is possessed by so many demons that he will refer to himself as "Legion". In Jesus' day a Roman legion could consist of anywhere from three thousand to fifty-two hundred men, so this gives us some idea of how strong a hold Satan has on the man called Legion and on the Gentile area where Legion lives. The last thing Satan wants is the showdown with Jesus that's coming, so he attempts to prevent the meeting between Jesus and Legion. I don't know whether Satan thinks he can actually kill Jesus, but killing some of the disciples or the people in the other boats would have the desired effect of putting a stop to the current excursion. Even if all Satan does is shipwreck the boats without managing to harm anyone aboard, he still will have accomplished a delay in the deliverance of Legion.
"A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped." (Mark 4:37) Luke adds this remark, "They were in great danger." (Luke 8:23b)
Where is Jesus while the storm rages? He's sleeping. "Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion." (Mark 4:38a) The Lord whose power created all things is exhausted in the human body He currently inhabits. He's been preaching and healing for days on end, being constantly thronged by the crowds, so busy that Mark previously told us He and the disciples haven't even had time to eat. He's running on empty, physically speaking, and of necessity must sleep during the five-mile journey to prepare for the spiritual battle ahead. While the storm rages, He's sleeping as deeply and calmly as a child who has been put down for an afternoon nap.
In contrast, the men with Him are panicked. Several seasoned fishermen are aboard who have seen just about everything that can happen on the Sea of Galilee, but they recognize this storm as something different. It comes up out of nowhere and it's violent like no storm they've ever seen before. They believe they are in imminent danger of dying. "The disciples woke Him and said to Him, 'Teacher, don't You care if we drown?'" (Mark 4:38b) Have you ever been in a difficult situation and asked the Lord, "Don't You care? Why don't You do something?" I have! I know the frustration and fear and even anger that the disciples are experiencing when they ask Jesus, "Don't You care?" Jesus isn't up doing anything about the storm because He knows everything is going to be alright. His destiny is death on a cross, not death in a fishing boat. He also knows the destiny of each disciple, and none of them is meant to perish in a fishing boat either. Jesus can sleep like a baby because He knows God the Father is watching over all of them.
The men with Jesus believe He can do something to help. I don't know whether they believe He can stop the storm or whether they expect Him to grab a bucket and help them bail water, but either way He is immediately responsive to their cry for help. "He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, 'Quiet! Be still!' Then the wind died down and it was completely calm." (Mark 4:39) Several of my commentaries make note of the fact that Jesus says the same thing to the storm that He often says to demons He is casting out, "Be still!" This is further proof that the storm is of Satanic origin.
The sea is now as smooth as glass, and Jesus turns to the men with Him and asks a question. "He said to His disciples, 'Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?'" (Mark 4:40) If the disciples at this point had been fully convinced of Jesus' deity, there would have been no room for fear. They would have known that God the Father would not let anything happen to God the Son. They would have trusted Jesus' word when He told them they were going to the other side of the sea. They would have been certain He was going to protect them.
A reverent fear falls on the men when they see Jesus' power over the elements displayed. "They were terrified and asked each other, 'Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey Him!'" (Mark 4:41) These men have already seen Jesus' power over illness and demon possession. Now they see He has power over the weather too. In the gospels the disciples often seem a bit slow to catch on, but since we are all human I doubt we would have caught on any faster. But what they've witnessed on the boat has increased their faith in the One who calmed the sea. They're going to need this extra measure of faith when they are met on the other side of the sea by something even more terrifying than the storm.
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