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The boat was larger than a row
boat. Otherwise, Jesus would have gotten wet, and the winds would have
awakened Him. The stern of the boat must have had a protective cover
or enclosure to protect Him from the elements of the storm.
The Fierce Gale. After Jesus went to sleep,
a “fierce gale” or
great storm surprised them as they were crossing the sea. If they had
expected this monstrous storm, they would not have attempted to cross
the lake.
And there arose a fierce gale of wind, and the waves were breaking over the boat so much that the boat was already filling up. (NASB) Mark 4:37 But as they were sailing along He fell asleep; and a fierce gale of wind descended on the lake, and they began to be swamped and to be in danger. (NASB) Luke 8:23 The Greek word that is translated as “fierce gale” is LAILAPS.
Matthew 8:24 calls it a “great storm.” It refers to a whirlwind
or wind with cyclonic gusts. Kenneth Wuest, a Greek scholar, makes this
comment,
The Greek word is used of a furious storm or hurricane. It never refers to a single gust, nor a steadily blowing wind, however, violent, but to a storm breaking forth from black thunder clouds in furious gusts, with floods of rain, and throwing everything topsy-turvy.[1]
Even in modern times storms drop from Mt. Hermon down into
the Jordan Valley along the ravines. The drop of about 682 feet (208m)
down to the Sea of Galilee results in a monstrous storm whipping across
the water. We can imagine the winds shrieking through the rigging and
the high waves slapping the sides of the boat and crashing over the boat
as it bounced up and down over the huge swells. The Greek language reveals
that the waves were repeatedly swamping or washing over the boat. This
was a terrible storm.
At least four of the disciples in the boat (Peter, Andrew, James, and
John) were experienced seamen and Matthew, who was there, records that
this storm threatened the loss of the boat and most likely their lives.
The boat was filling up with water as the waves continued breaking across
the bow and washing along the boat. The boat was in danger of sinking
and killing the men on board.
Were these men afraid? The answer is, “Yes!” They were all
afraid, except for the One who was asleep. Just imagine Jesus asleep
in the boat with everything that must have been occurring. The disciples
were busy pulling in the sails, securing the boat, and hanging on to
the boat while attempting to protect it from capsizing and sinking
in the cloud covered darkness of the evening.
Jesus Awakened. Finally, the disciples awakened
Jesus. They had delayed awakening Him until it was clear that they were
in desperate trouble.
They came to Jesus and woke Him up, saying, “Master, Master, we are perishing!” (NASB) Luke 8:24a Mark 4:38 is even more vivid and adds,
. . . and they woke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?” The Greek language reveals that the disciples were attempting to awaken
Jesus. He did not awaken easily. He was too exhausted. Why did the disciples
wait so long to awaken Jesus? The fact that they waited reveals their
great respect for Him. But finally, their fears motivated them and they
awakened Jesus. When He awoke, they probably very excitedly told Him
about the winds and waves and that they were about to die because of
the gale like storm.
Jesus responded to them with a rebuke before He got up and did anything.
Wow, Jesus was perfectly calm inside. He was not worried or fearful.
Jesus was not concerned about the waves or the wind. He said to them, “Why are you afraid, you men of little faith?” (NASB) Matt. 8:26a These men were fearful. Their problem was a lack of faith.
Then Jesus stood to His feet and calmed the storm with two Greek
words that are translated as three, “Hush, be still!”
And He got up and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Hush, be still.” And the wind died down and it became perfectly calm. (NASB) Mark 4:39 Jesus said, “be
being silent” or “muzzle it” and, instantly, the
winds stopped and the sea was perfectly calm. Some have claimed that
the winds just coincidentally stopped and it appeared to the disciples
that Jesus had performed a miracle. But that explanation does not
account for the waters being perfectly calm as the surface of glass.
Most people know that the waters would have continued to be turbulent
for some time after the winds had stopped. The waves would not have
been instantly, perfectly calm. No, this was a miracle and the men
in that boat knew it, especially the seamen.
The Real Fear. If you had been in the
storm with the winds howling in your ears, water crashing over
you, and the boat filling up with water, how would you have felt?
I know how I would have reacted. I would have been fighting for my
life, the lives of my fellow disciples, and the life of Jesus.
With my energy spent and our efforts being ineffective, I would have
been fearful. How would you have felt after Jesus calmed the water
and stopped the storm? Would you have been thankful and relieved?
How did the disciples feel? The answer may surprise you.
They were fearful and amazed, saying to one another, “Who then is this, that He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey Him?” (NASB) Luke 8:25b The disciples were more fearful than they were before Jesus had
stopped the storm and its effects. They were greatly afraid of Jesus.
The fear on their faces must have been obvious. They had been fearful
of the storm and now they are exceedingly afraid of Jesus. Yet, Jesus
ignores the obvious and asks them a question.
And He said to them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?” (NASB) Mark 4:40
Why are you afraid? Matthew 8:26 adds that Jesus also said they had “little
faith.”
He said to them, “Why are you afraid, you men of little faith?” . . . (NASB) Matt. 8:26 Seeking More Faith. Later in Matthew we will discover that Jesus will
tell His disciples once again that they had little faith. In Matt. 14:31,
He will tell Peter that the reason he started to sink into the sea as
he was walking on the water was due to his little faith. In Matthew 16:8,
Jesus will rebuke the disciples and tell them that they have little faith
because they are worried about not having enough bread. And in Matthew
17:20, He will tell them that they cannot move a mountain because of
their little faith. Their fear was due to their “little faith.” Are
you fearful? If you are, it is because you have “little faith.”
Reference:
 1. Wuest, Kenneth. Mark, Wuest’s Word Studies From the Greek New Testament. Eerdmans Publishing Co. 1973. vol 1. p. 96. |
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