And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat so that the boat was already filling. But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, ‘Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?’ And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, ‘Peace! Be still!’ And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. He said to them, ‘Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?’ 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?’ (Mark 4:37-41)

Storms are common on the sea of Galilee.

The lake sits 700 feet below sea level. It is 13 miles long and 8 miles wide. At the southern end of the lake is a deep cliff-lined valley. When the wind funnels through the surrounding hills around this valley, the winds can whip up and cause sudden and violent storms. Experienced fishermen wisely stay close to the shore so as to avoid the danger of the storms.

However, the trip in this biblical narrative was not a fishing trip. The disciples were acting on Jesus’ request—"Let us go across to the other side." (Mark 4:35).

I find it funny that Jesus had asked them to take him to the other side of the lake, but now that they are in serious trouble, he is dead asleep!

Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?

His disciples thought Him disinterested. They were likely anticipating that Jesus would help them survive the storm, but there he lay in the stern of the boat, sawing wood! “Really Jesus?!”

Perhaps you have felt like those on the boat.

The disciples thought Him disinterested. They were likely anticipating that Jesus would help them survive the storm, but there he lay in the stern of the boat, sawing wood! “Really Jesus?!”

They did not know Him as Jehovah the Lord and self-existent one—but they were about to! The storm is the setting in which Jesus demonstrates His eternal power, authority, and care for His own. In the storm Jesus proved himself to be the one by whom all things exist and to whom all honor belongs. So, at the height of their disbelief, Jesus awoke and commanded His creation. (John 1:3; Colossians 1:15; Hebrews 1:2)

Peace! Be still!

And the wind and sea had no choice but to obey their creator and LORD! The tempest did not subside gradually. The wind and the sea heeded the creator’s voice in an instant, and all was calm.

A new and rightful awe came over the disciples.

Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?

The Jews understood that only Jehovah ruled the wind and the seas (Psalm 65:5-8; 89:9; 93:3-4; 107:28-29 Jeremiah 5:22; Isaiah 17:12-13). Through this storm, the disciples came to understand that Jesus was the LORD!

I pray you are encouraged by the disciples’ experience, and that whatever storm you are experiencing today, you will see and rest in the sufficiency of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.