Who is this man? (Mark 4:35-41)

MEASURES OF THE MESSIAH FROM MARK:
The Wonder over Jesus (Mark 4:35-41)

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Dr. Paul Manuel—2014

Despite the popularity of Facebook, the networking site cannot replace personal, human contact, and some people's self-worth will always be defined by the number of real "friends" they have.

With typical teenage angst, Mary was complaining about having a tough day at school. She had stretched herself out on the couch to do a bit of what she thought was well-deserved self-pitying. She moaned to her mother and brother, "No one loves me.... The whole world hates me!" Her brother, busily playing a video game, hardly looked up at her but passed along his encouragement: "That's not true, Mary.... Some people don't even know you."

The only time Jesus experienced angst was in the Garden of Gethsemane before his arrest. Until then, it is others who are troubled, including by the uncertainty of his identity. Who is this miracle-worker?

Today we are considering a passage in the first part of Mark's gospel and the question: "Who is Jesus?" Answering this question also lays the groundwork for the study of faith, a study that is essential for the perseverance of both Jesus' disciples and Mark's readers, as well as of us. The passage is the calming of the sea in Mark 4. Before looking at this, it is helpful to review the tension over Jesus' identity that Mark has already recorded, especially among members of the supernatural community:

• In chapter 1, a demon identifies Jesus as "the Holy One of God" (v. 24), and the people, unbiased at this point, are "amazed" at his authority (v. 27).
• Later in that same chapter, Jesus exorcises several demons from those possessed, "but he would not let the demons speak because they knew who he was" (v. 34)¹
• In chapter 3, whenever the demons see him, they fall down before him and cry out, "You are the Son of God" (v. 11).
• Later in the same chapter, some religious leaders assert that he is driving out demons by the prince of demons, in fact, that "he is possessed" by a demon (v. 22).

At this point, the sides are drawn up: either Jesus is of God or of Satan. Those who are not already disposed against him—some of the people, the disciples, perhaps some of Mark's readers—have yet to decide. Does the next incident, the calming of the sea, help any of them to make their determination? Please turn to...

Mark 4:35 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. There were also other boats with him. 37 A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. 38 Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, "Teacher, don't you care if we drown?" 39 He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, "Quiet! Be still!" Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. 40 He said to his disciples, "Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?" 41 They were terrified and asked each other, "Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!"

Mark lays out the structure of the event in three parts. There is...

• Disruption in a great storm,
• Resolution in a great calm, and
• Reflection in a great fear.

In the course of these items, Mark introduces several questions that lead to the essential meaning of faith, including belief in the person of Jesus—particularly his divine nature. First is...

I. The Disciples' Question (Mark 4:38)

If you have ever been in a boat or a plane during a storm, as the going gets rougher, you realize that you, a passenger, are essentially helpless, at the mercy of the elements, and you hope the pilot can keep the craft on course. If at some point the pilot were to leave his post, come into the cabin, and inform you that he has lost control, you would probably panic. That is the situation with the disciples. They are the pilots, but they are no longer in control of the vessel, and they realize that it is only a matter of time before it capsizes, and they probably drown. Uncertain what to do and unsettled by Jesus' apparent lack of concern, they wake him and ask in v. 38,

• "Don't you care?"

The disruption in a great storm precedes this initial question, which introduces a common human dilemma: how to respond when a problem arises suddenly or unexpectedly? It is only natural to be concerned about your safety.

• "Will that test the doctor ordered bring good news or bad news?"
• "Several houses in the neighborhood have been robbed. Will mine be next?"
• "This is a very bad part of town for the car to break down, and I certainly hope it doesn't."

In the midst of your dilemma, you may wonder, "Does anyone else care? Does God care?" That is the disciples' question to Jesus: "[D]on't you care if we drown?"

What do they want from him: some comforting words, the calming assurance of his presence, a prayer for God to intervene? Whatever they expect, their panic is obvious!² Likewise, when a problem arises suddenly or unexpectedly for you, do bring the matter to God, but do not panic and let your demeanor show your doubt. Faith, among other things, is the confidence that God is concerned about your situation, whatever it may be.

Jesus responds to their plea, despite their panic, after which come...

II. The Teacher's Questions (Mark 4:40)

Jesus is obviously displeased and not because they interrupted his nap. If they had been paying attention, they would have no reason to panic, because what they witnessed his doing in the past is indicative of what he can do in general, including now. Their "lack of faith makes [the] disciples...unable to respond to a crisis with the confidence in God...which is the mark of a true disciple" (France 2002:225).

In fairness to the disciples, controlling the violent elements of nature as it threatens the lives of several people seems, at least, to require far greater power than healing an affliction that affects the life of a single person. To this point in the gospel, healings and exorcisms are the only miracles the disciples have witnessed. Moreover, Jesus is not the only one through whom God heals, nor is he the only one who casts out demons. There are other wonder-working rabbis in Second Temple Judaism.³ None of them, however, can control the weather. So, why should the disciples think that Jesus can?

The stories about others in this early period who performed miracles are sporadic. Actual and reliable accounts are few, and rarely do such deeds exceed several incidents for any one individual.⁴ In Jesus' case, however, the testimony far exceeds a handful. Even at this point in the narrative, just four chapters into the gospel, Mark has recorded uncounted healings and exorcisms.⁵ The frequency of these unusual events should have impressed the disciples that Jesus wields an unusual degree of power, power that he might apply in other kinds of situations.

Would Jesus have preferred that they just sit patiently on the deck, waiting for him to wake up and save them? ...Probably not. As I said before, his rebuke is not for disturbing him but for doubting him. Jesus then stills the storm and calms the sea, after which he asks two questions in v. 40...

A. Why do you fear?
B. Where is your faith?

After the resolution in a great calm, his two questions identify this common human problem as a lack of confidence in God. Admittedly, such confidence is difficult to express with conviction when the world is crashing in around you.

• That test the doctor ordered discloses a problem.
• Your house does get robbed, and you wonder now if the thieves will return.
• The car does break down in that very bad part of town.

In the midst of your dilemma, it is hard to imagine that anyone does care. You may even wonder about God. After all, if He truly cared, He could have prevented the problem from arising in the first place?⁶

Nevertheless, this is what Jesus expects from the disciples: not fear but faith. Is that an unrealistic expectation? ...Evidently not. The miracles they had already witnessed should have prepared them for this event. Likewise, when you face a new problem, one you have not encountered before, review what God has done in the past to prepare you for what He might do in the present. Faith, among other things, is the confidence that God is consistent and will respond to your situation, as He has to others, perhaps not in the same way but with the same commitment to your welfare.

Jesus' followers have the last word in this episode, because after his rebuke comes...

III. The Disciples' Question (Mark 4:41)

Despite the fact that they have witnessed several impressive displays of power, they are not quite prepared for this latest demonstration. Why not? What kept them from reaching the spiritual maturity Jesus expected they would have at this point?

Earlier in this chapter, Jesus told the parable of "The Different Soils," a story about the varied ways people respond to the message of the kingdom. Unlike his treatment of other parables, Jesus follows this one with a detailed explanation of its meaning.

• Like seed that falls on traveled soil and does not remain, a person can hear the message and not understand it.
• Like seed that falls on rocky soil and does not take root, a person can hear the message, and even receive it gladly, but still not understand it.
• Like seed that falls on thorny soil and does not ripen, a person can hear the message, and even begin to grow, but still not understand it.
• Like seed that falls on good soil and bears fruit, a person can hear the message and understand it (i.e., apply it).

We usually regard each different soil as descriptive of a different person's response to the gospel. There is nothing to say, however, that a person always responds the same way. In other words, while the parable may depict an individual's initial reception of the good news, especially for those who ultimately reject it, the different soils may also depict an individual's subsequent and varied reception of other things God wants him to learn. This may explain Jesus' displeasure at the disciples' lack of faith. What he had taught them thus far had not taken root, so they were unprepared for the challenge to their faith. Confirming their lack of understanding is their final question, in v. 41,

• Who is this?

The disciples' reflection in a great fear causes them to reconsider the identity of their teacher, and it probably makes them wonder how they could have missed the message of his many miracles.... By the same token, how well are you hearing what God has to say? Whether from a sermon, a SS lesson, a Bible study, or your own reading of scripture, are you getting what He wants to teach you? This, of course, requires that you are paying attention, something you cannot do unless you are at least present. Do not let a distraction, even one perhaps from God, displace your devotion to God.⁷ These opportunities to hear and study His word are, in part, how God would prepare you for the challenges to your faith that lie ahead. Do you take advantage of them, and does the message find consistently receptive soil? Simply put, if you are not listening, you are not learning. One of the most important lessons is that faith, among other things, is the confidence God is capable of handling any situation you may encounter, turning it to your ultimate advantage.⁸

This experience, as traumatic as it is for the disciples, exposes a deficiency in their understanding about Jesus and a deficiency in their faith. As he brings them through this crisis, however, he fills in that gap. Likewise, God may use a traumatic experience to fill a gap in your understanding and in your faith. When that happens, you can appreciate The Wonder over Jesus the disciples express here, because the one who saved them from the storm has also saved you from your sin and can save you from other dangers as well.

For the Bibliography and Endnotes, see the pdf here.