I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace.
Christ can calm the stirrings, longings, and fears that so easily invade our minds. The James Nisbet Church Pulpit Commentary goes into great detail about The Secret of a Quiet Mind. He arose from off his pillow, and stood up and in a majestic and authoritative way reproved the wind, as if it was a servant that had exceeded his commission at which he shows some resentment.…as soon as ever the word was spoken, immediately, at once, the wind ceased, and the sea was calmed: a clear proof this, that he must be the most high God, who gathers the winds in his fists, and stills the noise of the seas and their waves. John Gill’s Exposition of the Whole Bible also gives a dramatic account of the passage. But when we continually stand in awe of God, our fear can be overcome by our faith.Īdam Clarke’s Commentary seems to stress the passage as a majestic and authoritative God in action. We are in a constant battle in our minds between feelings of faith and feelings of fear. He says that our hearts are wicked like the stormy sea but when we listen to the law of Christ and be still in front of an awesome God, we can rest. Matthew Henry’s Commentary stresses the passage as a parable. The word for Be Still used in the passage is Pephimoso or Phimoo which means to muzzle, silence, to keep quiet as with a muzzle, keep under control, silence. The Greek word for Peace used in Mark 4:39 is Siopao which means to keep silent, be silent, either voluntarily or involuntarily, to be dumb, figuratively, to be calm, to be quiet, to refrain from speaking. They didn’t provide much protection from the elements. Fishing boats at the time were typically only big enough to hold twelve or so men. However, sudden storms often happen on the Sea of Galilee. It was seven miles wide and one-hundred sixty feet deep and a great place for fishing. The setting for the passage is the Sea of Galilee, a freshwater lake in northern Israel. And did He not also create the seas ( Genesis 1:9-10)? And as He reminded Job, He told the waves where they had to stop and come no further ( Job 38:11). I think that it is literal because Psalm 89:9 says that God rules the oceans and subdues storm-tossed waves. It was a dramatic display to bring out awe in the disciples and also an illustration that all we have to do is call to Jesus and he’ll be there to help and calm us. So, was it a literal storm in Mark 4:35-41 or a parable about Jesus calming the “storms” of our lives? Yes! I believe it was both.
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