35On that day, as evening drew on, he said to them, “Let us cross to the other side.” 36 Leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat just as he was. And other boats were with him. 37 A violent squall came up and waves were breaking over the boat, so that it was already filling up. 38 Jesus was in the stern, asleep on a cushion. They woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” 39 He woke up, rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Quiet! Be still!” The wind ceased and there was great calm. 40 Then he asked them, “Why are you terrified? Do you not yet have faith?” 41 They were filled with great awe and said to one another, “Who then is this whom even wind and sea obey?”
Jesus calms the Storm at the Sea (Mk 4: 35-41) is a short passage in the gospel of Mark where the miracle Jesus performs addresses his followers’ fear. It is interesting that Jesus initiates the voyage to “cross to the other side” of the lake. And the disciples took him “just as he was.” The narrative relates that as they crossed, a violent squall arose and the waves were breaking over into the boat; it was filling up. Incredulously, the story continues that Jesus was in the stern, asleep on a cushion! If I were asleep on a boat, I certainly would be awake by the time the waves and the water were crashing onto the vessel. (I am told that Jesus asleep on the stern demonstrated his trust in God.) His friends and disciples make their desperate plea to the sleeping Jesus, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” to which he wakes. Then Jesus rebukes the wind and the sea: “Quiet!” “Be still!” Still wind. Great calm. To the disciples Jesus says: Why are you afraid? Do you not yet have faith?” Disciples: “What the …? Who is this dude, that even the wind and sea obey?”
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