MARK 4:35-41 SAVED!
Introduction
After a long day of teaching, Jesus and his disciples got into a boat to cross Lake Galilee. Several of Jesus’ disciples were fishermen, and they knew the lake well. They knew that windstorms could come up suddenly. But in this account, the wind was so strong that it was called “furious” or violently angry. You will find many details in this story that indicate this was one storm – and one lesson – the disciples would never forget.
Opening Question
Have you ever needed to be rescued? Have you ever experienced overwhelming or storm-like situations? Describe your thoughts and feelings.
Bible Text
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 squalla 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, rebukedb 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!” (Bible Gateway Version)
Vocabulary and Background Notes
a. Boating terms: a squall is a windstorm, to swamp is to fill with water, to drown is to die under water, and the stern is the back of the boat. The stern is the only place one can sleep on a cushion.
b. To rebuke usually means to tell someone to stop doing wrong or having a wrong attitude. But notice what Jesus was rebuking!
Read Carefully
1. Read the Bible text together including the footnotes.
2. Take turns describing the scene (WHO-WHAT-WHEN-WHERE).
3. Tell the story to each other. (WHAT IS HAPPENING?)
4. Read it again, to yourself this time. Pay attention to the people, especially Jesus. What are they like? How do they interact with each other? Underline information and talk about it.
5. Did anything surprise you as you read? Take turns asking questions about the story. Not all the questions need answers.
Think Deeply
1. Why do you think the disciples woke up Jesus?
2. What kind of faith in Jesus do you think the disciples had before this event? Discuss what they knew about Jesus and what they might have expected him to do.
3. What did Jesus want from the disciples? Discuss how the disciples’ question in verse 38 is related to Jesus’ questions in verse 40.
4. Why were the disciples still terrified after the wind was completely calm (verse 41)? What kind of fear is this?
Make It Personal
1. Do you see yourself in any of these characters? (Have you ever had similar attitudes or experiences?)
2. Can you relate this situation to one today? What lessons are there in this text for our lives?
3. What have you learned about Jesus from this text?
Take It Home
The disciples had seen Jesus heal people and even forgive sins. Yet this event shocked them: God was God, and man was man, so how could Jesus control the wind and the waves? The disciples were slow to understand who Jesus was, but he forgave their mistakes and continued to teach them. Little by little, they learned to trust him. Eventually, they came to believe that Jesus was more than a great prophet; God himself was with them. Faith is more than belief; it is trust in a powerful, good, and loving God. Jesus let his disciples learn this for themselves. You are welcome to explore and ask the same questions they did.
“Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!” Mark 4:41
