Mark 4:35
On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Jesus, after a long day of teaching parables from a boat to a crowd on shore, decides it's time to move to the other side of the Sea of Galilee. He and his disciples, along with other boats, set sail as evening falls. This journey is cut short by a sudden, violent storm that threatens to sink their boat, waking a sleeping Jesus.
Jesus, exhausted from a long day of teaching, still initiates the journey across the sea. What does this tell us about His purpose and priorities?
The day has been long and demanding for Jesus. He's poured Himself out, teaching crowds using parables. Yet, as evening falls, it's Jesus who initiates the next step: 'Let us go across to the other side.' This isn't a reluctant departure, but a deliberate move. Even in His weariness, Jesus is focused on His mission. This wasn't just a boat ride; it was a purposeful transition, pushing them towards the next phase of ministry, which involved ministering to Gentiles on the other side. It shows that His mission wasn't just for the crowds of Israel, but for all people.
Notice how the text emphasizes that they take Him 'even as He was' in the boat. There's no lengthy preparation, no landing to gather supplies. They move directly from teaching to traveling. This haste, coupled with the coming darkness, sets the stage for what's to come, highlighting the disciples' dependence and Jesus' ultimate authority over their journey.
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The disciples were skilled fishermen, yet this storm terrified them. What does their fear reveal about their faith, and Jesus' response?
As they set out, the journey takes an unexpected turn. A fierce storm erupts, threatening to capsize their boat. The disciples, experienced in navigating these waters, are consumed by fear. Their cry, 'Master, do you not care that we are perishing?' reveals a deep crisis of faith. They question Jesus' awareness and concern at the very moment they need Him most.
Jesus' response is striking. He first rebukes the wind and the sea, bringing immediate calm. Then, He turns to the disciples: 'Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?' He's not just asking about their fear, but about its root: a lack of trust in His power and presence, even when He's right there with them, sleeping peacefully. Their fear wasn't just of the storm, but of being abandoned by Jesus in their moment of peril. The miracle isn't just the calming of the sea, but the exposure and subsequent deepening of their faith.
The disciples’ terror shifts to awe. What is it about Jesus that commands the obedience of the very elements?
After Jesus stills the storm, the disciples are left in a state of profound wonder and fear. Their initial terror was of drowning; now, it's a reverent awe of the One who has such power over nature. They ask each other, 'Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?'
This question is pivotal. It marks a significant step in their understanding of Jesus. They've seen His miracles before – healing the sick, casting out demons – but this event reveals His authority over the fundamental forces of creation. It’s a tangible demonstration that He is not just a prophet or a rabbi, but One who holds inherent divine power. This encounter moves them from seeing Him as a teacher to glimpsing Him as the divine Son of God, a truth that will continue to unfold throughout their journey with Him.
On a day of teaching— this verse
Jesus Teaches Parables
Jesus spent the day teaching the crowds by the Sea of Galilee, using parables like the parable of the sower to explain the nature of God's kingdom.
That evening
Journey Across the Sea
As evening fell, Jesus decided to cross the Sea of Galilee with his disciples, possibly seeking rest and a break from the crowds.
During the crossing
Violent Storm Arises
A sudden and fierce storm erupted on the lake, tossing the boat violently and filling it with water, threatening to capsize them.
During the storm
Jesus Calms the Storm
Jesus, after being awakened by his fearful disciples, rebuked the wind and commanded the sea to be still, bringing about an immediate and profound calm.
After the storm
Disciples' Awe and Fear
The disciples were overcome with awe and fear, questioning who Jesus was, as even the wind and waves obeyed his command.
This passage describes the same event, highlighting Jesus' sleep during the storm and the disciples' fear, reinforcing the theme of Jesus' divine power over nature.
Luke 8:22Luke's account parallels Mark's by mentioning Jesus' instruction to cross the lake and his subsequent sleep, emphasizing the disciples' lack of faith when the storm arose.
Psalm 107:23This Psalm speaks of those who go down to the sea in ships and do business on the great waters, and witness the Lord's works and wonders in the deep, connecting to the disciples' experience of encountering God's power in a storm at sea.
Isaiah 43:2This prophetic passage states that when the disciples pass through waters, God will be with them, and through rivers, they shall not overflow, directly paralleling Jesus' command to cross the sea and His presence providing protection.
barnesMark 4:35: "And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side."
See the notes at Matthew 8:18-27 .
expositorsMark 4:35-41: "And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side."
CHAPTER 4:35-41; 6:47-52 (Mark 4:35-41; Mark 6:47-52)THE TWO STORMS (JESUS WALKING ON THE WATER) "And on that day, when even was come, He saith unto them, Let us go over unto the other side. And leaving the multitude, they take Him with them, even as He was, in the boat. And other boats were with Him. And there ariseth a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the boat, insom…
{ "references": [ { "reference": "Matthew 8:23-27", "connection": "This passage provides a parallel account of the same event, highlighting Jesus' power over nature and the disciples' questioning of His identity." }, { "reference": "Luke 8:22-25", "connection": "Another Gospel's perspective on this event, emphasizing the disciples' fear and Jesus' rebuke of their lack of faith." }, { "reference": "Psalm 107:23-30", "connection": "This Old Testament psalm beautifully describes sailors crying out to the Lord in a storm and His powerful intervention, foreshadowing Jesus' command over the seas." }, { "reference": "Isaiah 43:2", "connection": "This prophetic verse speaks of God's presence with His people through 'waters' and 'rivers,' offering comfort and assurance that parallels Jesus' presence with His disciples in the storm." } ] }
Jesus, after a long day of teaching parables from a boat to a crowd on shore, decides it's time to move to the other side of the Sea of Galilee. He and his disciples, along with other boats, set sail as evening falls. This journey is cut short by a sudden, violent storm that threatens to sink their boat, waking a sleeping Jesus.
Jesus, after a long day of teaching parables from a boat to a crowd on shore, decides it's time to move to the other side of the Sea of Galilee. He and his disciples, along with other boats, set sail as evening falls. This journey is cut short by a sudden, violent storm that threatens to sink their boat, waking a sleeping Jesus.
"On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.”" — { "references": [ { "reference": "Matthew 8:23-27", "connection": "This passage provides a parallel account of the same event, highlighting Jesus' power over nature and the disciple…
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