Mark 4:41 - Master of Wind and Sea

Mark 4:41
They became very much afraid and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?”

Message: Master of Wind and Sea

Time: Mark's personal connection with Peter gave him the source material for this book. This book was composed probably between AD 57 and AD 59. It's a book that is on the move, leading to the cross. 39 times is the word 'immediately' used. Mark reveals Jesus as God's servant, reaching into the lives of people and effecting physical and circumstantial change.

What the Lord is Saying: 

Following the feeling that the Lord did not care for them against the violent storm and the concern that they might drown and then after seeing what Jesus did in calming the storm, they now have a fear, a great fear toward Him. They are marveled. They have already seen things that are great, like removing a demon from a person and healing many people of their diseases. And yet now in this moment, they are very much afraid over him beckoning the wind and the sea to obey him. Before, with those other miracles of healing, they didn't seem to have this response, but as Jesus now controls an outside force they even ask the question, "Who then is this?" or "Who is this man?"

It seems in that moment that the disciples probably, up to this point, still felt like they were dealing with a man despite the words that Jesus had said. Jesus had already, up to this point, talked about forgiving sins. And the rabbi's in the temple had heard Jesus claim a different type of authority. Yet, those words didn't compel them to think of Jesus as being able to calm the sea and wind. So despite people seeing Jesus do other things that only God could do, they were not moved to seeing who He really is, until this moment.

There are several verses in the Old Testament that seem to speak of an authority God had over the seas:

• Psalm 69:1 - Save me, O God, for the waters have threatened my life. [This verse is hard because the request for saving could be apart from the reaction the person is having from the water or it could be connected.]
• Psalm 77:16 - The waters saw you O God; the water saw You and were in anguish, the deeps also trembled. [Here the waters have a reaction by God. The waters and see are under God's authority.]
• Isaiah 43:2 - When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, nor will the flame burn you. [Again, the idea here is that as you go through water and rivers, God will still be in control and He will protect you from the waters.]

The verse here about Jesus is more commanding. He actually moves and controls and reduces the movement of the sea and waters. Thus, the response from the disciples seems not surprising. It's possible that they, up to this point, had seen his works and not come to the conclusion. But, this act, was simply there to show his power. He wasn't necessarily doing any work of the Lord, other than showing them on this ship that He was in control of all.

They now know that Jesus is more than a man. He is God. Perhaps, the messages and all that they have seen up to this point now took on greater meaning, for they saw the rest of the Story. We will see as we continue through the Gospel of Mark.

Promise: Seeing Jesus as He is - the Holy God - drives us to our knees in fear. This is the God that can save us and we will submit to. All that I have thought of, up to this point, about God, I can now subscribe to Jesus as well. He is God. 

Prayer: Lord, thank you for saving me. Thank you for letting me see your authority and that you are in complete control. You are my Savior and Lord. You have saved me, forgiven me and because of You I am safe forever. You do command the sea and waves.  You have control over all in the same way God does, so you are God. Continue to help me understand these truths of You. I praise You for Your love and revealing yourself to me.