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Mark 4

And he began again to teach by the sea side: and there was gathered unto him a great multitude, so that he entered into a ship, and sat in the sea; and the whole multitude was by the sea on the land.

And he taught them many things by parables, and said unto them in his doctrine,

Hearken; Behold, there went out a sower to sow:

And it came to pass, as he sowed, some fell by the way side, and the fowls of the air came and devoured it up.

And some fell on stony ground, where it had not much earth; and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of earth:

But when the sun was up, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away.

And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it yielded no fruit.

And other fell on good ground, and did yield fruit that sprang up and increased; and brought forth, some thirty, and some sixty, and some an hundred.

And he said unto them, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

And when he was alone, they that were about him with the twelve asked of him the parable.

And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables:

That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them.

And he said unto them, Know ye not this parable? and how then will ye know all parables?

The sower soweth the word.

And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts.

And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness;

And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word's sake, immediately they are offended.

And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word,

And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.

And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred.

And he said unto them, Is a candle brought to be put under a bushel, or under a bed? and not to be set on a candlestick?

For there is nothing hid, which shall not be manifested; neither was any thing kept secret, but that it should come abroad.

If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.

And he said unto them, Take heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you: and unto you that hear shall more be given.

For he that hath, to him shall be given: and he that hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he hath.

And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground;

And should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how.

For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear.

But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come.

And he said, Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God? or with what comparison shall we compare it?

It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown in the earth, is less than all the seeds that be in the earth:

But when it is sown, it groweth up, and becometh greater than all herbs, and shooteth out great branches; so that the fowls of the air may lodge under the shadow of it.

And with many such parables spake he the word unto them, as they were able to hear it.

But without a parable spake he not unto them: and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples.

And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side.

And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships.

And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.

And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?

And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.

And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?

And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?

What does Mark 4:35 mean?

Explanation

The verse Mark 4:35 from the King James Version of the Bible recounts an event where Jesus instructs his disciples to cross the Sea of Galilee.

The instruction comes "the same day, when the even was come," suggesting that it was after a day of teaching through parables.

Literally, this verse describes the intention to travel from one side of the lake to the other.

Symbolically, however, it can be seen as a transition from one phase or aspect of disciples' experience with Jesus to another, perhaps moving from teaching to experiencing the miraculous, as events later in this chapter would demonstrate.

It can also represent the need to sometimes leave a place of comfort to enter a space where faith can be tested and grown.

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Historical Context

Mark 4:35 occurs within the broader narrative of the Gospel of Mark, which is considered to be the earliest Gospel written, possibly between 60 and 70 AD.

The Sea of Galilee is a freshwater lake in the region of Israel where Jesus conducted much of his ministry.

During this period, the Sea of Galilee was a hub for trade, fishing, and transportation.

Crossing the lake would have been a commonplace activity for those living and working in the area.

Hence, the request to cross over to the other side would not have been a strange concept to the disciples who were primarily fishermen by trade.

Theological Insights

Theologically, this verse is often interpreted to demonstrate Jesus' lordship over nature, which is more explicitly shown in the subsequent verses where He calms a storm.

From a Christological perspective, some theologians assert that the act of Jesus leading the disciples into a storm can be seen as a representation of his ability to guide believers through trials and tribulations.

For the disciples, the crossing foretells the challenges to their faith and their need to trust in Jesus.

It also reflects Jesus' role in setting the direction for ministry and life, implicitly teaching the disciples that they should follow His lead.

Practical Applications

In a practical sense, Mark 4:35 encourages individuals to be willing to follow leadership, even into the unknown.

It is about the willingness to trust and accept change, which can often be difficult, especially when leaving an area or situation of comfort.

In modern terms, it can mean being open to God's guidance in taking life in new directions which might initially seem daunting.

This applies to personal changes, as well as larger shifts in a community or organization, always with the faith that Jesus has control over the outcome.

Cross-References

Matthew 8:18 (KJV): "Now when Jesus saw great multitudes about him, he gave commandment to depart unto the other side."
Luke 8:22 (KJV): "Now it came to pass on a certain day, that he went into a ship with his disciples: and he said unto them, Let us go over unto the other side of the lake.

And they launched forth."

Mark 5:1 (KJV): "And they came over unto the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gadarenes."

Language Study

In the original Greek text of Mark 4:35, the phrase "Let us pass over unto the other side" is translated from the Greek "διέλθωμεν εἰς τὸ πέραν" (dielthōmen eis to peran). The verb "διέλθωμεν" (dielthōmen), a form of "διέρχομαι" (dierchomai), means "to go through, pass through, or travel".

It suggests movement or action. The preposition "εἰς" (eis) means "into" or "towards," and "τὸ πέραν" (to peran) translates as "the other side" or "beyond." This provides a sense of transition and moving towards something new or different.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

The motif of crossing a body of water is common in various ancient myths and religious narratives.

For instance, in the Hebrew Bible, the Israelites cross the Red Sea during the Exodus, symbolizing a transition from slavery to freedom.

In other cultural myths, such as those of ancient Greece, crossing rivers can symbolize transition to the afterlife, such as the crossing of the River Styx.

In these religious and cultural contexts, the act of crossing often represents a significant change or a passage into a new state of being.

Scientific Perspectives

From a meteorological standpoint, the Sea of Galilee is known for sudden and violent storms, due to its geographical setting, surrounded by high mountains and having a relatively shallow depth.

Understanding this can underscore the realism in the narrative and Jesus' subsequent calming of the storm, as it was a real hazard that fishermen of the time would face.

Analyzing this verse with modern scientific knowledge about the region and its weather patterns can add depth to our understanding of the narrative and the experiences of the people involved.

Commentaries

Biblical scholars and theologians have offered varying insights on Mark 4:35.

Some commentaries emphasize Jesus' role as a teacher who decides when it is time to move from words to action.

Others focus on the tranquil command of Jesus in contrast to the later storm, highlighting his sovereignty over the circumstances.

The overall agreement among many scholars is that this verse sets the stage for what is to follow, Jesus' demonstration of power over nature, which serves as a pivotal point for the disciples' understanding and faith development.

Mark 4

Mark 4

What does Mark 4:35 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Mark Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Mark 4:35 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Mark Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?