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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 4:39 mean?

Explanation

Mark 4:39 describes a miraculous event where Jesus controls the natural elements, demonstrating his divine authority over creation.

This verse shows Jesus asleep on a boat with his disciples when a great storm arises.

The disciples, terrified, wake Jesus up, fearing for their lives.

Jesus responds by standing up and rebuking the wind before speaking to the sea with the words "Peace, be still." Immediately, the natural chaos of the storm is replaced with calm.

Literally, this verse presents Jesus as one with the power to command the weather.

On a deeper level, it points to the idea of Jesus bringing peace amidst the storms of life, whether literal or metaphorical, showcasing His role as a source of security and serenity.

Top Rated Mark Books

Historical Context

The Gospel of Mark was likely written around 66-70 AD, a period of political turmoil and social unrest within the Roman Empire and particularly in Judea.

Christians at this time faced persecution, and the early church endured internal and external struggles.

The image of the storm on the Sea of Galilee can be seen through this historical lens as a metaphor for the tumultuous times the early Christian community was experiencing.

Sea travel was common but dangerous in the first-century Mediterranean world, and the disciples, including professional fishermen, would have known the real risks posed by such a storm.

Theological Insights

Theologically, this verse demonstrates Jesus's divine authority and is often interpreted as a statement about his control over the cosmos.

From a Christian standpoint, it validates Christ's divinity and power.

For traditional Christians, it reassures that Christ can bring order out of chaos, both in the natural world and in spiritual matters.

Critics, however, might argue that the story is symbolic or an embellishment by the early church to communicate Jesus' power.

Different denominations and theologians interpret the passage with varying emphasis on its literalism versus its metaphorical teaching.

Practical Applications

In practical terms, Mark 4:39 offers several applications for daily life.

It encourages believers to have faith in Jesus during their personal crises or the "storms" of their lives.

It also serves as a call to find peace and stability through faith, despite circumstances that may seem overwhelming.

This verse reminds people that fear should not overpower faith and that in times of desperation, turning to Jesus is the pathway to peace.

Cross-References

Psalm 107:29: "He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still."
Isaiah 26:3: "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee."
Philippians 4:7: "And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."

Language Study

In the original Greek text, the word for "rebuked" is ἐπετίμησεν (epetimēsen), which carries a sense of reprimand or admonishment, indicating that Jesus addressed the wind as one would a disobedient being.

The phrase “Peace, be still” translates fromσιώπα, πεφίμωσο (siōpa, pephimōso), which contains the nuance of silencing or making quiet. This language denotes not only a cessation of noise or disturbance but an enforced peace.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Numerous ancient myths and religious narratives feature gods who have power over natural elements. In Greek mythology, Poseidon controlled the sea, while in the Hebrew Bible, Yahweh demonstrates power over creation, such as parting the Red Sea in Exodus.

This verse fits into a broader religious motif of divinities exhibiting dominion over the forces of nature, securing their position as entities of worship and reverence.

Scientific Perspectives

From a scientific standpoint, no evidence supports the idea that a person could influence weather patterns or command a storm to cease.

However, the sudden end of a storm on the Sea of Galilee is not entirely implausible given the region's microclimate; storms can arise quickly due to the geography but also dissipate rapidly. This natural phenomenon might explain the sudden calm in the story from a non-miraculous perspective.

Commentaries

Various biblical scholars and theologians emphasize different aspects of Mark 4:39.

Some, like William L.

Lane in his "Commentary on the Gospel of Mark," see it as an affirmation of Christ's messianic role and supernatural power.

Others, such as Ben Witherington III, might draw attention to the contrast between Jesus's calm demeanor and the disciples' fear, suggesting a lesson on faith versus fear.

John Calvin's commentary underscores both Christ's deity and the practical need for faith in His power.

Today, commentaries continue to explore the interplay of faith, the historical Jesus, and the nature of miracles described in the Bible.

Mark 4

Mark 4

What does Mark 4:39 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 4:39 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?