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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 4:41 mean?

Explanation

Mark 4:41 depicts a powerful moment when the disciples of Jesus witness a miraculous event.

The verse occurs at the end of the story where Jesus calms a storm on the Sea of Galilee, showing his mastery over nature.

The disciples, who are with Jesus on a boat, are terrified by the fierce storm, and wake Jesus, who is asleep.

At their plea for help, He rebukes the wind and commands the sea to be still.

The storm ceases immediately, which astonishes the disciples.

Their fear of the storm turns into a reverent fear of Jesus's power, prompting them to question among themselves about Jesus's true identity , hinting at his divine nature.

The deeper meaning reflects Jesus’s authority over creation and His ability to bring peace in the midst of chaos, which also resonates with his power to calm the storms in human lives.

Top Rated Mark Books

Historical Context

This event is recorded in the Gospel of Mark, written around 65-70 A.D.

The Sea of Galilee was known for sudden and violent storms, as it is located below sea level and surrounded by hills.

Fishermen in the area, including several of Christ's disciples, would have been familiar with such storms.

During this period, Jewish society would recognize the calming of the sea and wind as something only God could do, drawing from Old Testament passages that attribute control over nature to God alone.

This episode would have significant implications for the early Christian community, asserting the divinity of Christ amidst a polytheistic Roman empire and a monotheistic Jewish tradition.

Theological Insights

From a Christian theological perspective, this verse is often interpreted as a testament to Jesus's divinity.

The power to control nature was seen as a power reserved for God, as noted in Psalms and other Old Testament texts.

For the disciples, it was a revelation of Jesus's identity as the Son of God.

Different Christian denominations may emphasize either the miracle itself, signifying Jesus’s authority and power, or the disciples’ faith and understanding (or lack thereof), which grows as a result of the event.

Practical Applications

In a contemporary context, Mark 4:41 can inspire believers to trust in Jesus’s power in their lives.

It is often referenced in times of hardship to encourage faith that God can bring peace and order out of chaos.

This verse can also be seen as a reminder to not underestimate the presence of God in everyday life, and to maintain reverence and awe for God, who is involved in and has mastery over the natural world.

Cross-References

Psalm 107:29: "He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still."
Matthew 8:26-27: "And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.

But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!"

Psalm 89:9: "Thou rulest the raging of the sea: when the waves thereof arise, thou stillest them."

Language Study

The key words in the original Greek text for this verse include:

"Phobēthēsan phobon megan" (feared a great fear): This repetitive expression emphasizes the intensity of the disciples' fear.
"Legousin" (they said): Refers to a discussion among the disciples.
"Tis ara houtos estin" (What manner of man is this): Indicates the disciples questioning the nature or identity of Jesus, implying bewilderment and awe.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In ancient times, many cultures had myths about gods who had power over the elements, like Poseidon in Greek mythology, who ruled the sea.

The Hebrew scriptures attributed such power exclusively to God.

By showing Jesus exercising this power, the Gospel of Mark is making a claim about Jesus's divine status that would resonate within both Hellenistic and Jewish frameworks but would also challenge the polytheistic worldviews by centering this power in a singular, incarnate deity, Jesus.

Scientific Perspectives

Science understands weather phenomena like storms to be natural occurrences governed by physical laws.

While the scientific viewpoint does not support the idea of weather being controlled by divine or human agency, psychological and sociological studies recognize the impact of beliefs and faith on human perception and well-being.

The calming of the storm by Jesus can be viewed metaphorically in this light, illustrating the power of faith to provide peace and stability during life's turbulent times.

Commentaries

Commentaries on Mark 4:41 often focus on the display of Jesus's authority and what this reveals about his identity.

Matthew Henry's Commentary, for example, emphasizes the greatness of Christ's power and the disciples' growing understanding of who Jesus is.

The Expositor's Bible Commentary notes that this event is a key moment for the disciples, as they move from fear of the storm to fear of Christ in recognition of his divine power.

These works and others explore the disciples' reactions and discuss the implications of Jesus's lordship over nature as a signifier of his divinity.

Mark 4

Mark 4

What does Mark 4:41 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 4:41 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?