Calming the Storm — Andrew Forrest

Mark 4:35-41

Jesus Calms the Storm
35That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” 36Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. 37A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. 38Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” 39He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was com- pletely calm. 40He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” 41They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”

“Sleeping on a cushion.” That’s one of the greatest details in Mark’s Gospel, and strongly suggests this is eyewitness testimony—it’s exactly the kind of homely detail someone who was there would never forget, though it makes no difference to the story.

This really happened!
So, allow me to quote Jesus:

“Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”