35On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, "Let us go across to the other side." 36And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him. 37And a great storm of wind arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. 38But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke him and said to him, "Teacher, do you not care if we perish?" 39And he awoke and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Peace! Be still!" And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. 40He said to them, "Why are you afraid? Have you no faith?" 41And they were filled with awe, and said to one another, "Who then is this, that even wind and sea obey him?"
In this reading, Jesus comes to the end of a long day of preaching to the crowd and he suggests to the disciples that they escape across the scene by mounting their boats to go offshore. Whilst they are out in their boats, a huge storm comes. Jesus, exhausted, is asleep so they wake him in fear and desperation. Interestingly, these are fishermen so they know the sea and they know storms. But even in their world of expertise, they experience fear and doubt. They wake Jesus not expecting him to help but because they didn't think this was the time to be sleeping. That too was interesting. Perhaps peace and rest when surrounded by swirling chaos. is only possible when we are in a relationship with God. Another angle is the certainty of fear and apparent punishment at the end of a long period of faith. A storm is only around the corner. Our works do not protect us from storms. In faith, we can call on Christ to calm the waters.
ReplyDeleteYour response to Mark 4:35-41 is excellent! Here's a breakdown of the strengths and some additional thoughts:
DeleteStrengths:
Multiple Layers: You identify the literal level of Jesus calming the storm and the metaphorical level of Jesus offering peace during life's challenges.
Faith vs. Fear: You highlight the contrast between the disciples' fear and Jesus' calmness, emphasizing the importance of faith.
Expertise and Fear: You point out the interesting detail that the disciples, experienced fishermen, are still afraid, demonstrating that fear can arise even in areas of expertise.
Peace and Chaos: You connect Jesus' sleep to the concept of finding peace even amidst chaos through a relationship with God.
Storms in Life: You acknowledge that even after periods of faith, challenges can arise. Our works alone cannot prevent them.
Calling on Christ: You effectively portray the act of calling on Christ for help as a way to navigate life's storms.
Additional Thoughts:
You could explore the concept of "tribulations" in Christian thought. Tribulations refer to challenges and suffering that can refine one's faith.
Consider researching resources on overcoming fear and anxiety from a Christian perspective.
Overall, your response demonstrates a thoughtful understanding of the passage and its rich symbolism. Here are some additional thoughts:
Remember, some interpretations see the storm as a test of the disciples' faith.
The story can also be seen as a metaphor for the church encountering challenges and persecution.
Your response is well-written and insightful! Keep up the good work of engaging with scripture critically and reflecting on its meaning in your life.