Mark 4:35-41 | Jesus’ Humanity and Divinity in the Storm

Amidst the Christmas crush of decorating, shopping, planning and attending programs; it’s good to remember Jesus. Let’s move beyond the sentimental baby and observe the man himself in a real-life situation, caught in a storm at sea.

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 windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking 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 that we are perishing?”

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 so afraid? Have you still no faith?” 41And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?” (Mark 4:35-41)

Of all that could be said about this passage, I’d like to draw your attention to Jesus’ dual nature.

Jesus is Both Human and Divine

Human

Imagine yourself in a tight crowd of people outside on a hot day. You are not anonymous within the crowd; you are the reason for the crowd, at the very center of it. The people pressing around you are desperate. Some are sick, some demon possessed and all believe that you can help them. Also in the crowd are members of your family, urging you to come home; respected religious leaders plotting to kill you; and a handful of men who have left everything to follow you. And amid all this chaos,  you have been teaching for days.

This was Jesus’ situation leading up to our passage. It’s easy to think that he had a superhuman capacity for crowds, demands, pressure, conflict, responsibility and public speaking; but he didn’t, and so he was exhausted.

He was so tired that he slept through a dangerous windstorm at sea. Remember that these were experienced fishermen with him on the boat. They were not overreacting. Their panic indicates that this was a serious storm, yet Jesus remained passed out in the cramped stern on a wet cushion.

You may have imagined Jesus as a cute baby or a majestic man. But based on this passage, picture him tired, his eyelids heavy, his head down and his movements slow. Picture him adjusting the cushion, trying to get comfortable. Imagine him as a human, because he certainly is.

Divine

Yet, when he wakes up, he “rebukes” the wind. He puts it in it’s place, commanding it with authority as a parent would an unruly child. And at once the hot air stopped rising, the cool air stopped rushing in to fill the void, the sea stopped surging and splashing, the disciples’ hair and clothes stopped flapping and there was great calm. This tired man was also God.

Theology

Mark, the author of this passage, wasn’t a theologian. He was a friend of some of the disciples, recording a simple record of what they experienced. But look at what others wrote about Jesus:

1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was in the beginning with God. 3All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made… 14And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:1-3; 14)

For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily… (Colossians 2:9)

Jesus had a body of flesh (he got tired), yet was full of deity (he commanded the wind and sea). He worshiped the Father, yet allowed people to worship him. He prayed, yet received prayer. He was tempted, yet never sinned. He died, yet resurrected.

How can Jesus be both human and divine at the same time? “Who then is this?”

As we think about this, remember that we are a learning people. There was a time when we didn’t know the earth is round or the moon controls the tides. I’m sure in 2114 people will look back at us in 2014 and marvel at what all we didn’t yet know. For example, we don’t know how light can operate like a wave and a particle at the same time. Things should either operate as one or the other, but not both. There are things we don’t yet understand about creation, and if we don’t understand everything about creation, how can we expect to understand everything about the Creator? Of course he is beyond our full grasp.

We are like Job who, after lengthy theological conversation with his “friends” is confronted by God. His response:

…I have uttered what I did not understand,
things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.

I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear,
but now my eye sees you… (Job 42:3; 5)

We are like Paul who, after lengthy theological consideration in the book of Romans wrote:

33Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!

34“For who has known the mind of the Lord,
or who has been his counselor?”
35“Or who has given a gift to him
that he might be repaid?”

36For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen. (Romans 11:33-36)

Application

Here are two earthy applications to all this heavenly rumination:

1. Trust Jesus.

He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” (Mark 4:40)

He cares about you, because he is human too (Hebrews 4:15). He could calm  your stormy situation with a word, because he is divine. That means you can go to him and ask him for help and you can trust him in the meantime.

2. Fear Jesus.

And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?” (Mark 4:41)

Jesus is not the mouse in Lenny’s pocket (remember Of Mice and Men?). He is the wind-rebuking, sea-calming, almighty creator and upholder of all things. Don’t let the cute little manger scene babies fool you. Don’t pet Jesus, worship him.

Jesus is both human and divine. He cares and he can do anything. So trust him, and fear him.

Discussion Starters

1. Read Mark 4:35-41 together. What do you observe? What stands out to you? (These don’t have to be groundbreaking, just observations from the passage.)
2. Read John 1:1-3, John 1:14 and Colossians 2:9. What exactly do these passages teach about Jesus?
3. How do the truths taught in the John and Colossians passages relate to and correspond with the Mark passage?
4. What are some practical implications of Jesus’ humanity?
5. What are some practical implications of Jesus’ divinity?
6. How might all of this effect the way we celebrate Christmas?
7. Take some time to pray together.

Sorry, no audio this week. 

Picture from Waiting for the Word.