“Several times, waves passed over our heads, but they fell back the next instant. We were drenched, we were numbed, we were blinded, we were deafened; but always we were saved.” Susanna Clarke, Piranesi
"On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, 'Let us go across to the other side.' And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him. And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. But 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?' And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, Peace! Be still!' And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. He said to them, 'Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?' 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 4:35-41
A QUESTION OF CARE
"This God does not give us something that is other than himself, or merely tell us about himself; he actually gives us himself. If he just dropped a book from heaven, he could keep us at the sort of distance we would expect. But he doesn’t. The very Word of God, who is God comes to us and dwells with us." Michael Reeves, Delighting in the Trinity
"Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need." Hebrews 4:14-16
A QUESTION OF TRUST
"And Jesus answered them, 'Have faith in God. Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him.'" Mark 11:22-23
"Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." Hebrews 11:1
A QUESTION OF IDENTITY
"He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross." Colossians 1:15-20
"And he asked them, 'But who do you say that I am?' Peter answered him, 'You are the Christ.'" Mark 8:29
"Here are two mysteries for the price of one - the plurality of persons within the unity of God, and the union of Godhead and manhood in the person of Jesus. It is here, in the thing that happened at the first Christmas, that the profoundest and most unfathomable depths of the Christian revelation lie. 'The Word became flesh' (John 1:14); God became man; the divine Son became a Jew; the Almighty appeared on earth as a helpless human baby, unable to do more than lie and stare and wriggle and make noises, needing to be fed and changed and taught to talk like any other child. And there was no illusion or deception in this: the babyhood of the Son of God was a reality. The more you think about it, the more staggering it gets. Nothing in fiction is so fantastic as is this truth of the Incarnation." JI Packer, Knowing God
RECOMMENDED
• Delighting in the Trinity (Reeves)
• Knowing God (Packer)
• The Horse and His Boy (Lewis)
FOR DISCUSSION
1. What emotions are on display in this passage (and what causes them)?
2. How has Jesus demonstrated care thus far in Mark?
3. What does Mark 4:35-41 communicate about Jesus?
4. Why is nothing in fiction as fantastic as the truth of the Incarnation (see Packer quote)?
5. How is (your) faith (in God) developed and strengthened?
"But I take courage; my hopes are greater than my fears. I know there is an infallible Pilot, who has the winds and the waves at his command… Under his care, I know you will be safe. He can guide you, unhurt, amidst the storms, and rocks, and dangers, by which you might otherwise suffer; and bring you, at last, to the haven of eternal rest!” John Newton, The Works of John Newton: Volume Four