They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!” Mark 4:41 NIV

In chapter four of Mark’s gospel account, Jesus teaches the parable of the sower, the parable of the growing seed, and the parable of the mustard seed. In addition, the Lord teaches the lesson of a lamp on a stand to encourage his followers to set a public example of living a godly life. 

After publicly presenting these messages, Christ and his disciples entered a boat to cross to the other side of the sea. During their voyage, a furious storm hit them, providing an opportunity for Jesus to demonstrate his authority over creation as the wind and the waves obey him. The waves crashed over the boat and the disciples worried that they might drown. All the while, Jesus slept peacefully through the uproar. And so, the Lord’s followers woke him asking, “Don’t you care if we drown?

Who Is This Man?

Mark 4:39 records Jesus’ response saying, “He awoke, and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” The wind ceased, and there was a great calm. WEB” This act caused the disciples to question the power and authority of Jesus. They wondered, “Who is this man that the wind and the waves obey him?”

Of course, as the Son of God and the agency of creation, the natural world is subject to the commands of its Creator. The twelve suspect that Jesus is the Messiah. But, at the time of the incident, the disciples did not yet know Jesus as the Son of God himself with full authority over nature.

In the ensuing years, after witnessing many miracles and eventually the resurrection, Jesus demonstrates his power and authority as the Son of God. As Christ says in Matthew 28:18, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. WEB” This early example of his authority, demonstrating that the wind and the waves obey him, served to focus the disciples’ attention on who Jesus really is. 

Yesterday’s Devotional: Your Heart Will Rejoice