MARK 4 (PART 2)
Read Mark 4:30-41
Mark continues with his theme of nature based parables using examples from the world which his listeners would recognise. The parable of the mustard seed is another one well-known to us, speaking about how great things can come from small beginnings. The mustard seed is very small, yet it produces a tree big enough for birds to perch in. We have a similar saying in English, ‘mighty oaks from little acorns grow’. Jesus kind of explained what he was doing with the parables here. He was teaching them to the degree that they could understand in language that they could understand. It was the beginning of the process of faith which would start in a small way and then, like the mustard seed, grow into something great.
The chapter ends with the well-known incident of Jesus calming the storm. So far he has been teaching the public who have very little or no faith at this stage. Now Jesus is with only his disciples in the little boat with him. When the storm came and the disciples were afraid Jesus challenged them, “Why are you afraid?” he said, “Do you still have no faith?” (v40) The disciples had been with Jesus a while. They should be a bit more advanced in their faith than the general public. Jesus has been teaching in parables using examples from nature. What should be clear to the disciples from this incident is that Jesus has command over nature. But they haven’t quite got there yet, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!” (v41) they said with evident wonder.
The point is, as Mark has made clear to us the reader from the very beginning; that Jesus is God himself; God made flesh and come among his people. Of course he can command the wind and the waves because he is the creator God. The apostle Paul made that very clear when speaking of Jesus in Colossians:
He is the image of the invisible God. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones and powers or rulers and authorities; all things were created by him and for him. (Colossians 1:16)
But at this stage the disciples did not really appreciate who Jesus was. They knew he was somebody special but didn’t know quite how special. And the evidence as to who Jesus really is was starting to pile up for them. I think there is probably a hint of the Exodus story here. In Exodus, God showed his command over nature by parting the Red Sea to enable the Israelites to pass over safely and escape from Pharaoh. Here we see Jesus showing his command over nature by calming the storm and allowing the disciples to pass freely over the Sea of Galilee.
How long would it take the disciples to put two and two together?