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Jesus Calming the Storm – Bible Lesson

Have you ever been in any life-threatening storm? How do you feel if you are in one of these storms? How do you react to the situation? Where do you go for help? Who do you run for rescue? Let us look at how disciples of Jesus reacted to such a storm. Bible study guide on Mark 4:35-41. Sudden storm in sea of Galilee, Disciples (fishermen)’ reaction, Jesus calmed the storm and the sea.

Bible study passages:

  • Mark 4: 35-41
  • Matthew 8:23-27
  • Luke 8:22-25

How do you feel if you are in the middle of life threatening storm ? How will you react to the situation? Where would you go for help?

Let us look at how the Jesus’ disciples reacted when they were faced with such a storm. Jesus calming the storm is one of the most dramatic miracles of Jesus Christ. This incident is mentioned in Mark, Matthew and Luke. But we will be mostly focusing on the gospel of Mark.

Q. Mark 4:35 starts with ‘that’ day. Which day is he talking about?

  • The day started with chapter 4, when Jesus started teaching the crowd. He taught them through many stories and parables and performed many miracles.
  • At the end of the day, Jesus and his disciples would be tired, they needed rest. They went into boats for rest. This was often the case to find rest, so that crowd would not continue to follow Jesus. (Mat 14:13)

Sea of Galilee: is 680 feet below sea level and surrounded by hills.

Q. What did Jesus tell his disciples in Mark 4:35?

  • “Let us go over the other side.” (And this is the hint!)

Q. What were the common occupation of many of Jesus’ disciples?

Q. What was the storm like?

  • Squall – sudden, violent wind with rain.
  • There were no storm Warning! Otherwise, disciples would have warned him.
  • The disciples must have tried to control the boat by themselves, as they were experienced fishermen.
  • But the Storm must be beyond their power or control.
  • They started panicking. They feared drowning and death.

Q. What was Jesus doing?

  • Sleeping!
  • He must be in a sound sleep, that he did not wake up in such a stormy condition.
  • He was sleeping in Stern.
  • Stern : is a rear or aft part of ship or boat. Stern area has always been the location near steering apparatus and by extension became “domain of the ship’s Captain”. (Wikipedia)

Q. Why did the disciples go to Jesus?

  • Surely, they did not expect the miracle, by their reactions after Jesus calmed the storm. (Mark 4:41)
  • They assumed that they were all going to die.
  • They were angry and frustrated to see Jesus sleeping – “Don’t you care, if we die?” – They told him! (Questioning God – Psalms 13)
  • There seems to me, two storms raging – one in the sea of Galilee and the other in the hearts of disciples!

Q. What did Jesus do? What were disciples’ reactions?

  • He got up, rebuked the wind and the sea!
    • “Quiet, be still.” – He said.
  • Jesus demonstrated his power over the wind and the waves – over the Nature. (also check, Jesus feeds five thousand)
  • I suppose, it was wind and wave’s time to be terrified!
  • At once, there was a complete calm.
  • Disciples must have been wondering, was that a dream? What had just happened?
  • They were shocked and terrified, even more than before!

Q. What can you learn about the nature of Jesus here?

  • Mark 4:38 – He was tired and sleeping. – Man.
  • Mark 4:39 – His power over nature – God
  • He was God and Man both. (This is the greatest mystery of all!)

Q. Why did Jesus ask, “Where is your faith”?

Q. What was disciples’ response?

  • “Who is this”? – Not mere teacher for sure. (Mark 4:38)
  • “Who can command the wind and the wave?”
  • “Who can calm the storm and the sea?”

Bible Study Applications

  • We may not go through the physical storm as the disciples did. But we all have been through many other storms in our own lives like sickness, loosing job, failures, personal weakness, death of loved one, accidents, depression, hopelessness…, when we feel helpless and hopeless.
  • We may think or feel like God does not care. He is sleeping. He is not answering our prayers.
  • But thanks be to God that Jesus is in our boats! He is in control. (Captain of our boat)
  • We need to completely trust him. (This is a lot harder to do that to say.) (Trust in the Lord – bible devotional)
  • I have been through many storms in my personal walk with Jesus, and I have seen his faithfulness and power at work in due time. I have learnt not to doubt, but to trust him instead. I have learnt not to be afraid but fully rely on his power and promise in the storms of my life. (I have not completely succeeded yet, I must say!)
  • We may think that Jesus is a teacher, leader, speaker or great man… But it is only when we realize his true identity (Lord and Savior), we can entrust him with our life.
  • You may have heard the famous Story of Tight rope Walker:

A tightrope walker amazed a crowd of onlookers by successfully walking across a rope which stretches across the mighty Niagara Falls. After his performance, the performer asked the crowd, “How many of you believe that I can carry a man on my back while walking the tightrope across the falls?” Many of the people in the crowd enthusiastically raised their hands. Then the performer asked another question: “Which of you is willing to actually let me carry you across the falls?” Of course, not a single person volunteered!

Are you willing to entrust your whole life to Jesus?

——————————

Check out our eBook, The Miracles of Jesus Christ – 7-part Bible Study Series on the Healing Miracles of Jesus Christ for Small Groups & Personal Study.

By Amit Christian

Founder and Author of BibleSEO (Bible Study Exposition Online), Bible study topics website, which offers free small group bible studies on various topics. His passion is to train, equip and inspire individual and small groups for life-changing bible study experience.
(Check my Google+ Profile at https://plus.google.com/u/0/108196373225656079903/)

37 replies on “Jesus Calming the Storm – Bible Lesson”

[…] The Wind and Wave Obeyed Jesus – Mark 4:35-41 | Bible Study … […]

thank u for your encouragement of these parables
we need all we can get , it is pretty rough out here
however God is always in control

love
corrine

Thank you Corrine. I agree its hard to be calm under the storm. But that’s where the faith comes in.

Awesome short teaching on Calming the storm. I needed this encouragement as I ponder about what God wants me to do next.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR GREAT WORDS.I beleive that God will send his grace and his power through the storm if I am begging him to help me

Great study. The keys seem to be:
1. Trouble Comes
2. Jesus is Near
3. Seek his help
4. Jesus delivers.

Thanks for the thoughts,
Bryant

You know you truly believe in your faith when you are relaxed in the sight of adversity, because you have an undoubted trust in God’s ability to watch over you. Thats what I think the lesson was to the disciples.

i thank the God for your labor and hard work in this web site, it encourages us and bless us so much.

me and my husband are refresh time to time due to this web site. God has so many ways to provide food for our soul.

it encourages us and affirmed us in our calling once again as a missionary.

both my husband and i are in a pioneering stage of the ministry God called us to do in the islands and we are bless to share what we have learned from this web site inductive Bible study.

Thank You we really appreciate the works of your hand.

Be bless:) mae

Thank you for your wonderful comment. We are blessed by such comments. All Glory goes to God. Thanks.
Chris,
BibleSEO Editor.

Thank you LORD,GOD IS ALMIGHTY,FATHER GOD, CREATED THE WHOLE UNIVERSE,GOD IS ONLY ONE HAVE AN AUTHORITY TO PROTECT,STOP&DESTROY THE WHOLE UNIVERSE.GOD GIVEN US FOR ALL TO READ THE WORD OF GOD.STUDY THE WORD OF GOD&MEDITATE UPON THE WORD OF GOD,&ALSO GIVEN US FOR ALL TO BIBLE STUDY LESSONS,BIBLE TV CHANNELS THROUGH ONLINE.THANK YOU JESUS,AMEN.

Great Study Lesson, it really spoke to me as I am currently going through a storm. 6 months ago I would not have had the faith that I have today. Knowing that I can trust in Jesus is so relieving. Even though I’m going through I have faith and I trust Jesus with my Entire Life, b/c he has already showed himself to me through his blessing in my life. I’m 22 years old and I’m proud to say that I have faith in Jesus to do what he does best.

God is our healer & our provider, with Him by your side you have no worries. But its only when you give your entire life to Him and rely only on him that he will take control and steer course your life. He will always make a way, he is that light in your tunnel. God is good all the time

Blessings brothers and sisters for this web site and the person that posted it. Our family used it for a bible study tonight. We are facing storms at the moment and this helped to take away much anxiety. PLease also read Phillipians 4: 5-7.Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Not meaning to be rejoicing in your current circumstances (ie pain, depression, etc), but the wonderful fruit that will be produced from it that will give God Glory and shape you into God’s will. Jesus will Guard your heart and mind from all anxiety. Cast your cares upon him. When we are faithless, he is faithful!

Thank you Mataruso’ for your encouraging comments. I agree we need to face the storm of life with the hope and joy that Christ gives.

I’m still struggling with my flesh!It seems the more i learn of GOD’s mercy and grace, it seems the more i’m shown how negative i am.

I thanking God for using your life to his ministry and thanks for the valuable lesson and word of God which is very inspiring …MAY OUR GOOD LORD SHOWER HIS BLESSING AND TAKEN CARE OF HIS MINISTRY THAT YOU ARE RUNNING.

AM SO MUCH BLESSED. THIS MAKES ME RETHINK OF THE TRUST I HAVE PUT IN MY SAVIUOR, I SHOULD RISE IT HIGHER.
ON SUNDAY BEFORE I PREACHED, I HAD THE CHURCH SECTRETARY REGISTER ALL THE MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH. I WAS SUPRISED TO SEE THAT WE HAVE 45 MEMBERS ,YET MOST OF THE SUNDAYS ONLY AN AVERAGE OF 10-15 ATTEND THIS TIME WE WERE TO CONTRIBUTE KSH 100 TO SUPPORT THE MINISTRY. THE DEAD LINE IS THE DAY AFTER TOMORROW, MY WORRY WAS WHO WILL PAY THE MONEY?, WHY DON’T THEY COME TO CHURCH? AM I DOING THE RIGHT THING ACCORDING TO MY LORD JESUS ?IS IT THAT AM A SINFUL PASTOR? OR IS IT THAT GOD DOES NOT WANT ME TO SHEPHERED THEM? I DECIDED TO COLLECT THE MONEY THAT WAS IN HAND WHICH WAS KHS 800 AND I ADDED THE REST FOR ALL OF THE MEMBERS TRUSTING THAT MY LORD JESUS WILL ENABLE THEM TO PAY IF THEY DON’T I WILL NOT COUNT A DEBT ANY MORE AFTER THIS MONTH.THIS STUDY OF THE STORM HAS MADE ME TO FEEL STRONG , I WONT GIVE UP?

thank u for ur spendid gospel to all world by teach them good new of jesus the lord will be your strength and your ministry in name jesus

Thank you for the thoughts to over come day to day life’s storms and grow in faith. I’m very much benefited through your Bible study lessons.

Thank you so much for sharing God’s word thru this site…am so blessed and encourage to share it to others too with trust and confidence that God will use everybody who will have the chance to read and study God’s word here in Bibleseo. God bless each one….

Hey, thank you for this. May you please send me more bible studies on the miracles of Jesus. Thank you.

It is pertinent to know that storms are always on our ways even if when we are obeying and doing what He told us. It is important to digest again that until we call upon HIM for our help and rescue He will not show up. We need to trust him and call him always though it seems He is asleep but for sure He neither sleeps nor slumbers !. I am blessed with this site. Just discovered it few days ago.
God bless us and more of His divine revelation to His word.

I thank God for your hard work in this web. I am blessed not just me but the other believers in Christ. God bless !!!!

Thank you for a reminder of Jesus calming the storms in our lives. This morning when I read your study it was just what I needed. The last four years of my life have been a bit stormy. I have said that I feel like at times that my boat is being tossed about and Jesus is in the back sleeping. Praise God I know that He is not.i desperately needed to be reminded again. Thank you.

I personally know about Jesus calming the storm in my life because I had colon cancer last year and had to have surgery on may 28,2015. I called out unto the lord to heal me while in the hospital over 3 weeks earlier and He heard my cry and He healed me and im free from cancer and sharing the good news with everyone I come in contact with ! O WHAT A SAVIOUR !

Thanks be to God for choosing you to be a blessing to those who desire the truth and thank you for being a blessing to me through your whole truth teaching.I’m blessed pls keep it up

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