Ryle on Mark 4:35-41

Imported boundary: J. C. Ryle's Expository Thoughts on Mark from the Internet Archive DjVu OCR for the 1858 Robert Carter St. Mark volume. Title pages, preface, contents, running heads, page numbers, OCR boilerplate, and indexes are not mirrored. The source includes Ryle's printed Scripture text and exposition; this scan-derived text remains needs-verification.

Primary passage: Mark 4:35-41.

Source Text

35 And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side. 36 And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was iu the ship. And there were also with him other little ships. 37 And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves heat into the ship, so that it was now full. 38 And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow : and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that -we perish ? 39 And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. Aud the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. 40 And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful ? how is it that ye have no faith ? 41 And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him ? These verses describe a storm on the sea of Galilee, when our Lord and His disciples were crossing it, and a miracle performed by our Lord in calming the storm in a moment. Few miracles recorded in the Gospel were so likely to strike the minds of the apostles as this. Four of them at least were fishermen. Peter, Andrew, James, and John, had probably known the sea of Galilee, and its storms, from their youth. Few events in our Lord's and how completely it would at last overgrow and fill the whole body. I own that I cannot for a moment see the soundness of this inter- pretation. To say nothing of other reasons, there seems an exces- sive harshness in this sense, when we consider the opening words of the parable, " Wherewith shall we liken the kiugdom of God " One would rather expect the question to have been " Wherewith shall we liken the kingdom of the devil " if the whole parable is occupied with describing the progress of evil. I confess that I think the meaning of " the fowls of the air," is a point which admits of some question. Many think that it signifies the number of converts to Christianity, who, as the church increased, joined themselves to it, and came " as doves to the windows." (Isaiah lx. 8.) Some think that it signifies the number of worldly and false professors who joined the church from mere carnal motives, when it began to be great and prosperous, as in the days of Constan- tino. When we remember that the " fowls of the air," in the para- ble of the sower (Mark iv. 4-15), are declared by our Lord Himself to mean " Satan," we must admit that there is considerable force in this interpretation. 83 journeyings to and fro upon earth, contain more rich in- struction than the one related in this passage.

Let us learn, in the first place, that Christ's service does not exempt His servants from storms. Here were the twelve disciples in the path of duty. They were obediently following Jesus, wherever he went. They were daily attending on His ministry, and hearkening to His word. They were daily testifying to the world, that, whatever Scribes and Pharisees might think, they be- lieved on Jesus, loved Jesus, and were not ashamed to give up all for His sake. Yet here we see these men in trouble, tossed up and down by a tempest, and in dan- ger of being drowned.

Let us mark well this lesson. If we are true Chris- tians, we must not expect everything smooth in our journey to heaven.

We must count it no strange thing, if we have to endure sicknesses, losses, bereavements, and disappointments, just like other men. Free pardon and full forgiveness, grace by the way and glory at the end - all this our Saviour has promised to give. But He has never promised that we shall have no affliction. He loves us too well to promise that. By affliction He teaches us many precious lessons, which without it we should never learn. By affliction He shows us *our emptiness and weakness, draws us to the throne of grace, purifies our affections, weans us from the world, makes us long for heaven. In the resurrection morning, we shall al} say, " It is good for me that I was afflicted," We shall thank God for every storm.

Let us learn, in the second place, that our Lord Jesus, Christ was really and truly man. We are told in these verses, that when the storm began, and the waves beat over the ship, he was in the hinder part " asleep." He had a body exactly like our own - a body that could hunger, and thirst, and feel pain, and be weary, and need rest. No wonder that His body needed repose at this time. He had been diligent in His Father's business all the day. He had been preaching to a great multitude in the open air. No wonder that " when the even was come," and His work finished, he fell " asleep."

Let us mark this lesson also attentively. The Saviour in whom we are bid to trust, is as really a man as He is God. He knows the trials of a man, for He has experienced them. He knows the bodily infirmities of a man, for He has felt them. He can well understand what we mean, when we cry to Him for help in this world of need. He is just the very Saviour that men and women, with weary frames and aching heads, in a weary world, require for their comfort every morning and night. " We have not an high priest which can- not be touched with the feeling of our infirmities." (Heb. iv. 15.)

Let us learn, in the third place, that our Lord Jesus Christ, as God, has almighty power.

We see Him in these verses doing that which is proverbially impossible. He speaks to the winds, and they obey him. He speaks to the waves and they submit to His command. He turns the raging storm into a calm with a few words - " Peace, be still." Those words were the words of Him who first created all things. The elements knew the voice of their Master, and, like obedient servants, were quiet at once. 85

Let us mark this lesson also, and lay it up in our minds. With the Lord Jesus Christ nothing is impos- sible. No stormy passions are so strong but He can tame them. No temper is so rough and violent but He can change it. No conscience is so disquieted, but He can speak peace to it, and make it calm. No man ever need despair, if He will only bow down his pride, and come as a humbled sinner to Christ. Christ can do miracles upon his heart. - No man ever need de- spair of reaching his journey's end, if he has once com- mitted his soul to Christ's keeping. Christ will cany him through every danger. Christ will make him con- queror over every foe. - What though our relations op- pose us? What though our neighbors laugh us to scorn ? What though our place be hard ? What though our temptations be great ? It is all nothing, if Christ is on our side, and we are in the ship with Him. Greater is He that is for us, than all they that are against us.

Finally, we learn from this passage, that our Lord Jesus Christ is exceedingly patient and pitiful in dealing with His own people.

We see the disciples on this occa- sion showing great want of faith, and giving way to most unseemly fears. They forgot their Master's miracles and care for them in days gone by. They thought of nothing but their present peril. They awoke our Lord hastily, and cried, " Carest thou not that we perish "

We see our Lord dealing most gently and tenderly with them. He gives them no sharp reproof. He makes no threat of casting them off, because of their unbelief. • He simply asks the touching question, " Why are ye so fear- ful ? How is it that ye have no faith ?,"

Let us mark well this lesson. The Lord Jesus is very pitiful and of tender mercy. " As a father pitieth his children, even so the Lord pitieth them that fear Him." (Psalm ciii. 13.) He does not deal with be- lievers according to their sins, nor reward them accord- ing to their iniquities. He sees their weakness. He is aware of their short-comings. He knows all the defects of their faith, and hope, and love, and courage. And yet He will not cast them off. He bears with them continually. He loves them even to the end. He raises them when they fall. He restores them when they err. His patience, like His love, is a patience that passeth knowledge. When He sees a heart right, it is His glory to pass over many a short-coming.

Let us leave these verses with the comfortable recol- lection that Jesus is not changed. His heart is still the same that it was when He crossed the sea of Galilee and stilled the storm. High in heaven at the right hand of God, Jesus is still sympathizing - still almighty - still pitiful and patient towards His people. - Let us be more charitable and patient towards our brethren in the faith. They may err in many things, but if Jesus has received them and can bear with them, surely we may bear with them too. - Let us be more hopeful about ourselves.

We may be very weak, and frail, and unstable ; but if we can truly say that we do come to Christ and believe on Him, we may take comfort. The question for con- science to answer is not, " Are we like the angels ? are we perfect as we shall be in heaven ? The question is, " Are we real and true in our approaches to Christ ? Do we truly repent and believe "*