Mark tells us that on the same day Jesus told his disciples he wanted to go over to the other side of the Sea of Galilee (Mark 4:35). In other words, the trip across the Sea of Galilee was made on the same day he had spoken so many parables to the multitude, but I think Mark alludes particularly to the same day on which the Parable of the Mustard Seed was given. Moreover, Mark tells us that there were several other smaller vessels that followed after Jesus (Mark 4:36), which are useless details if, as some critics conclude, that what we read in Mark 4:35-41 is more like a myth or should be taken spiritually, rather than seeing it as an actual historical event. So, we are told that they sent the multitude away, and without stopping for provisions, the disciples and Jesus sailed away just as they were, apparently unprepared for what was to follow (Mark 4:36).
Mark doesn’t intend to leave us only with the results of the Parable of the Mustard Seed. That is, as the followers of Jesus increased, so would the danger of being invaded by their enemies, taking the seed away, taking away their power to season the world with the Gospel. What would be the end result of such a thing? Why does Jesus leave them without an explanation of how the Kingdom of God would survive and continue under such a corrupting influence? It is to this very thing that Mark speaks, as he relates what occurred immediately following Jesus’ teaching. The application would be what follows, as they attempt to cross the Sea of Galilee, while Jesus sleeps (Mark 4:37-38).
We need to keep in mind what is going on in the boat as the storm arises to toss up the waters. The Lord’s disciples are facing the storm, and, as they always do, they try to keep control of the vessel by addressing problems as they arise. Yet, in the context of the Parable of the Mustard Seed, in doing so, they are providing rest for their enemies, the birds of the air! Mark tells us that Jesus is asleep in the stern of the boat (Mark 4:38), but the scriptures tell us that the Lord neither slumbers nor sleeps (Psalm 121:4). In reality, it is the disciples who are asleep, spiritually, in that they are fighting the storm alone, without Jesus. He is asleep to them, because they are physically addressing the storms of their lives in their own strength. The scriptures tell us: “The nations (H3816; or the people; i.e., the world) shall rush like the rushing of many waters: but God shall rebuke them, and they shall flee far off, and shall be chased as the chaff of the mountains before the wind, and like a rolling thing before the whirlwind” (Isaiah 17:13; parenthesis mine). The Lord permits the enemy to execute his will upon the people of God (Job 1:12, 19). However, this is only for the purpose of bringing his disciples to the end of themselves (Job 30:22), so that they will begin to cry out to him (Psalm 107:23-31; cp. Mark 4:38). In other words, the storms of life cannot be addressed in the flesh. We must face our problems spiritually, allowing the Lord to face them with us.
Once his disciples called upon him to address those problems in their lives (Mark 4:39), which they found hopeless to address in the flesh, Jesus arose and removed the problem, and there was peace in the disciples’ lives once more. Keep in mind at this point that the storm that arose on the Sea of Galilee needs to be understood in the context of the birds of the air resting in the branches of the mustard plant, taking away the seeds of the Gospel, and, thus, making the disciples’ lives of no effect for the sake of the Kingdom of God. The way to overcome them is not by fighting on their terms, but through the blood of the Lamb (Revelation 7:14; 12:11).
Jesus then turned to his disciples and asked them why they were so afraid, and where was their faith (Mark 4:40). Had they been addressing their problems spiritually (1Corinthians 2:14), there would have been no reason for fear (Psalm 46:1-3). The follower of Christ must understand that Jesus is not only aware of the storms of our lives, but he is also well able to save us out of them. Nevertheless, Jesus’ disciples were absolutely astonished that the storm and the sea listened to Jesus (Mark 4:41), which is another way of saying they lacked faith. They missed Jesus’ point by a mile. They saw only the physical act of Jesus and missed his spiritual message concerning his power to deliver us from our problems. Just as the people didn’t believe and were under judgment, in that Jesus spoke to them in parables, in order not to disturb their spiritual blindness (cp. Romans 1:18, 21, 28), so Jesus’ disciples were brought through the Lord’s discipline (the storm) in order that their spiritual blindness might be turned into light (cp. Ephesians 2:1-6), because it was given to them to know the mysteries of the Kingdom of God (Mark 4:11). Unfortunately for them, that light wouldn’t be seen completely for what it is, until after Jesus rose from the dead (cp. John 2:19-22).
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