ACC ~ Mark 4 v35 - 41

OVERVIEW:

While the ship was quietly bearing Jesus’ humanity, the power of his Godhead was wonderfully carrying the ship itself (EPHREM THE SYRIAN). The mystery of the God-man is seen in that he who is the rest of the weary himself grew tired (GREGORY NAZIANZEN). His explicit use of the terms of personal authority teaches us of his divine identity as eternal Son (BASIL). In the stilling of the storm, the prophecies of Habakkuk and Nahum were fulfilled (TERTULLIAN). The Lord of the sea, eliciting faith through temporal events, exhibited his awesome power in the storm (ATHANASIUS). Only the author of the deep could still its storm and walk its sea (PRUDENTIUS). His sleep had the purpose of maturing their faith (ORIGEN, CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA). Amid our temptations we may awaken the sleeping Christ in us (AUGUSTINE).

4:36 | The Boat Was Already Filling

TESTING THE DISCIPLES

ATHANASIUS: Even while he was asleep on the pillow, the Lord was testing his disciples, [1] when a miracle was wrought that was calculated especially to put even the wicked to contrition. For when he arose, and rebuked the sea, and silenced the storm, he plainly disclosed two things: that the storm of the sea was not simply from winds, but from the fear of the Lord who walked upon it; [2] and that the Lord who rebuked it was not a creature, but rather its creator. LETTER 29. [3]

[1] Mk 4:37-41.

[2] Cf. Mt 14:26; Mk 6:48; Jn 6:19.

[3] NPNF 2 4:550; PG 26:1435.

THE WORD SAILED WITH THEM

ATHANASIUS: They awakened the Word, who was sailing with them, and immediately the sea became smooth at the command of its Lord, and they were saved. They became proclaimers and teachers at the same time, attesting the miracles of our Savior, and also teaching us to imitate their example. LETTER 19.6, EASTER A.D. 347. [1]

[1] NPNF 2 4:547*, PG 26:1428.

4:38 | Asleep on the Cushion, They Awoke Him

THE BARK OF THE CHURCH

ORIGEN: For as many as are in the little ship of faith are sailing with the Lord; as many as are in the bark of holy church will voyage with the Lord across this wave-tossed life; though the Lord himself may sleep in holy quiet, he is but watching your patience and endurance: looking forward to the repentance, and to the conversion of those who have sinned. Come then to him eagerly, instant in prayer. FRAGMENTS ON MATTHEW 3.3. [1]

[1] GCS 41.1:260; SSGF 1:320.

WHO WAS ASLEEP?

GREGORY NAZIANZEN: He was tired [1] —yet he is the “rest” of the weary and the burdened. [2] He was overcome by heavy sleep [3] —yet he goes lightly over the sea, rebukes the winds, and relieves the drowning Peter. [4] ORATION 29, ON THE SON 20. [5]

[1] Jn 4:6.

[2] Mt 11:28.

[3] Mt 8:24; Mk 4:38; Lk 8:23.

[4] Cf. Mt 8:26; 14:25-32; Mk 4:39; 6:48-51; Lk 8:24; Jn 6:19-21.

[5] TLG 2022.003, 20.7-10; FGFR 258-59. This is the God-man, who according to his humanity is able to sleep and according to his divinity is able to still the storm.

SHARPENING THEIR PERCEPTIONS

CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA: And so he sleeps, leaving them in fear, in which their senses would be sharpened to perceive the significance of what was to come. For no one feels what takes place in another’s body as acutely as that which happens in his own. COMMENTARY ON THE GOSPEL OF LUKE 8.5.22. [1]

[1] TLG 4090.108, 72.629.24-30; SSGF 1:324.

4:39a | He Rebuked the Wind

THE PROPHETS FULFILLED

TERTULLIAN: When he disperses its waves, Habakkuk’s words are fulfilled, where he speaks of the Lord “scattering the waters in his passage.” [1] When at his rebuke the sea is calmed, Nahum’s prophesy is fulfilled: “He rebukes the sea and makes it dry.” [2] AGAINST MARCION 4.20. [3]

[1] Hab 3:10 LXX: “as thou dost divide the moving waters.”

[2] Nahum 1:4.

[3] Cetedoc 0014, 4.484.16; ANF 3:379*.

4:39b | Peace! Be Still!

BY WHOSE AUTHORITY

BASIL: Pay close attention to the Lord’s words; whenever he instructs us about the Father, he knows that by using terms of personal authority, such as “I will; be clean”; [1] and “Peace! Be still!” [2] and “But I say to you”; [3] and “You deaf and dumb spirit, I command you”; [4] and other similar expressions, we will be led to recognize his authority as master and creator. By these encounters we are meeting the Father of the Son, the Father who creates through the Son. This does not insinuate that the Father’s creation is imperfect, or that the Son’s energy is feeble, but shows their unity of will. ON THE HOLY SPIRIT 8.21. [5]

[1] Mt 8:3; Mk 1:41; Lk 5:13.

[2] Cf. Mk 4:39.

[3] Mt 5:22.

[4] Mk 9:25.

[5] OHS 41-42; TLG 2040.003, 8.21.10-23; cf. NPNF 2 8:14-15.

4:41a | Who Then Is This?

THE SHIP, HIS HUMANITY AND HIS DIVINITY

EPHREM THE SYRIAN: The ship carried his humanity, but the power of his Godhead carried the ship and all that was in it. In order that he might show that even his humanity did not require the ship, instead of the planks which a shipwright puts together and fastens, he, like the architect of creation, made the waters firm and joined them together solidly under his feet. So just as the Lord strengthened the hands of Simeon the priest, that his arms might bear up in the temple the strength that was bearing up all, [1] so did he strengthen the feet of Simon the apostle, that they might bear themselves up on the water. [2] So that name which bore the first-begotten in the temple was afterwards borne up by the first-begotten in the sea. HOMILY ON OUR LORD 50. [3]

[1] Cf. Lk 2:25-35.

[2] As the Lord bore up the hands of Simeon as he was praying in the temple, so did he bear up the feet of Simon Peter as he was walking in the water; cf. Mt 14:31.

[3] CSCO 270-71:49; NPNF 2 13:328*.

4:41b | Wind and Sea Obey Him

AWAKENING THE CHRIST ASLEEP IN YOU

AUGUSTINE: When you have to listen to abuse, that means you are being buffeted by the wind. When your anger is roused, you are being tossed by the waves. So when the winds blow and the waves mount high, the boat is in danger, your heart is imperiled, your heart is taking a battering. On hearing yourself insulted, you long to retaliate; but the joy of revenge brings with it another kind of misfortune—shipwreck. Why is this? Because Christ is asleep in you. What do I mean? I mean you have forgotten his presence. Rouse him, then; remember him, let him keep watch within you, pay heed to him. … A temptation arises: it is the wind. It disturbs you: it is the surging of the sea. This is the moment to awaken Christ and let him remind you of those words: “Who can this be? Even the winds and the sea obey him.” SERMONS 63.1-3. [1]

THE AUTHOR OF THE DEEP

PRUDENTIUS:

His power and miracles proclaim him God.

I see the wild winds suddenly grow calm

When Christ commands; I see the stormtossed sea

Grow smooth, with tranquil surface bright,

At Christ’s behest; I see the waves grow firm

As the raging flood sustains his treading feet.

He walks dry-shod upon the flowing tide

And bears upon the flood with footsteps sure.

He chides the winds and bids the tempest cease.

Who would command the stormy gales: “Be still,

Your strongholds keep and leave the boundless sea,”

Except the Lord and maker of the winds? …

Who on the sea could walk, who with firm step

Upon the flood could without sinking tread

That path with soles upborne and feet unwet,

Except the author of the deep, the Spirit,

Poured from the Father’s lips, that moved across

The waves, not yet hemmed in by solid shores?

A HYMN ON THE TRINITY, LINES 649-79. [2]

[1] Cetedoc 0284, 63.38.424.20; Mt 8:27; Mk 4:41; Lk 8:25; JF B 92-93; PL 38. 424-25; cf. WSA 3 3:173-74.

[2] Cetedoc 1439, 646; FC 52:27.