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Fig. 76. Boat on Lake of Genesareth. (Phot. Bruno Hentschel, Leipzig.)they were in great danger. But Jesus was asleep[1]. His disciples came to Him, crying out with fear: “Lord, save us, we perish.” Jesus arose and said to them: “Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith?”[2] Then standing, He rebuked the winds and commanded the sea [3], and there came a great calm [4].
But the men[5] wondered, saying: “What manner of man is this, for the winds and the sea obey Him?”
COMMENTARY.
The Divinity of our Lord. “Who is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!” exclaimed the witnesses of this wonder. This great miracle was, indeed, a fresh and clear proof of our Lord’s divine power. But in order to appreciate the greatness of the miracle you must take
- ↑ Asleep. As if there were no danger. The disciples watched anxiously whether He would awake; for they believed that He could avert the danger, if only He were awake. But while they hesitated and shrank from disturbing the Holy One, the storm and the danger increased, and in fear for their lives they went to Him and awoke Him.
- ↑ Faith. If your faith were not so weak, you would not be frightened.
- ↑ Commanded the sea. Saying to the sea: “Peace; be still!” (Mark 4, 39.)
- ↑ Calm. The wind abated instantly, the lake became calm, and a great silence succeeded the clamour of the storm.
- ↑ Men: Not only the apostles, but also the men in the other ships; for St. Mark tells us that “there were other ships with him”.
on the Sea of Galilee. The wind blowing from the mountains on one side of the lake is beaten back on to the water from those on the other side, being, as it were, imprisoned in the hollow, and expends all its fury on the surface of the water. As fast as the disciples baled out the water, fresh volumes poured in. At one moment the little ship was raised on the crest of the waves, and the next buried in their depths, till the planks of the boat creaked and threatened to fall asunder.
