Mark 4:35-41 Who Then Is This?

Who Then Is This? (Mark 4:35–41)

Introduction

Imagine hiring a contractor for a home renovation. You meet someone confident, knowledgeable, and reassuring, but when the work begins, the experience doesn’t match the promises. Calls go unanswered, deadlines are missed, and the finished product is disappointing. The person who made the promise isn’t the same person delivering the work.

Unlike people, Jesus is entirely consistent. Who He claims to be is exactly who He is, both in word and action. In Mark 4:35–41, Jesus demonstrates His power over creation itself, proving that He is not just a messenger but the very Son of God. This passage challenges us to ask, as the disciples did, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?” (Mark 4:41)

Jesus’ Purpose: Preaching the Kingdom (Mark 4:35–36)

As evening came, Jesus told His disciples, “Let us go across to the other side” (Mark 4:35). He had been teaching the crowds all day, but now He was moving on. Why? Because Jesus came to proclaim the kingdom of God everywhere, not just in one place. Earlier, when people tried to keep Him in one town, He replied, “Let us go on to the next towns, that I may preach there also, for that is why I came out” (Mark 1:38).

Jesus wasn’t just a teacher or miracle worker; He was the fulfillment of God’s promises. The King had come, and the time to enter His kingdom was now. By taking His disciples across the sea, He was continuing His mission—to preach the good news to all who would listen.

A Storm and a Sleeping Savior (Mark 4:37–40)

As they crossed the sea, a fierce windstorm arose, sending waves crashing into the boat. The disciples, experienced fishermen, were terrified. Meanwhile, Jesus was asleep on a cushion. In panic, they woke Him, crying, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” (Mark 4:38)

This scene echoes the story of Jonah, who also found himself in a storm at sea. Jonah had been running from God’s mission, but Jesus was fully obedient. Both men slept during the storm, but when Jonah was woken up, he admitted his guilt and told the sailors to throw him overboard to calm the sea (Jonah 1:12). In contrast, Jesus simply stood and spoke: “Peace! Be still!” And at His command, the wind and waves obeyed immediately (Mark 4:39).

Jonah acknowledged that the storm was brought by the hand of God, and his sacrifice stopped it. But Jesus didn’t pray to God to calm the storm—He calmed it Himself. This was not the act of a prophet asking for mercy. It was a revelation of divine power and authority. Jonah showed that the God of Israel had power over the sea. Jesus showed that He is that God.

Fear and the Question of Identity (Mark 4:41)

After Jesus calmed the storm, the disciples were filled with awe and asked, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?” (Mark 4:41)

They were moving closer to understanding who Jesus truly was. Though they didn’t yet fully grasp it, this moment introduced them to a new and deeper reality. Jesus could not be just a man if He had command over nature itself. His complete confidence in the midst of danger contrasted sharply with their panic—and challenged their perception of Him.

Isaiah wrote, “I am the Lord your God, who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar” (Isaiah 51:15). The Psalms declare, “You rule the raging of the sea; when its waves rise, you still them” (Psalm 89:9). The disciples knew these Scriptures—and now they were seeing them fulfilled before their eyes.

To whom or what else should we give our lives? What else has the power of creation? This is why idolatry is such a grave offense—it equates created things with the Creator, who alone has unmatched power, knowledge, and glory (Romans 1:25).

Jesus as the Faithful Messenger and the Lord Over All

Throughout history, God sent prophets to speak His word, but Jesus was different. Moses prophesied, “The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you… it is to him you shall listen” (Deuteronomy 18:15). The book of Hebrews says, “Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son” (Hebrews 1:1–2).

Jesus said, “Whoever believes in me, believes not in me but in him who sent me. And whoever sees me sees him who sent me” (John 12:44–45). He is not just a reflection of God’s nature—He is the very radiance of it (Hebrews 1:3).

The Promise of Restoration

Our hope in Jesus is not only for today but for the future. He has the ability to restore both our souls and our bodies. Those who trust in Him are sealed with the Holy Spirit as a guarantee of that final redemption (Ephesians 1:13–14). The healings we read about in Mark are mere shadows of what is to come in the new earth, when all things will be made new (Revelation 21:1–5).

On that day, those who believe will be fully glorified in resurrection bodies, made like Christ (Philippians 3:20–21). There will be no veil of suffering or misunderstanding—only glory. Christ Himself will walk with His people, and we will see His face (Revelation 22:3–4).

Conclusion

The disciples’ question—“Who then is this?”—is one we must all answer. If Jesus has power over the wind and the sea, if He is the promised King, and if He has spoken the words of eternal life, then the only response is to trust and follow Him completely.

Unlike the world’s empty promises, Jesus has the power to deliver. He is the faithful messenger, the ruler of creation, and the Savior of all who believe. Let us rest in His power, worship His name, and long for the day when we will see Him in glory.

Scripture References

• Mark 1:38 – Jesus explains that His purpose is to preach the kingdom of God in many places, not just one.
• Jonah 1:12 – Jonah tells the sailors to throw him into the sea, and God calms the storm.
• Isaiah 51:15 – God describes His control over the sea, a power Jesus demonstrates in this passage.
• Psalm 89:9 – God rules the raging sea and stills the waves.
• Romans 1:25 – People exchanged the truth of God for a lie and worshiped created things instead of the Creator.
• Deuteronomy 18:15 – Moses prophesies that God will send a greater prophet, fulfilled in Jesus.
• Hebrews 1:1–3 – Jesus is the radiance of God's glory and the exact imprint of His nature.
• John 12:44–45 – Jesus declares that to believe in Him is to believe in the one who sent Him.
• Ephesians 1:13–14 – Believers are sealed with the Holy Spirit as a guarantee of redemption.
• Philippians 3:20–21 – Our lowly bodies will be transformed to be like Christ’s glorious body.
• Revelation 21:1–5 – God will make all things new in the new heavens and new earth.
• Revelation 22:3–4 – In eternity, God’s people will see His face and reign with Him forever.