GOSPEL MEDITATION # 185
Mark 4:30-41
The Parable of the Mustard Seed and Jesus Calms a Storm
- Find a quiet place without distractions.
- Be comfortably alert, still, and at peace.
- Say the Lord’s Prayer. Sing or cant the Jesus Prayer.
- Pray for family, friends, neighbors, and yourself.
- Slowly and carefully read the passage of Scripture.
- Mustard seed, very tiny, not the smallest of all seeds, so we see a proverbial phrase that simply means – little.
- Of greatest significance here is that this first parable Jesus tells has to do with the kingdom of God.
- The tiny seed grows into a large plant, almost a tree. In that part of the world the mustard plant would grown 10 to 15 feet high and when the branches stiffen, birds would nest in them.
- Jesus loved parables and Matthew and Luke have many more, but this is the last one in Mark’s Gospel.
- The crowds, including the Twelve, did not always understand the parables but Jesus would explain them. Only a few of Jesus’ interpreted parables found their way into the New Testament.
- Jesus wanted to sail east across the northern tip of the Sea of Galilee, perhaps to get away from the crowds.
- We see He was extremely exhausted so that when it was time to depart, Jesus appeared not to be ready. No explanation is given for such, but most assume it was because He appeared so tired out.
- We reflect on the humanness of Jesus then; could He have summoned strength from the Father? If so, He did not.
- Sea of Galilee, about 7 miles long, 3.5 miles wide, was 600 feet below sea level and when the sun went down, there could be a drastic temperature change. Sudden squalls would occur.
- Jesus was so tired out that He slept through part of the storm.
- The disciples were afraid and woke Jesus who was resting on a ‘headrest’ probably made of wood at the stern of the boat.
- The disciples were upset with Jesus and accused Him of not caring whether they lived or died. Yes, storms happen even when Jesus is present, both then and now.
- Jesus told the wind to stop and the waves to hush and be muzzled.
- The disciples saw something about Jesus they had never known.