Day 14: Jesus shows His terrifying power over nature
In the popular show Avatar: The Last Airbender, an avatar named Ang is born with the ability to control both wind and water. In our passage today, Jesus shows that He has that kind of control over nature in real life. We’ll see His disciples getting really scared in the middle of a massive storm—and even more scared after Jesus uses His amazing superpowers to calm the storm!
Jesus was sitting in a boat at the edge of a lake when He taught the crowd with parables. In verses 35–36, what time of day is it, and what do Jesus and His disciples do?
What happened in verse 37? (A “furious squall” means a massive storm.)
What is Jesus doing in verse 36?
Some of Jesus’ disciples are fishermen (see Mark 1:16–20), so you might think they’d know what do to in a storm. But it seems like this storm is terrifying even for them!
How do Jesus’ disciples react in verse 38?
Why do you think the disciples thought that Jesus didn’t care?
The word “rebuke” means to tell off sharply or correct. Later in Mark’s gospel, we’ll see Jesus rebuking His disciples at various points when they completely misunderstand Him.
What did Jesus do in verse 39?
What would happen if you, or your parent, or your school principal, or the president of the United States rebuked the wind?
In verse 39, what happened when Jesus rebuked the wind and told the waves to be quiet and still?
What did Jesus ask the disciples in verse 40?
You might think that the disciples would stop being afraid now that the storm was over. But how do they feel according to verse 41?
As we walk through Mark’s gospel, we’ll often see people being terrified when they witness Jesus’ power. Try to spot those moments as we go along. They’ll help you understand what happens at the end of Mark!
What question do the disciples ask?
What is the answer to their question in verse 41?
When Jesus tells the paralyzed man his sins are forgiven, the teachers of the law think to themselves, “Why does this fellow talk like that? He’s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” The answer to, “Who can forgive sins?” is the same as the answer to the disciples’ question in Mark 4:41: God alone.
Praise Jesus for His power, even over the wind and the waves! Ask Him to help you see how amazing He is and to trust Him when your life feels like a massive storm raging all around you.