In today's Gospel, Mark's account ends with the disciples' question, “Who then is this?”—a question of great importance in the overall context of the New Testament. The episode as a whole shows very clearly the distance between the disciples—ordinary people just like us—and Jesus. A violent storm arose on the lake, and the evangelist emphasizes that...
In today's Gospel, Mark's account ends with the disciples' question, “Who then is this?”—a question of great importance in the overall context of the New Testament. The episode as a whole shows very clearly the distance between the disciples—ordinary people just like us—and Jesus. A violent storm arose on the lake, and the evangelist emphasizes that the boat was already filling with water. This means that two or three more waves would simply send it to the bottom. At such a moment, everyone in a boat either tries to keep its bow toward the waves with the oars or bails out the water. But the Lord is asleep, because He has been preaching all day and is very tired.
The disciples must have been reluctant to wake Him, and it is astonishing that the rocking did not wake Him on its own. At such moments the tension rises sharply, and a person feels his smallness and weakness very clearly. Anyone in the boat then understands that if help does not come from the Almighty, nothing else will protect him: a grain of sand in the hands of the elements, he will go to the bottom. It is impossible to sleep at such a time. We do not know whether the disciples wanted Jesus to bail out water with everyone else or to pray, but in any case they did not expect what He Himself did.
When the danger comes too close, they wake Him and ask with some irritation: “Why are You sleeping? Do You really not care that all of us—including You—are perishing?” Against this background of the disciples' overwhelming sense of their own insignificance and helplessness, Jesus wakes, turns toward the sea, and simply tells it, “Be silent.” Not majestically or menacingly, as Siberian shamans might invoke the elements, but as a tired person says to a barking dog, “Oh, be quiet!”—such is the meaning of the Greek verbs. And the sea becomes silent.
In the stillness that follows, Jesus' questions to the disciples recall all too vividly the Almighty's questions to Job: “Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge?” (Job 38:2) and “Who shut in the sea with doors when it burst out?” (38:9). They feel the presence of the Almighty Himself, and a holy awe seizes them, mingled with the joy of deliverance. They will feel something similar when He comes to them through locked doors on the day of His Resurrection. On the lips of people who know the Bible, the question “Who then is this?” is rhetorical: it is a form of confessing the divine nature of the Son of Man.
13
13:4 He was crucified through weakness - Through the impotence of human nature. We also are weak with him - We appear weak and despicable by partaking of the same sufferings for his sake. But we shall live with him - Being raised from the dead. By the power of God in you - By that divine energy which is now in every believer, Co2 13:5.
13:5 Prove yourselves - Whether ye are such as can, or such as cannot, bear the test - This is the proper meaning of the word which we translate, reprobates. Know ye not yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you - All Christian believers know this, by the witness and by the fruit of his Spirit. Some translate the words, Jesus Christ is among you; that is, in the church of Corinth; and understand them of the miraculous gifts and the power of Christ which attended the censures of the apostle.
13:6 And I trust ye shall know - By proving yourselves, not by putting my authority to the proof.
13:7 I pray God that ye may do no evil - To give me occasion of showing my apostolical power. I do not desire to appear approved - By miraculously punishing you. But that ye may do that which is good, though we should be as reprobates - Having no occasion to give that proof of our apostleship.
13:8 For we can do nothing against the truth - Neither against that which is just and right, nor against those who walk according to the truth of the gospel.
13:9 For we rejoice when we are weak - When we appear so, having no occasion to show our apostolic power. And this we wish, even your perfection - In the faith that worketh by love.
13:11 Be perfect - Aspire to the highest degree of holiness.Be of good comfort - Filled with divine consolation. Be of one mind - Desire, labour, pray for it, to the utmost degree that is possible.
13:13 The grace - Or favour. Of our Lord Jesus Christ - By which alone we can come to the Father. And the love of God - Manifested to you, and abiding in you. And the communion - Orfellowship. Of the Holy Ghost - In all his gifts and graces.
It is with great reason that this comprehensive and instructiveblessing is pronounced at the close of our solemn assemblies; and it is a very indecent thing to see so many quitting them, or getting into postures of remove, before this short sentence can be ended.
How often have we heard this awful benediction pronounced! Letus study it more and more, that we may value it proportionably; that we may either deliver or receive it with a becoming reverence, with eyes and hearts lifted up to God, "who giveth the blessing out of Sion, and life for evermore."