50. The Visit to Gerasa
18Now when Jesus saw great crowds around him, he gave orders to go over to the other side.a 23And when he got into the boat his apostles followed him. 37And a great storm of wind arose,b and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. 38Jesus was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. They woke him and said to him,“Teacher, do you not care if we perish?”39And he awoke and said, “Peace, be still.”
And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.
40He said to them, “Why are you afraid? Have you no faith?”
41And they were filled with awe, and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and sea obey him?”
(Mt. 8:18, 23; Mk. 4:37–41)
a “go over to the other side”—Go to the other side of the Sea of Galilee (go from Capernaum to the eastern shore). (See map on page 69.) Jesus is seeking rest from the crowds; he is so fatigued that even a violent windstorm does not awaken him.
b “a great storm of wind arose”—Violent and sudden windstorms are characteristic of the Sea of Galilee. These gales come on quickly and sometimes go away just as suddenly.
Mt. 8:23 his apostles followed (Ch. 22, fn. a) / his disciples followed (RSV)
Mk. 4:38 Jesus / But he (RSV) • cushion. They / cushion and they (RSV)
Mk. 4:39 and said, “Peace / and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace (RSV) (151:5/1694–5)
