Mark 4:35-41, NASB95

The disciples were Jews.  Jewish people understood the Old Testament stories. You can see from this story that there were tremendous things that took place.  Jesus overruled the laws of nature so that He could calm the sea and stop the storm dead still in its tracks.  Has this ever happened before in scripture?

Think with me for a moment, Moses extended his staff over the sea and God in response to this parted the waters (Exodus 14:16).  Shortly afterwards, the Egyptians tried to transverse the same path and were drowned as the waters returned to their original place (Exodus 14:27).  Notice that Moses did not cause the water to split, he was acting on a command of God.

Joshua instructed the priests to carry the Ark of the Lord into the flood waters of the Jordan River.  It was at flood stage at the time.  When it split, water stood up like a mountain to allow Israel to pass over (Joshua 3).  Joshua clearly stated that the Lord would split the waters, this was verified by the Lord’s command (Joshua 3:7-13).

Elijah was instructed by the Lord to cross the Jordan, he struck it with his mantle and the waters split so that he and Elisha crossed over on dry ground (2 Kings 2).  Elisha called on the name of the Lord and crossed back over the Jordan splitting the water again.

What does this demonstrate to us?  Jesus did not call on the Lord.  He did not extend a rod, place the Ark of the Covenant in the water or strike the water with a mantle.  Jesus spoke to the water and commanded it to be still.  The significance of this was not lost on the disciples.  Only God has the ability to control water.  Jesus made a clear point that he was more than a mere prophet.  Jesus was and is God.

Has Jesus changed?  There is a lot of people who simply do not understand who Jesus really is. He is the YHVH God of the Old Testament (Psalm 100:3). “Lord” in this verse is the indication of the Hebrew name YHVH. Cross reference this with John 1:3-10. Yeshua is the creator God. The Disciples asked a good question, “who is this…?”  He is the God that stilled the sea in the Old Testament and demonstrated that by rebuking the wind and the sea in the New Testament. Yeshua challenged the disciples to change their thinking to realize that He is God. He challenged their faith since they may have thought He was merely a great prophet.