It may not have been an unusual day for Jesus. Wherever He went crowds would gather to be healed or to see miracles. In most crowds there would be the religious leaders trying to catch Him doing or saying something so they could condemn Him.

One such day Jesus walked along the Sea of Galilee and one of the largest crowds was gathering. It was normal for people to want to be close to Jesus and even touch Him. He asked the apostles to get a boat so that He could minister to the people. Anchored just off shore Jesus began to teach those who had gathered.

He begins by giving a parable about seeds and four soils. As the farmer scattered the seeds some fell along the path, some fell in the rocks, others fell among thistles and some fell on good soil.

Jesus then tells a parable about a mustard seed. The smallest seed at that time grew to become one of the largest of plants. Later when He was alone with His disciples He explained the two parables. The farmer is Jesus. The seed is the good news, the gospel. The parable describes how people will respond to His message.

It will fall on the hard ground and it will make no impression on those who hear. It will fall on rocky ground. People will accept His teaching but do nothing about it. The seed will fall in with the thistles. Some will accept but will allow the world to pull them from becoming committed and true believers. The seed that falls on good soil are those who totally accept and make a commitment to live the life Jesus teaches.

He then talks about the tiny mustard seed. He is describing the church. It will start very small with just a few Christians. But there will be a time when it becomes worldwide.

Mark 4:35 – 41 – “That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, ‘Let us go over to the other side.’ Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, ‘Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?’ He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, ‘Quiet! Be still!’ Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.  He said to his disciples, ‘Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?’   They were terrified and asked each other, ‘Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!’”

Jesus was exhausted and had fallen asleep. Because the Sea of Galilee is below sea level and surrounded by mountains it is susceptible to sudden storms. Down draft winds and a thunderstorm can cause waves up to 20 feet high. The danger was real and the waves could swamp the boats. Some of His disciples had spent their entire life as fishermen on the Sea of Galilee. Twenty foot waves in a fishing boat are life threatening no matter how experienced a person is.

I was on the USS Hamel, a destroyer tender, just off the Philippine coast when we hit a typhoon. This was a huge ship with a crew of approximately 800. Twenty foot waves and higher in a ship that size is scary. I cannot image what it would be like in a small fishing boat in those conditions.

Mark said they were terrified and expected they would soon drown when they awaken Jesus. Jesus stood and said: “Quiet! Be still!” Immediately it became calm. His disciples realized they were standing in the presence of the Son of God.

The disciples saw Christ heal, drive out demons, perform other miracles, teach with authority and calm the sea. Yet, we have Peter denying Christ, Thomas doubts and others continually questioning. Faith does not always come easy. If there are times when we have doubts we can always looks at the apostles and be encouraged.

However, once the apostles saw Christ resurrected and they had received the Holy Spirit they had the faith to die for the Messiah. I am sure that particular day the disciples hearing the parables and being on the boat they would never forget. But for Jesus, it was just another day!