Word Pictures in the New Testament - David Cox

Word Pictures in the NT [Mark: Chapter 4]
fell suddenly from Mount Hermon down into the Jordan Valley and
smote the Sea of Galilee violently at its depth of 682 feet below
the Mediterranean Sea. The hot air at this depth draws the storm
down with sudden power. These sudden storms continue to this day
on the Sea of Galilee. The word occurs in the LXX of the
whirlwind out of which God answered Job (Job 38:1) and in Jon
1:4. {The waves beat into the boat} (\ta kumata epeballen eis to
ploion\). Imperfect tense (were beating) vividly picturing the
rolling over the sides of the boat "so that the boat was covered
with the waves" (Mt 8:24). Mark has it: "insomuch that the boat
was now filling" (\h•ste •d• gemizesthai to ploion\). Graphic
description of the plight of the disciples.
4:38 {Asleep on the cushion} (\epi to proskephalaion katheud•n\).
Mark also mentions the cushion or bolster and the stern of the
boat (\en t•i prumn•i\). Mt 8:24 notes that Jesus was sleeping
(\ekatheuden\), Luke that {he fell asleep} (\aphupn•sen\,
ingressive aorist indicative). He was worn out from the toil of
this day. {They awake him} (\egeirousin auton\). So Mark's
graphic present. Matthew and Luke both have "awoke him." Mark has
also what the others do not: "Carest thou not?" (\ou melei
soi;\). It was a rebuke to Jesus for sleeping in such a storm. We
are perishing (\apollumetha\, linear present middle). Precisely
this same form also in Mt 8:25 and Lu 8:24.
4:39 {Rebuked the wind} (\epetim•sen t•i anem•i\) as in Mt 8:26
and Lu 8:24. He spoke to the sea also. All three Gospels speak
of the sudden calm (\gal•n•\) and the rebuke to the disciples for
this lack of faith.
4:40 {Why are ye fearful?} (\Ti deiloi este;\). They had the Lord
of the wind and the waves with them in the boat. He was still
Master even if asleep in the storm. {Have ye not yet faith?}
(\Oup• echete pistin;\). Not yet had they come to feel that Jesus
was really Lord of nature. They had accepted his Messiaship, but
all the conclusions from it they had not yet drawn. How like us
in our troubles they were!
4:41 {They feared exceedingly} (\ephob•th•san phobon megan\).
Cognate accusative with the first aorist passive indicative. They
feared a great fear. Mt 8:27 and Lu 8:22 mention that "they
marvelled." But there was fear in it also. {Who then is this?}
(\Tis ara houtos estin;\). No wonder that they feared if this One
could command the wind and the waves at will as well as demons
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