It was by chance only recently I was thinking on the passage in Mark 4 where Jesus calms the sea. While doing so, I came across a reference that was so incredibly similar, but it was not in another Gospel. It was all the way back in Psalms. As I read it, I realized it was literally stroke for stroke, the story of Mark 4. Was it coincidence? I think not. Hundreds of years before Jesus was to ever calm the sea, there was a passage written foretelling that fateful day, and it was far more literal than one could have thought. To illustrate how they line up, I have put them together, Psalms on top, Mark below, in sequence.
Psa 107:23 They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters;
Of the original 12 disciples, 4 were confirmed fishermen (Andrew, Peter, James, and John) and there’s a possibility that another 3 (Nathanael, Thomas, Philip) were as well. They would have been seasoned fishermen, especially considering James and John’s father was a fisherman.
Psa 107:24 These see the works of the LORD, and his wonders in the deep.
These men would all behold with their eyes the events that would take place in Mark 4. To set the stage, we read of the following:
Mark 4:35-36 And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side. And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships.
Did Jesus know what was coming? No doubt He did. Perhaps He called for a storm like these men had never seen before, as the following verse in Psalms declares: He (Jehovah) commands and raises the stormy wind!
Psa 107:25,26a For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof. They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths:
Mar 4:37 And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.
In Matthew’s corresponding account, he writes: “And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves:”
Psa 107:26b, 27 Their soul is melted because of trouble. They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits’ end.
This description in Psalms is far more colorful than the Gospel accounts which have two key notes which point to the disposition of the disciples: 1. They wake Jesus telling Him they were perishing. 2. Jesus reproves them afterwards for their fear and lack of faith. It is apparent that they were at their wits end for these men of the sea, no doubt having tried all they could and knew, decided they had nothing left save to wake a sleeping carpenter up and plead for Him to save them which brings us to the next verse in Psalms.
Psa 107:28 Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses.
Mark 4:38 And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?
In the midst of their trouble, they cry unto Him. It’s worth noting that if the similarities between these texts are not a coincidence, then it’s very firm proof that the disciples consider Jesus to be Jehovah in the flesh, contrary to unitarians and Jehovah’s witnesses. In Psalms, all the actions are by Jehovah, in the Gospels, all the actions are by Jesus.
Psa 107:29 He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.
Mar 4:39 And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.
It’s these two verses that really drive home how these passages really read together. The passage in Mark is one of my favorite because of the meaning of what Jesus said. ‘Be still’ does not convey the true authority of what Jesus said. The more accurate reading is: Be muzzled!
Psa 107:30 Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven.
You need not read much farther in the gospels of this story account to know that they did make it safely to the other side.
Psa 107:31 Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
Mark 4:40,41 And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith? And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?
I wonder if any of the disciples that day, as they witnessed the awesome power and authority of Jesus Christ recalled this passage in Psalms 107. Even as they marveled, did any recall it? Or perhaps it was years later, as the story was passed on and recorded down, did they still hold in awe that moment when they watched that passage of Psalms 107 be fulfilled right before their eyes? Something tells me they did.
All throughout Jesus’ life, there is story after story that is there to bear witness of who He really was. His calming the sea was not just a display of power and authority, it was a literal fulfillment of acts that were ascribed to Jehovah. As those waves beat into the ship, and Jesus stood up and said, “Hush! Be thou muzzled!” I believe it was for that very purpose: yet another sign to those who were watching that He was indeed the Messiah.
Talking Bible 
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