Gospel in Art: 'Peace! Be still!' And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm

Christ in the Storm on the Sea of Galilee, by Ludolf Bakhuizen, 1695 © Indianapolis Museum of Art

Source: Christian Art

Gospel of 1 February 2025
Mark 4:35-41

On that day, when evening had come, Jesus said to his disciples, 'Let us go across to the other side.' And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him. And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, 'Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?' And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, 'Peace! Be still!' And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. He said to them, 'Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?' And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, 'Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?'

Reflection on the painting

Ludolf Backhuysen, a German-born Dutch painter, was a leading seascape artist of the late 17th century, working primarily in Amsterdam. To capture the seas in their full drama and detail, he would often venture out in a boat, sketching the waves up close amidst the tumult of nature. Many of his surviving drawings bear the marks of these challenging conditions-creased, torn, watermarks, bubbling paper, weathered by the elements. This relentless pursuit of realism is reflected in his art, where the seas come alive with intense authenticity. In one such painting, we see Jesus just after waking, his hand still raised near his face. Saint Peter, arm outstretched, gestures toward the stormy seas. The interplay of moonlight on the waves and the boat's reflection creates a striking, almost otherworldly spectacle.

Storms serve as tests in our lives, revealing much about ourselves, our relationships, and our faith. They often arise suddenly. A single phone call or doctor's visit can transform calm waters into tempestuous seas. Today's Gospel reading beautifully illustrates both the humanity and divinity of Jesus. In his humanity, we see his sheer exhaustion after a day of ministry, so profound that he sleeps even through the raging storm. In his divinity, we witness his supreme power and authority as he calms the winds and waves with a word.

Jesus rebukes his disciples for their lack of faith, reminding them that his presence should have been enough to sustain their trust, even in the face of the storm. His challenge to them is equally a challenge to us: to trust in him as our risen Lord, even when life's storms threaten to overwhelm us. If we keep our focus on him during these trials, we too can share in his peace and rest, no matter how fierce the winds may blow.

LINKS

Gospel in Art: https://christian.art/
Today's Reflection: https://christian.art/daily-gospel-reading/mark-4-35-41-2025/