35.   And on that day, when even was come, he saith unto them, Let us go over unto the other side.
      36   And leaving the multitude, they take him with them, even as he was, in the boat. And other boats were with him.
      37   And there ariseth a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the boat, insomuch that the boat was now filling.
      38   And he himself was in the stern, asleep on the cushion: and they awake him, and say unto him, Teacher, carest thou not that we perish?
      39   And he awoke, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.
      40   And he said unto them, Why are ye fearful? have ye not yet faith?
      41   And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?
      Mark 5:15   And they come to Jesus, and behold him that was possessed with demons sitting, clothed and in his right mind, even him that had the legion: and they were afraid.
      16   And they that saw it declared unto them how it befell him that was possessed with demons, and concerning the swine.
      17   And they began to beseech him to depart from their borders.
      18   And as he was entering into the boat, he that had been possessed with demons besought him that he might be with him.
      19   And he suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go to thy house unto thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and how he had mercy on thee.

Questions and Brief Comments.

Verses 35, 36. On what day? (The close of a busy day: see Mark 4:1 and back of that). Why did He want to go to the other side? (Matt. 8:18).

Verse 37. At whose command did they undertake this trip? Did they have Jesus with them? If we go at the Lord's will and He is with us, may we even then have to face storms and trials?

Verse 38. Where was Jesus all the while? (Comp. with Jonah 1, and point out differences). How did they awaken Jesus? Does He sometimes seem indifferent to our troubles? Is He ever indifferent?

Verse 39. How did He still the storm? Look up Ps. 33:9 and 107:29.

Verse 40. For what did He rebuke His disciples? What kind of faith should they have had? (Luke 12:6, 7, "Thou art my God: my times are in thy hand." Ps. 31:14, 15).

Verse 41. What effect did this have on all who saw it? What is said about the wind and the sea? (Ps. 135:6; 148:8). Who then was this?

Mark 5:15. (Read Mark 5:1-14). What marvellous thing did those people see? How did it affect them?

Verse 16. What did the witnesses tell? What had happened to the swine?

Verse 17. What strange thing did they ask? Can you see any reason?

Verse 18, 19. Did Jesus comply with their request? What did the healed demoniac beseech? Why would he want to go with Jesus? Did he permit him? WHy not? What work did the Lord assign to this man? Ought everyone who has been saved and helped by the Lord do this?

NOTES AND TEACHING POINTS.
(The Lesson includes all of Mark 4:35 to 5:20).

THE TITLE OF THE LESSON.

      "Two Miracles of Power." In the one He showed Himself to be Lord in the physical world, the realm of nature; in the other He was shown to have supreme power in the spirit realm. [60]

THE STORM ON THE LAKE.

      The journey was at Christ's command. Moreover He went with them. Some seem to think that if we are in the path of God's will and the Lord is with us we ought to have only smooth sailing. Is that so?

      He was asleep. It was on the day He had spoken the parables of the Kingdom, and much else was crowded into the same day. Jesus was tired. (Comp. John 4:6). The storm did not disturb His peaceful rest. He was never afraid of anything, because of His perfect trust in the Father. But to the distressed disciples His sleep seemed like indifference. Does it ever seem to us as though the Lord were asleep while we are in trouble?

      The disciples' fear. They were experienced sailors, but this storm filled them with terror. But though Jesus' presence was no guarantee that there would be no storm it was a guarantee that no evil should befall them. (Ps. 91:9, 10; Rom. 8:28). Moreover they should have known who Jesus was--His power, His mission, His relation to God. Did they think that the storm would swallow Him up? Surely their faith was weak.

      "Where is Your Faith?" They should have trusted in God's protecting care. The Lord Jesus had taught them that not even a sparrow can fall without God, and that the very hairs of their heads were numbered. No accident can befall us, but life with all its changes, and death, and all our times, are in the hands of the Father, whose infinite love and wisdom watches over our every moment. "Believest thou this?"

      Jesus Stills the Storm. Just to show them how absolutely the storm was in God's hand, the Lord Jesus stopped it with a word. After this the disciples would know and remember, and they would not need to have every future storm stopped in this manner. Enough to know that the Lord had complete and absolute control of storms.

      Who then is this? Who is it that can speak the word and winds and waves obey Him? Look up the reference in the Study-questions opposite v. 39. Also read and think on Isa. 48:13. Who is Jesus? (Matt. 16:16). It is important that we should know and believe that? (John 8:24).

THE GADARENE DEMONIAC.

      Demon possession was a reality, not an imagination or superstition of the people. The demons belonged to Satan's kingdom, and held possession on Satan's behalf. (See Lesson 6.)

      This was a peculiarly evil case. Many demons had seized upon this man. He was a frightful being, naked, and ferocious like a wild beast. He broke all fetters and could not be restrained by human power. No man dared to pass by in his vicinity. When Jesus landed on that shore the wild man came running up to Him, but his fury was immediately changed to suppliant pleading and cries for mercy on part of the demons. They acknowledged Him to be "the Son of the Most High God," and begged not to be sent "away out of the country," "into the abyss" (Luke 8:31). What was the sequel of it all?

      "Clothed and in his right mind." Not only the demoniac, but many wild and careless sinners have been sobered and controlled and righted up through contact with Jesus, by way of the gospel, and are now "clothed and in their right mind."

      The Request of the Gadarenes. They were afraid when they saw and heard. Why were they afraid? Were they afraid for their swine? Jesus responded to their request. He never forces Himself upon anyone. He does not want us to, either.

      The Healed Man's Request. It was natural that this man should want to be with Jesus. In other cases He permitted it, but in this instance it was needful that this man should testify to Christ's mercy to his dull-hearted countrymen, that another time they might welcome Him. In Mark 7:31-37 we see Jesus back in that same country.

QUESTIONS FOR THE CLASS.

1. Who ordered the journey across the lake?
2. Did Jesus go with them?
3. What, nevertheless, happened?
4. What was Jesus doing?
5. Why did they awaken Him?
6. How did they wake Him?
7. Was He confused or flustrated?
8. What did He do?
9. Did the wind and sea obey Him? [61]
10. For what did He reprove them?
11. What question did they ask themselves?
12. What did they mean by saying "Who then is this?"
13. What is a "demoniac?"
14. Why was this man's case unusually bad?
15. What were the symptoms?
16. What did he do when Jesus came?
17. Read Mark 5:1-14.
18. How did the people see the wild man?
19. When they heard the whole story how did they feel?
20. What did they ask Jesus to do?
21. Did He accede to their request?
22. What did the healed man beg?
23. Did the Lord grant that?
24. What did the man do?
25. What must he tell the people?
26. Why probably, did Jesus want that?

Source: Third Lord's Day Lesson of February. Lesson 8. February 19, 1928. Two Miracles of Power (Mark