Gospel in Art: The waves were breaking into the boat

Christ in the Storm on the Sea of Galilee, by Ludolf Bakhuizen. Painted in 1695 (date on side of boat) © Indianapolis Museum of Art

Source: Christian Art

Gospel of 27 January 2024
Mark 4:35-41

With the coming of evening, Jesus said to his disciples, 'Let us cross over to the other side.' And leaving the crowd behind they took him, just as he was, in the boat; and there were other boats with him. Then it began to blow a gale and the waves were breaking into the boat so that it was almost swamped. But he was in the stern, his head on the cushion, asleep. They woke him and said to him, 'Master, do you not care? We are going down!' And he woke up and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, 'Quiet now! Be calm!' And the wind dropped, and all was calm again. Then he said to them, 'Why are you so frightened? How is it that you have no faith?' They were filled with awe and said to one another, 'Who can this be? Even the wind and the sea obey him.'

Reflection on the painting

Ludolf Backhuysen was a German-born Dutch painter, active in Amsterdam. He was the leading seascape painter at the end of the 17th century. In order to paint the seas in great detail, he often went out in a boat to make drawings of the waves up close. Many of the surviving drawings he made are quite creased, torn and worn because of the weather conditions in which he would have made these whilst being on his boat. This ardent study of the seas shows this intense realism and faithful imitation of nature. We see Jesus just after waking up, his hand still by his face. Saint Peter is holding his arm outstretched, pointing towards the stormy seas. The reflection of the boat in the sea and the moonlight hitting the waves make for a unique spectacle.

Storms are a test. It is during the storms of life that we discover so much about ourselves, about our friends, and about our faith too. And these storms can arise suddenly. Literally one phone call, or one doctor's visit can make us go from peaceful shores to stormy seas. What is beautiful in our Gospel passage today is that we see both the humanity and divinity of Jesus on full display. In his humanity we read how exhausted Jesus is from all the work he had done that day. He was even sleeping through storms. In his divinity we see his omnipotence and power over the seas and winds.

Jesus rebuked his disciples for their lack of faith in God, their lack of trust. Jesus was with them; that should have been enough for them, even as the storm howled. Jesus is with us too as risen Lord, as we battle with our own storms in life. If we keep our focus on him at such times, we will come to share in his own peace and rest.

LINKS

Gospel in Art: https://christian.art/
Today's Reflection: https://christian.art/daily-gospel-reading/mark-4-35-41-2024/