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When evening had come, Jesus said to his disciples, “Let us go across to the other side.” And leaving the crowd behind, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. Other boats were with him. A great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped. But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke him up and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” He woke up and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” Then the wind ceased, and there was a dead calm. He said to them, “Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?” And they were filled with great awe and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”
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This is the Gospel selection for the fourth Sunday after Pentecost [Proper 7], Year B, according to the lectionary for the Episcopal Church. There will be read aloud an Old Testament and Psalm preceding this reading, chosen from three optional pairings. Those are too numerous to quote from now, but they deal with the boy David and Yahweh responding to Job’s pleas for explanation. They will be presented before the Epistle reading from Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians, where he quoted Yahweh speaking to Isaiah, saying, “At an acceptable time I have listened to you, and on a day of salvation I have helped you.”
In this reading from Mark, we have a second Sunday in a row where the Gospel selection comes from Mark’s fourth chapter. Last Sunday I pulled from earlier in Mark 4, where Mark wrote that Jesus spoke to his apostles in parables. He then told the two parables of the seed growing to harvest and the mustard seed growing to become the largest tree in the garden. In between that reading’s ending and this reading’s beginning are these two verses:
“With many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear it; he
did not speak to them except in parables, but he explained everything in private to his
disciples.” (Mark 4:33-34, NRSV)
By seeing that synopsis leading to the first verse in this reading: “When evening had come, Jesus said to his disciples, “Let us go across to the other side.”’ It becomes important to see a positioning of Jesus as his presenting parables from the mountain leading up from the northeastern shoreline of the Sea of Galilee. Jesus had moved to that higher position to preach, after first speaking to the crowd from a boat that had taken him there. He spoke from a boat to keep the crowd from mobbing him; but the ‘sermons from the mount’ indicated Jesus moved to a higher platform from which to preach, so the crowd would not attempt to climb up. Additionally, from that position the acoustics were perfect for a crowd below to clearly hear everything he preached. It was then in the safety of the mountain that Jesus would dismiss the crowd and then privately talk with his disciples. Therefore, “to go across to the other side” has the logistical meaning of sailing via boat from the northeastern shore (where an open floodplain afforded space for a large crowd, when the dry season had come), to the western shore where the docks at Capernaum were and where the boats of the apostles were kept moored.
"Just sit right back and you'll hear a tale A tale of a fateful trip …"
While this logistical meaning is certainly one true way to read this, it is important to remember that Mark is (as I call him) the Sergeant Friday [Dragnet reference] of the Gospel writers, where he only wrote “just the facts,” with nothing superfluous attempted. This means the first verse, which seems rather tame and scene setting, is adding an element of specificity that should not matter overall. Therefore, it needs to be questioned, as to why Mark saw fit to add this as a “fact.”
That close inspection shows that the first word [omitted by the NRSV] is a capitalized “Kai,” which is the marker word that signals importance to follow, where a capitalized marker word means much importance, more than normal. By looking at the Greek text written, one sees that more of this first verse has been omitted, such that Mark actually wrote: “Kai legei autois en ekeinē tē hēmera , opsias genomenēs , Dielthōmen eis to peran .” This literally translates to state: “Kai he said to them on that one same day , evening having come , Let us pass through into this beyond”. The NRSV includes a translation of the first segment of words, but the Episcopal Church has omitted them from presentation; and, they need to be understood as pertinent.
The great importance that must be seen in this reading is stated in the words “legei autois,” which translates as “he said to them.” “He” is Jesus and “them” are his apostles, but that is on the physical level of understanding. This whole reading needs to be understood on a Spiritual level of meaning.
These exact same words are written by John, when he said Jesus mysteriously appeared in the place where his apostles were holed up. The mystery of that appearance is it was an apparition, as a Soul-Spirit. Thus, when John wrote, “legei autois , Eirēnē hymin,” or “he said to them , Peace to you,” there was nothing orally spoken aloud. [from John 20:19] Everything communicated was telepathic, from one Soul-Spirit to other souls. Therefore, the Greek words “autois” and “hymin” need to be grasped as equally translating as “selves” and “yourselves,” with “selves" being understood as meaning “souls.” Therefore, what Mark says is of great importance as “Jesus spiritually commanded souls on that one same day.”
In that important segment of words, the words that say “same day” [“tē hēmera”], the translation of “tē” as “same” is allowable, where “the one” becomes an indication of that day when Jesus explained the parable of the mustard seed to them. Still, the element of “day” must be seen as less a time when the sun was shining in the sky, and more as a statement of how Jesus’ explanation of a parable became a light of truth shone in their souls [hearts]. That dawning of "day" meant they had understanding. It says the willingness of the apostles to listen to the truth being exposed to them [their souls] made them become enlightened.
That enlightenment then became symbolic for their “evening having come,” which is metaphor for their last hours of light [evening of day] as human souls led by a human organ of flesh – their brains. In all their lives [however many years they each had lived], the disciples had used their brains to memorize Scripture, but they had never been able to understand the meaning the words of Scripture contained. Jesus explained that meaning in parables, so each who listened would have to ponder the meaning of a comparative story and reach a personal conclusion of the truth. The apostles asked to be told more, in clearer communication; and, Jesus filled them with spiritual insight that expanded their knowledge. Therefore, they had entered into the dwindling time when their souls were controlled by their fleshy brains alone.
In the spiritual command given by Jesus, Mark capitalized the word “Dielthōmen,” which is the second aorist active subjunctive first person plural, meaning Jesus made a suggestion that was relative to the future state of the apostles’ souls. By hearing his say, "Let us pass through into this beyond," this was him talking to their souls, not their flesh. This is then elevated to a divine level of understanding [the indication of capitalization], such that the suggestion was greater than him orally saying, “let’s get in the boats and sail over to the other side of the sea.”
It becomes Jesus telling his apostles they would begin to intuit what he knew, as one together. As “Us pass through” the separation that existed between their brains and the Mind of Christ that was possessed by Jesus dissipated in a dream or vision. As “Us,” the divine elevation was the souls of the apostles would become one with the Soul of Jesus, so in that Spiritual pairing all would be found “going beyond” that which was ordinary, entering “into the extraordinary” that was divine possession.
When this is seen, the reading takes a higher level of meaning, even as the basic meaning is still the truth of one event in ancient history. This then says the words that say, “And leaving the crowd behind,” or more accurately: “kai having left alone this common people,” this importantly states Jesus and his apostles were no longer one with the world of humanity, but instead one with the Spiritual realm.
At this point, Mark then wrote what is translated to say, “they took him with them in the boat, just as he was.” Again, knowing the physical logistics of the Sea of Galilee and some apostles were fishermen who owned boats, one of which took Jesus to the floodplain where he would preach and teach those who followed him there, this needs to now be seen in a higher spiritual way. In that approach, the Greek text must be realized, such that a literal translation actually has Mark writing: “they received his soul like as it was in this vessel ; kai other vessels he was with of soul”.
As that translation makes this verse be more clearly stated in a spiritual sense, the symbolism of a “boat” must be seen more generally as a “vessel.” In this, one must realize that the church “nave” is shaped like a “boat,” which makes it symbolic of riding in a vessel with Jesus. Rather than be a physical boat, the meaning is a transcendental elevation of the souls of the apostles, so their souls were with the Soul-Spirit of Jesus. Thus, following the semi-colon and the use of “kai,” the importance that needs to be understood is there were “several souls” [intuited from “other vessels”] that were each one – collectively and individually – with Jesus spiritually. They were all in the same Spiritual "boat" together.
With all of the apostles having been [basically] put into a divine trance, where this experience seemed to each as a real event, it must be understood that each element of this imaginary series of threats [storms and waves, impending doom] was a premonition of the future, brought to all of them by Yahweh. To better understand the segments of this ‘dream’ or ‘vision’ is to break down verses 37 to 41 in a literal translation, which differs from the translation offered by the NRSV. That presentation is as such [please read slowly, with thought, while comparing that below with any other English Bible translation]:
37. Kai becomes a whirlwind great breath ,
kai these waves were thrown over into this vessel ,
therefore now at length is being filled up this vessel .
38. kai soul he was on this stern ,
upon this pillow sleeping .
kai they raise up soul kai them saying to soul ,
Master ,
not is it anxiety to you that we perish ?
39. Kai having been aroused completely he warned this breath kai commanded to this
sea ,
Silence ,
be muzzled .
kai was stilled this breath ,
kai there became calm great .
40. Kai he brought word to souls ,
Why cowardly are you ?
not yet possess you faith ?
41. Kai they were frightened causing fear great ,
kai were answering towards one another ,
Who therefore here exists ,
because kai this breath kai this sea harken to soul ?
In this presentation, where each segment is presented separately and each use of “kai” is made readily visible as a marker, not a simple conjunction, this makes it easy to see a divine vision being shown to all of the apostles. The “storm” actually translates to “a whirlwind,” which is what Yahweh came from, when he spoke to Job [a possible accompanying Old Testament reading]. It was not a physical tornado or hurricane or squall line of “wind,” but the marriage of a soul to Yahweh’s Spirit. As such, the Greek word meaning “wind” has been modified so it matches the Hebrew word “ruach,” which means “wind, breath, spirit.” This substitution is so the presence of the “whirlwind” brought forth the “great breath” that is eternal life.
The metaphor of “waves” that were filling the “vessel” can then be seen as the verses of Scripture that Jesus had been explaining to his disciples. One after another, Sabbath after Sabbath, the deeper meanings were coming into their souls, which were all part of the Soul-Spirit of Jesus [his vessel]. Because they were on the sea in the ‘ship of Jesus,’ understanding was filling them with Yahweh’s Spirit. It was growing so great it was seeming to be too much, as all-engulfing them, because this absorption of new knowledge was new to them all.
While they were busying taking it all in, Jesus was not leading them. He had left them alone to ponder what he offered, so they could see what he was seeing, on their own. The metaphor of Jesus sleeping says Jesus had died. That becomes prophetic of that "beyond," which is the future. Jesus was not harmed by this death, as he was comforted by Yahweh – his pillow. Jesus’s death had him positioned in the rear of this most holy vessel of union, which is symbolic of the soul of Jesus being one with the souls of the apostles, where they were “in the name of Jesus,” but not appearing like Jesus physically. The symbolism is their bodies of flesh had become the kingdoms of Jesus, where his soul was merged with their souls; so, the soul of Jesus was resting within their beings. The rebirth of Jesus within their souls meant he was there, but not oppressively commanding their souls to do this or do that. Jesus asleep in the stern says he was there with them all, but they had the responsibility of sailing the vessel that was Christianity [living righteously].
To have their fears [pressures to sin] make Jesus “awaken” says all worldly threats will always bring about the soul of Jesus to raise up and direct the soul of a disciple. In the vision, the apostles all confessed Jesus to be their “Master” and “Teacher,” which says their souls were indeed married to Yahweh’s Spirit. Jesus’ soul was resurrected in each [all at once, individually and collectively] as the consummation of that new Spiritual marriage. The question asking, “Are you not worried that we will perish?” is about the inability of a soul alone to prevent worldly sins, which means death will bring the judgment of recycling a soul [reincarnation]. Still, their asking that question was a sign of doubt, as if Jesus was the only way a sinking ship [one's soul] could be saved from death [drowning in a world of sin], when their marriage to Yahweh should lead them to never question, especially not from fear, because their souls would have the utmost trust in their Spiritual Husband's protection.
When there is mention of the “sea,” this must be seen as the metaphor David used in a psalm, where the Leviathan swam. The “sea” is the collection of all souls created by Yahweh, where those that have married Yahweh [His "hands" on earth] will find the Leviathan is the deep swimming possessor that protects those wifely souls, as His Spirit. For lost souls, in need of salvation, those who reject divine union with Yahweh will be possessed by evil spirits, making the Leviathan become a monster.
As such, the great importance of verse 39 is Yahweh coming forth as the fiery serpent of divinity that warns all who question the promise of immortality in His breath of life. Thus, the command to the sea is to the collection of souls promised Salvation, where Yahweh commands, “Silence, be muzzled!” With that command, all worldly fears cease to be perceived as anything to worry about. The souls have “Peace.” It will also be the command given by Yahweh when Peter tried to be important Simon bar Jonas and figure a thing or two out on his own, when he would see Jesus with Moses and Elijah. "Silence" is how Ezekiel responded when Yahweh asked, "Mortal, can these dry bones live?" "You know, Yahweh" is the response of true faith that is "Silently muzzled."
In verse 40, this is still the voice of Yahweh speaking to souls, even if Jesus spoke to his apostles in the same way, about their same fears of the world. The first question takes a harder translation than simply stating them being “fearful.” The Greek word “deiloi” says, “cowardly, timid, fearful.” This is a question that askes all of Jesus’ apostles souls, “Why would anyone ever fear something lesser than Me, unless one is cheating on Me?” Keep in mind that even the soul of Judas Iscariot had this experience. This says doubt becomes the weakest link in one's 'chain of life lessons' towards true faith; and, Judas was that weakest link. Thus, the follow-up question was asking, “Who will change or leave so faith can be found?”
Verse 41 can then be seen as the collective realizing that a total commitment was demanded to ride in the vessel of Salvation, as each soul was responsible for having complete trust in the Spirit of Yahweh, just as Jesus was demonstrating to them as a physical manifestation. They then turned to each other and questioned who was there who did not have complete faith in Yahweh? There can be no one who exists eternally [a soul, breath, wind], whatsoever, without Yahweh. It is vital to have the breath of eternal life. Therefore, is is important to know becoming a water droplet in the “sea” of lost souls demands that soul “harken,” or be cast out [evaporation into the belly of the Leviathan?].
It is a short and sweet reading like this that has young wet-behind-the-ears priests stand on some rise that is a podium on an alter [even the old grizzled and gray ones too], as if he or she is on the mountainside, preaching down to the ignorant masses below. Never once do they teach the ignorant masses how to become Jesus reborn. Never once do they do any more than appear for thirty minutes at a Bible study class and offer those studious disciples seeking to learn some lame excuse for the meaning of Scripture. Instead of teaching the truth, they say something like, “It is the mystery of Scripture that we find so beautiful. It can mean anything to anyone.” Not once did Jesus feed his apostles such a load of crap. The churches today have all become led by those reborn as Judas Iscariot.
By reading this portion of Mark’s fourth chapter as if Yahweh held the hand of Mark as he wrote these words, intentionally having Mark write words with a duality of meaning – two stories, both true, in one set of words. It becomes a test like verse 41 questions, “Who here exists that can harken to the meaning, because these words are spoken to the soul?” It is as Paul wrote, where two of the talents of the Spirit of Yahweh are prophesying and understanding prophecy. Scripture is prophecy written by the hand of God, demanding another hand of God explain it. That is what Jesus did in his ministry. That is what Jesus does in his continuing ministry, resurrected as a soul alongside a saved soul (the good Leviathan), who has a meaninglessly different body of flesh (one that is either male or female and one that does not look like the Jesus of the children's church picture books). It is not what anyone else did in synagogues and the Temple. If a priest today cannot see what Mark wrote and explain it for another soul to understand, then that priest does not have his or her soul married to Yahweh. He or she is thus a hired hand or a false shepherd.
This reading selection was purposefully chosen by elders of the Episcopal Church, at a time when some of them were indeed filled with the Spirit of Yahweh and were made Saints who set up the lectionary cycle. In doing so, they decided spiritually that Mark 4:35-41 would be read on the fourth Sunday after Pentecost, because that is when a true ministry that serves Yahweh should be underway. The only reason Saints are not escalating the growth of Christianity today [as it sinks in the muck of being some social club] is because Satanic atheism and political activism wants to kill all religious influence from God that Jesus' soul reborn into Saints has provided.
The Age of Reason has killed off most Saints, using the weapons of science and philosophy [all worshiping Big Brains; the error of rejecting divine union and eternal commitment to Yahweh]. The Republic has stolen the buildings of worship and replaced Saints with pedophiles and community organizers that condemn the very people who show up to be fed the truth of Jesus. Just like the failures of the Jewish synagogue system, where rabbis danced to the tune of the Temple scribes and political extensions from the Temple (Pharisees and Sadducees like the precursors of Democrats and Republicans), masses of people are leaving the 'Church,' seeking some flood plain at the base of an overarching mountain, where the voice of Yahweh will preach the truth of the meaning of Scripture, so each individual soul (be it in a male body or a female body) can be led to a total vow of commitment to Yahweh, with that marriage being consummated by the wife soul giving birth (a virgin birth, having been wiped clean by the Spirit of Baptism) to a newborn Jesus - born again from above. Alas, it is harder to find where Saints preach these days; and, short attention spans make listening to (or reading) the truth seem like a soul has something better to do.
The time has come to stand up for one’s own soul. That can only be done by questioning the true, hidden meaning of Scripture. One needs to see the truth for oneself, with one’s own eyes, processed by one’s own brain. If that does not lead one to read the accompanying Second Corinthians reading and exclaim, “That’s me!” then forget about all the pretense of being saved and going to heaven. If Paul is not speaking to one personally - soul to soul - then it means you hate most other Christians, simply because the blackness of one’s soul is too uncontrollable to keep hidden.