Mark 4:35–41 · ESV memory verse below
Jesus Calms the Storm
Who is this?
Jesus and His disciples were crossing the sea in a boat after a long day of teaching.
What happened?
A fierce storm rose. Jesus slept—then spoke, and wind and waves obeyed Him.
The story
At evening Jesus said, “Let us go across to the other side.” The disciples took Him along in the boat, just as He was. Other boats were with Him. Waves and wind were ordinary tools of weather—until a great storm rose.
A great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. Jesus was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. The disciples were afraid they would perish.
They woke Him and said, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?” Jesus awoke, rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” The wind ceased, and there was a great calm—not a little lull, but a sudden stillness.
He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” They were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?” The One in the boat is Lord over creation—and over the storms we bring to Him in prayer.
Memory verse (ESV)
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.
Mark 4:39
Talk about it
Ages ~4–7
- Was Jesus afraid in the boat?
- What did Jesus say to the wind and waves?
Ages ~8–12
- Why were the disciples surprised that the sea obeyed Jesus?
- What does this story teach about who Jesus is?
- How can faith look different from fear when trouble comes?
Family activity
Shake a jar of water, then hold still and say “Peace! Be still!” Talk about fears Jesus can calm.
Parent take-home
Read Mark 4:35–41. Jesus slept in the storm, then spoke, “Peace! Be still!”—and wind and sea obeyed. Practice naming a worry, then praying those words with Jesus; trust the One whom even the wind and sea obey.
Talk on the way home
- Where was Jesus during the storm?
- What words did He say to the sea?
- What storm in your life can you bring to Jesus?
More family reading ideas: family Bible study guides.
In the PDF: coloring page, memory verse with blanks, plus kid activities (maze). Trace the path with a finger first, then a crayon.
For parents and teachers
The disciples were experienced with water; still they were afraid. Jesus is Lord of wind and sea. Let the child’s fear be spoken, then read His words: Peace, be still.