Jesus Calms the Storm

Mark 4:35-41; Psalm 107:23-31 New Testament PrinciplePeace

When a terrible storm hit the disciples' boat, Jesus woke up and said, "Peace, be still!" and the wind and waves obeyed Him.

We can have peace in scary times, because Jesus is with us and even the wind and waves obey Him.

CreationGod made it
FallWe broke it
RedemptionJesus fixes it (this lesson)
RestorationJesus makes it new

Memory verse

“Then Jesus got up and rebuked the wind and the sea. 'Silence!' He commanded. 'Be still!' And the wind died down, and it was perfectly calm.”
Mark 4:39 BSB

The Big Story · Redemption

Jesus showed His disciples that He rules over creation itself, because He is the God who made it. The same Jesus is with His people in every storm.

Printables

This lesson is free for everyone: the Teacher Guide, all four age versions and every handout. Print as many copies as you need.

Teacher Guide Preschool K–2nd 3rd–4th 5th–6th

Use it on your phone

Teacher Guide Preschool K–2nd 3rd–4th 5th–6th

Teacher Guide

When a terrible storm hit the disciples' boat, Jesus woke up and said, "Peace, be still!" and the wind and waves obeyed Him.

Before class

Read Mark 4:35-41 and Psalm 107:23-31.
Print one handout per child for their age group.
For Ellie's Lab, bring clear plastic bottles with lids, water, blue food coloring, vegetable oil and a funnel.
Bring a blue sheet for the "sea" and a small cushion for the skit.

Supplies

Clear plastic bottles with lids (one per pair)
Water
Blue food coloring
Vegetable oil
A funnel
Small plastic toy boats or bottle caps (optional)
A blue sheet or blanket
A small cushion
A spray bottle of water
Printed handouts (one per child)
Crayons
Pencils
Bibles (one per child in 3rd–6th grade)
Paper plates
Markers
Craft sticks

Class plan

Welcome and opening hook	5 min
Bible story	10 min
Talk about it	8 min
Ellie's Lab or activity	12 min
Review game	5 min
Live It and prayer	5 min
Total	45 min

Background

That evening, after a long day of teaching by the lake, Jesus said, "Let us cross to the other side" (Mark 4:35). The disciples took Him in the boat, and other boats went along. A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat until it was nearly swamped (4:37).

Jesus was in the stern, asleep on a cushion. He was truly human and truly tired. The disciples woke Him: "Teacher, don't You care that we are perishing?" (4:38). He got up, rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Silence! Be still!" The wind died down and there was a great calm (4:39).

Jesus asked them, "Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?" They were terrified and asked each other, "Who is this? Even the wind and the sea obey Him!" (4:40-41).

Read Psalm 107:23-31 alongside. Sailors in a storm cry out to the LORD, and "He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed" (107:29). The disciples would have known this psalm. In the boat, Jesus did exactly what the psalm says only the LORD does.

Don't teach this as "Jesus will stop every storm in your life." He didn't promise no storms. The disciples obeyed Jesus by getting in the boat, and the storm still came. Teach that Jesus is with us in the storm, that He is God over every storm, and that peace comes from who He is.

Bible Times

Storms on the Sea of Galilee

The Sea of Galilee lies about 700 feet below sea level, with steep hills and mountains around it. Cool air can pour down through the valleys and hit the warm water, whipping up big waves in minutes. Fishermen knew these storms could be deadly.

Fishing boats

Fishing boats in Jesus' day were made of wood, about 27 feet long, with a sail and oars. Waves could easily splash over the low sides. The stern, at the back, sometimes had a small raised area where a person could rest on a cushion.

Dasch Digs Up: Did You Know?

The Sea of Galilee sits low between mountains, so cold winds can rush down and stir up sudden storms!

Jesus was sleeping in the back of the boat on a cushion!

Mark 4:38

Several disciples were expert fishermen, and even they were afraid of this storm!

Jesus didn't wave a staff or pray a long prayer. He just spoke, and the storm stopped!

Mark 4:39

The water became perfectly calm, not slowly, but all at once!

Mark 4:39

Psalm 107 says only the LORD can calm a storm at sea. Jesus did it!

Psalm 107:29

Christ Connection

This lesson is directly about Jesus. It answers the disciples' question, "Who is this?" He is fully human: He was tired enough to sleep through a storm. He is fully God: He commanded the wind and sea, which the Old Testament says only the LORD can do (Psalm 89:9; 107:29).

The One who made the sea (Colossians 1:16) was in the boat with them. He is with His people in every storm too (Matthew 28:20), and someday He will calm every storm forever (Revelation 21:4). "Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you… Do not let your hearts be troubled" (John 14:27).

Words to know

Peace: A calm heart that trusts God, even in scary times.
Rebuke: To speak firmly to stop something.
Squall: A sudden, strong storm.
Disciples: Followers who learn from Jesus.
Awe: Wonder mixed with deep respect.
Stern: The back part of a boat.
Faith: Trusting Jesus.

Say it right

Galilee: GAL-ih-lee
Gerasenes: GAIR-uh-seenz

Object lesson

Who's in your boat? 5 min

You’ll need: A blue sheet or blanket, A small cushion

Ask, "What's something that makes you scared?" (Thunder, the dark, a new school.) Let kids share.
Ask, "Is it less scary when someone strong is with you, like a parent?" (Yes!)
Say, "In today's story, the storm was scary. But the most important thing in the boat wasn't the storm. It was who was in the boat."
Say, "Jesus is God. He rules the wind and waves, and He's with us."

The point: Peace doesn't come from storms stopping. It comes from knowing Jesus, who rules every storm, is with us (Mark 4:39-41; John 14:27).

Ellie’s Lab

Science experiment

Storm in a bottle 10 min

You’ll need: Clear plastic bottles with lids (one per pair), Water, Blue food coloring, Vegetable oil, A funnel, Small plastic toy boats or bottle caps (optional)

Fill each bottle about one-third with water and add two drops of blue food coloring.
Use the funnel to add vegetable oil until the bottle is almost full. Add a bottle cap "boat" if you have one. Close the lid tightly.
Lay the bottle on its side and rock it back and forth. Watch the waves crash! The faster you rock, the bigger the storm.
Hold the bottle still. Watch how long the waves take to settle. Count together.
Read Mark 4:39. Ask, "How long did it take the real Sea of Galilee to get calm when Jesus spoke?" (Right away!)

Why it works: Oil is lighter than water and doesn't mix with it, so it floats on top and the line between them looks like the surface of the sea. When you rock the bottle, energy moves through the liquid as waves. When you stop, the waves slowly lose their energy and settle. Real seas take hours to calm down after a strong wind.

The point: Our bottle storm needed time to settle, and real seas take hours. But when Jesus spoke, the wind stopped and the sea became perfectly calm at once. Only God can do that. That's why the disciples asked, "Who is this?" The One who rules the waves is with us.

Safety: Tighten lids well and work over a tray. Wipe up any spills. Don't drink the liquid.

Act it out

Who is this? 10 min

Parts: Narrator, Jesus, Peter, Disciples (several kids)

Props: A blue sheet or blanket, A small cushion, A spray bottle of water

NarratorAfter a long day of teaching, Jesus said, "Let's cross to the other side of the lake."

NarratorJesus was so tired that He lay down on a cushion and fell asleep. (Jesus sleeps.)

NarratorSuddenly a huge storm came! (Kids shake the blue sheet. A helper sprays a little water.)

Disciples(rocking) Whoa! The waves are crashing in! We're sinking!

Peter(shaking Jesus) Teacher, wake up! Don't You care that we're going to drown?

Jesus(standing up, arm raised) Silence! Be still!

NarratorThe wind stopped. The waves stopped. Everything was perfectly calm. (The sheet goes still.)

JesusWhy were you so afraid? Do you still not have faith?

Disciples(whispering, amazed) Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey Him!

EveryonePeace, be still!

Review game

Be still! 5 min

You’ll need: A blue sheet or blanket

Kids hold the edges of the blue sheet and make "storm waves" by shaking it.
Ask a review question. When a child answers correctly, they shout, "Peace, be still!" and everyone freezes the sheet perfectly still.

Tips by age

Preschool: Shake the sheet for a storm, then say, "Be still!" and make it calm. Say, "Jesus is stronger than storms!"
K–2nd: Talk about scary times. Ask, "When you're scared, who is with you?"
3rd–4th: Read Psalm 107:29. Ask, "Who does the psalm say can calm storms? What does that tell us about Jesus?"
5th–6th: Discuss why the disciples were more afraid after the calm (4:41). Talk about fear versus awe.

Song ideas

My God Is So BigPreschool, K–2nd · Traditional
Jesus Loves MePreschool · Traditional
Peace, Be StillK–2nd · Hymn
It Is Well with My Soul3rd–4th, 5th–6th · Hymn
Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)3rd–4th, 5th–6th · Modern worship song

Song titles only. Use any recording or songbook your church has permission to use.

Note for parents

Today we learned how Jesus calmed the storm. A huge storm hit the disciples' boat, and Jesus was asleep! They woke Him, and He said to the wind and waves, "Be still!" Everything became calm. The disciples asked, "Who is this? Even the wind and the sea obey Him!"

Ask at dinner: What feels like a "storm" in your life? How does it help to know Jesus is with us?

Memory verse: "'Silence!' He commanded. 'Be still!' And the wind died down, and it was perfectly calm." (Mark 4:39)

Going deeper

Psalm 107:23-31; Psalm 89:8-9; Isaiah 43:1-3; John 14:27; Matthew 14:22-33

Preschool (ages 3–5)

Jesus is stronger than storms.

Memory verse

“Jesus said, 'Be still!'”

Adapted from Mark 4:39

Start here

Make storm sounds, "Whoosh! Crash! Boom!" Ask, "What's that?" Say, "A storm! Today Jesus and His friends are in a boat in a big storm!"

The boat resting on perfectly calm water under a clearing sky, the disciples staring at Jesus in awe.

Bible story 4 min

Jesus and His friends got in a boat. Jesus was tired. He lay down and went to sleep.

Then a big storm came! The wind blew. Whoosh! The waves splashed into the boat. Splash! His friends were scared.

Say it togetherJesus gives me peace!

They woke Jesus up. "Help!" they said. Jesus stood up. He said to the wind and waves, "Be still!"

And they did! The wind stopped. The water got calm and quiet.

His friends said, "Wow! Even the wind and waves obey Jesus!"

Say it togetherJesus gives me peace!

Talk about it

What was Jesus doing when the storm came?
Answer help
Sleeping!
What did Jesus say to the storm?
Answer help
Be still!
When you're scared, who is with you?
Answer help
Jesus!

Activities

Storm and calm 5 min

You’ll need: A blue sheet or blanket

Kids shake the blue sheet to make big storm waves.
Say, "Jesus said, 'Be still!'" Everyone stops and holds the sheet perfectly calm. Repeat. Talk about how Jesus gives peace.

Color the calm sea 10 min

You’ll need: Printed handouts, Crayons

Give each child the coloring page of the boat on calm water.
As they color, say, "Jesus made the storm stop!"

Ellie’s Lab · Science experiment

Storm in a bottle 10 min

You’ll need: Clear plastic bottles with lids (one per pair), Water, Blue food coloring, Vegetable oil, A funnel, Small plastic toy boats or bottle caps (optional)

Fill each bottle about one-third with water and add two drops of blue food coloring.
Use the funnel to add vegetable oil until the bottle is almost full. Add a bottle cap "boat" if you have one. Close the lid tightly.
Lay the bottle on its side and rock it back and forth. Watch the waves crash! The faster you rock, the bigger the storm.
Hold the bottle still. Watch how long the waves take to settle. Count together.
Read Mark 4:39. Ask, "How long did it take the real Sea of Galilee to get calm when Jesus spoke?" (Right away!)

Safety: Tighten lids well and work over a tray. Wipe up any spills. Don't drink the liquid.

Student handout

Copy one for each child. The front is a coloring page. The back is a take-home page for families, with questions to ask, the week’s challenge and a cut-out memory verse card.

Download the handout

Included with the lesson: it never costs an extra download. Print front and back. It’s also at the end of the full Preschool (ages 3–5) PDF. Answers are in the Teacher Guide.

Real life today with Theo

At home

When thunder is loud or the dark is scary, you can say, "Jesus is with me!" and feel His peace.

At church

Jesus is stronger than anything that scares us. We can pray to Him anytime.

Sing and move

My God Is So BigTraditional
Jesus Loves MeTraditional

Our chant: Be still

Wind blows, (wave arms)
Waves go, (make waves with hands)
Jesus says, (point up)
"Be still!" (freeze!)

Live It

This week, when you feel scared, say, "Jesus, You're with me. Please give me peace."

Pray together

Dear Jesus, You are stronger than storms. Thank You for being with me when I'm scared. Amen.

Kindergarten – 2nd grade

Jesus calmed a terrible storm with just His words, so I can have peace because Jesus is with me.

Memory verse

“'Silence!' He commanded. 'Be still!' And the wind died down, and it was perfectly calm.”

Adapted from Mark 4:39

Start here

Ask, "What's the scariest storm you've ever been in?" Let a few kids share. Say, "Today Jesus' friends are in a boat in the middle of a huge storm. Let's see what Jesus does!"

Bible story 6 min

One evening, Jesus said to His friends, "Let's go across the lake." So they got into a boat. Jesus was tired. He lay down on a pillow in the back and fell asleep.

Then a big storm came! The wind blew hard. Huge waves crashed into the boat. The boat began to fill with water. His friends were very scared. Some of them were fishermen, and even they were scared!

They woke Jesus up. "Teacher! Don't You care? We're going to sink!"

Jesus stood up. He spoke to the wind and the waves. "Quiet! Be still!" Right away, the wind stopped. The water became perfectly calm.

Jesus asked, "Why were you so afraid? Do you still not trust Me?" His friends were amazed. "Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey Him!"

Say it together"Be still!" And it was perfectly calm!

Talk about it

Where was Jesus when the storm started?
Answer help
Asleep on a pillow in the back of the boat.
What did Jesus say to the storm?
Answer help
Quiet! Be still!
Why can we have peace when we're scared?
Answer help
Because Jesus is with us, and He is stronger than any storm.
What scary thing can you trust Jesus with this week?

Activities

Storm on the lake 8 min

You’ll need: A blue sheet or blanket, A small cushion

Kids shake the sheet like a storm while one child "sleeps" on the cushion as Jesus.
The others call, "Wake up!" "Jesus" stands and says, "Be still!" and the sheet goes calm.
Take turns being Jesus.

Color the storm 10 min

You’ll need: Printed handouts, Crayons

Kids color Jesus calming the big waves.
While they color, say the memory verse together.

Who is this? 10 min

Parts: Narrator, Jesus, Peter, Disciples (several kids)

Props: A blue sheet or blanket, A small cushion, A spray bottle of water

NarratorAfter a long day of teaching, Jesus said, "Let's cross to the other side of the lake."

NarratorJesus was so tired that He lay down on a cushion and fell asleep. (Jesus sleeps.)

NarratorSuddenly a huge storm came! (Kids shake the blue sheet. A helper sprays a little water.)

Disciples(rocking) Whoa! The waves are crashing in! We're sinking!

Peter(shaking Jesus) Teacher, wake up! Don't You care that we're going to drown?

Jesus(standing up, arm raised) Silence! Be still!

NarratorThe wind stopped. The waves stopped. Everything was perfectly calm. (The sheet goes still.)

JesusWhy were you so afraid? Do you still not have faith?

Disciples(whispering, amazed) Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey Him!

EveryonePeace, be still!

Ellie’s Lab · Science experiment

Storm in a bottle 10 min

You’ll need: Clear plastic bottles with lids (one per pair), Water, Blue food coloring, Vegetable oil, A funnel, Small plastic toy boats or bottle caps (optional)

Fill each bottle about one-third with water and add two drops of blue food coloring.
Use the funnel to add vegetable oil until the bottle is almost full. Add a bottle cap "boat" if you have one. Close the lid tightly.
Lay the bottle on its side and rock it back and forth. Watch the waves crash! The faster you rock, the bigger the storm.
Hold the bottle still. Watch how long the waves take to settle. Count together.
Read Mark 4:39. Ask, "How long did it take the real Sea of Galilee to get calm when Jesus spoke?" (Right away!)

Safety: Tighten lids well and work over a tray. Wipe up any spills. Don't drink the liquid.

Student handout

Copy one for each child. The front is a one-page activity sheet with puzzles, Dasch’s facts and the memory verse. The back is a take-home page for families, with questions to ask, the week’s challenge and a cut-out memory verse card. After that come the activity pages for this lesson’s printed activities.

Download the handout

Included with the lesson: it never costs an extra download. Print front and back. It’s also at the end of the full Kindergarten – 2nd grade PDF. Answers are in the Teacher Guide.

Real life today with Theo

At home

When you hear grown-ups worry, or when there's a big storm outside, you can pray and remember Jesus is with you. That gives peace.

At school

Before a test or a hard day, say the memory verse. Jesus can calm your heart.

With friends

When a friend is scared, you can remind them, "Jesus is stronger than storms!"

Sing and move

My God Is So BigTraditional
Peace, Be StillHymn

Our chant: Storm on the sea

Storm on the sea, (wave arms)
Wind and rain, (wiggle fingers down)
Jesus said "Be still!" (arm out, freeze)
Calm again! (arms down slowly)

Live It

When you feel scared this week, stop and say the memory verse. Then tell Jesus what's scaring you.

Pray together

Jesus, You made the wind and waves be still. Thank You for being with me. When I'm scared, help me trust You and give me Your peace. Amen.

More to explore

Dasch Digs Up: Did You Know?

The Sea of Galilee sits low between mountains, so cold winds can rush down and stir up sudden storms!
Jesus didn't wave a staff or pray a long prayer. He just spoke, and the storm stopped! Mark 4:39
The water became perfectly calm, not slowly, but all at once! Mark 4:39
Psalm 107 says only the LORD can calm a storm at sea. Jesus did it! Psalm 107:29

Storms on the Sea of Galilee

Fishing boats

Words to know

Peace: A calm heart that trusts God, even in scary times.
Rebuke: To speak firmly to stop something.
Squall: A sudden, strong storm.
Disciples: Followers who learn from Jesus.
Awe: Wonder mixed with deep respect.
Stern: The back part of a boat.
Faith: Trusting Jesus.

3rd – 4th grade

Jesus calmed a furious storm with a word, showing He is God, and because He is with us we can have peace even in scary times.

Start here

Ask, "Can someone have peace while something scary is still happening?" Let them think. Say, "Today the disciples learn where real peace comes from, in the middle of a storm."

Jesus asleep on a cushion in the back of the boat while the frightened disciples bail water in a fierce storm.

Bible story 8 min

That evening, after a long day of teaching, Jesus said to His friends, "Let's go over to the other side." They left the crowd and got into the boat with Him.

A wild storm came up. The waves crashed over the boat. It was filling with water! Some of the disciples were expert fishermen. But even they were afraid.

Jesus was in the back of the boat, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke Him. "Teacher, don't You care if we drown?"

Jesus got up. He spoke firmly to the wind. He said to the waves, "Silence! Be still!" The wind stopped, and it was completely calm.

He said to His disciples, "Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?"

They were terrified and asked each other, "Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey Him!"

Talk about it

Why was Jesus able to sleep during the storm?
Answer help
He was truly tired, and He wasn't afraid. He trusted His Father.
What did the disciples ask Jesus when they woke Him?
Answer help
Teacher, don't You care if we drown?
Read Psalm 107:29. Who does the psalm say calms the storm? What does that show about Jesus?
Answer help
The LORD. Jesus did what only God can do, so He is God.
What 'storm' do you need Jesus' peace for right now?

Ellie Asks: Think It Through

Some people think if they follow Jesus, nothing bad will happen. What does this story show?
Answer help
The disciples obeyed Jesus and still faced a storm. Jesus doesn't promise no storms; He promises to be with us.

Activities

Fear to awe 12 min

You’ll need: Bibles, Pencils, Printed handouts

In pairs, read Mark 4:35-41 and Psalm 107:28-29.
Fill in the chart with what the disciples felt and said before and after Jesus calmed the storm.
Compare Mark 4:39 with Psalm 107:29.

Calm-and-storm plate 10 min

You’ll need: Paper plates, Markers, Craft sticks

Draw stormy waves on one side of a paper plate and calm water on the other. Tape a craft stick on as a handle.
Write "Be still!" (Mark 4:39) on the calm side. Flip it during the skit.

Who is this? 10 min

Parts: Narrator, Jesus, Peter, Disciples (several kids)

Props: A blue sheet or blanket, A small cushion, A spray bottle of water

NarratorAfter a long day of teaching, Jesus said, "Let's cross to the other side of the lake."

NarratorJesus was so tired that He lay down on a cushion and fell asleep. (Jesus sleeps.)

NarratorSuddenly a huge storm came! (Kids shake the blue sheet. A helper sprays a little water.)

Disciples(rocking) Whoa! The waves are crashing in! We're sinking!

Peter(shaking Jesus) Teacher, wake up! Don't You care that we're going to drown?

Jesus(standing up, arm raised) Silence! Be still!

NarratorThe wind stopped. The waves stopped. Everything was perfectly calm. (The sheet goes still.)

JesusWhy were you so afraid? Do you still not have faith?

Disciples(whispering, amazed) Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey Him!

EveryonePeace, be still!

Ellie’s Lab · Science experiment

Storm in a bottle 10 min

You’ll need: Clear plastic bottles with lids (one per pair), Water, Blue food coloring, Vegetable oil, A funnel, Small plastic toy boats or bottle caps (optional)

Fill each bottle about one-third with water and add two drops of blue food coloring.
Use the funnel to add vegetable oil until the bottle is almost full. Add a bottle cap "boat" if you have one. Close the lid tightly.
Lay the bottle on its side and rock it back and forth. Watch the waves crash! The faster you rock, the bigger the storm.
Hold the bottle still. Watch how long the waves take to settle. Count together.
Read Mark 4:39. Ask, "How long did it take the real Sea of Galilee to get calm when Jesus spoke?" (Right away!)

Safety: Tighten lids well and work over a tray. Wipe up any spills. Don't drink the liquid.

Student handout

Download the handout

Included with the lesson: it never costs an extra download. Print front and back. It’s also at the end of the full 3rd – 4th grade PDF. Answers are in the Teacher Guide.

Real life today with Theo

At school

Some days feel like storms, like a big test, a fight with a friend, or a bad grade. Jesus doesn't always stop the storm, but He's in the boat with you.

At home

When your family faces something hard, like sickness, money worries or a move, you can pray together. Jesus rules over every storm.

Online and on screens

Scary news can fill your mind. Turning it off and praying is a way of saying, "Jesus, You're in charge."

Sing and move

It Is Well with My SoulHymn
Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)Modern worship song

Our chant: Call and response

Leader: Who was asleep in the boat?
Kids: Jesus!
Leader: What did He say to the storm?
Kids: Silence! Be still!
Leader: Who is this?
Kids: Jesus, God the Son!

Live It

Write down one "storm" you're facing. Each day this week, pray about it and finish with, "Jesus, You're in my boat."

Pray together

Lord Jesus, the wind and waves obey You. Thank You for being with us in every storm. When we're afraid, help us trust who You are, and give us Your peace. Amen.

More to explore

Dasch Digs Up: Did You Know?

The Sea of Galilee sits low between mountains, so cold winds can rush down and stir up sudden storms!
Jesus was sleeping in the back of the boat on a cushion! Mark 4:38
Several disciples were expert fishermen, and even they were afraid of this storm!
The water became perfectly calm, not slowly, but all at once! Mark 4:39
Psalm 107 says only the LORD can calm a storm at sea. Jesus did it! Psalm 107:29

Words to know

Peace: A calm heart that trusts God, even in scary times.
Rebuke: To speak firmly to stop something.
Squall: A sudden, strong storm.
Disciples: Followers who learn from Jesus.
Awe: Wonder mixed with deep respect.
Stern: The back part of a boat.
Faith: Trusting Jesus.

5th – 6th grade

By stilling the storm with a word, Jesus did what Scripture says only the LORD can do, revealing that He is God and that true peace rests in who He is.

Start here

Ask, "Is it possible to be more scared after a danger ends than during it?" Let them think. Say, "That's exactly what happens to the disciples. By the end, you'll know why."

Bible story 10 min

On that day, when evening came, Jesus said to His disciples, "Let us cross to the other side." After they had dismissed the crowd, they took Him along in the boat, just as He was. Other boats were with Him.

A furious squall arose. The waves crashed over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Several of these men were lifelong fishermen on this lake. They knew its storms, and they knew this one could kill them.

But Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke Him. "Teacher, don't You care that we are perishing?"

Then Jesus got up and rebuked the wind and the sea. "Silence!" He commanded. "Be still!" And the wind died down, and it was perfectly calm. Not gradually. At once.

"Why are you so afraid?" He asked. "Do you still have no faith?"

They were filled with great fear, and they said to one another, "Who is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?"

Talk about it

What does Jesus sleeping on a cushion tell us about His humanity?
Answer help
He was truly human and truly tired after a full day of ministry.
What does commanding the wind and sea tell us about His divinity?
Answer help
Only God rules creation. Jesus did it with a word.
Do you tend to want Jesus to stop your storms or to be with you in them? What does real peace rest on?

Ellie Asks: Think It Through

Read Psalm 89:8-9 and 107:23-30. How would these psalms have shaped the disciples' question, 'Who is this?'
Answer help
They describe the LORD alone ruling and calming the sea. Jesus was doing what only Israel's God does.
Jonah slept in a storm and had to be thrown in. Jesus slept in a storm and calmed it. What's the difference?
Answer help
Jonah was running from God and the storm was judgment; Jesus is God and the storm obeyed Him.

Activities

Who is this? 15 min

You’ll need: Bibles, Pencils, Printed handouts

Read Mark 4:35-41, Psalm 89:8-9, Psalm 107:23-30, Colossians 1:15-17, John 14:27 and Isaiah 43:1-3.
Chart what each passage says about storms, the sea or peace, and what it shows about who Jesus is.
Finish the sentence – "My peace in a storm doesn't depend on the storm stopping because…"

In my boat 8 min

You’ll need: Pencils, Printed handouts

Write about a storm in your life right now.
Write what you'd say to Jesus if you woke Him up like the disciples did.
Write what Mark 4:41 and John 14:27 tell you about who is in your boat.

Who is this? 10 min

Parts: Narrator, Jesus, Peter, Disciples (several kids)

Props: A blue sheet or blanket, A small cushion, A spray bottle of water

NarratorAfter a long day of teaching, Jesus said, "Let's cross to the other side of the lake."

NarratorJesus was so tired that He lay down on a cushion and fell asleep. (Jesus sleeps.)

NarratorSuddenly a huge storm came! (Kids shake the blue sheet. A helper sprays a little water.)

Disciples(rocking) Whoa! The waves are crashing in! We're sinking!

Peter(shaking Jesus) Teacher, wake up! Don't You care that we're going to drown?

Jesus(standing up, arm raised) Silence! Be still!

NarratorThe wind stopped. The waves stopped. Everything was perfectly calm. (The sheet goes still.)

JesusWhy were you so afraid? Do you still not have faith?

Disciples(whispering, amazed) Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey Him!

EveryonePeace, be still!

Ellie’s Lab · Science experiment

Storm in a bottle 10 min

You’ll need: Clear plastic bottles with lids (one per pair), Water, Blue food coloring, Vegetable oil, A funnel, Small plastic toy boats or bottle caps (optional)

Fill each bottle about one-third with water and add two drops of blue food coloring.
Use the funnel to add vegetable oil until the bottle is almost full. Add a bottle cap "boat" if you have one. Close the lid tightly.
Lay the bottle on its side and rock it back and forth. Watch the waves crash! The faster you rock, the bigger the storm.
Hold the bottle still. Watch how long the waves take to settle. Count together.
Read Mark 4:39. Ask, "How long did it take the real Sea of Galilee to get calm when Jesus spoke?" (Right away!)

Safety: Tighten lids well and work over a tray. Wipe up any spills. Don't drink the liquid.

Student handout

Download the handout

Included with the lesson: it never costs an extra download. Print front and back. It’s also at the end of the full 5th – 6th grade PDF. Answers are in the Teacher Guide.

Real life today with Theo

Online and on screens

Feeds can flood you with alarming news, like waves over the side. Peace isn't ignoring reality; it's remembering who rules it.

At school

Anxiety about grades, friends or the future can feel like drowning. Jesus doesn't always remove the storm, but He's never asleep to your need.

At home

The disciples asked, "Don't You care?" Jesus did care. When it feels like God isn't paying attention, tell Him honestly, as they did.

Sing and move

It Is Well with My SoulHymn
Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)Modern worship song

Live It

Name your current storm. Each day this week, read Psalm 107:28-29 and John 14:27, and pray honestly, telling Jesus what you fear and thanking Him that He rules the storm.

Pray together

Lord Jesus, You are God over wind and sea, and You are in our boat. Forgive our fear and doubt. Give us Your peace, the peace that rests on who You are, whether the storm stops or not. Amen.

More to explore

Dasch Digs Up: Did You Know?

The Sea of Galilee sits low between mountains, so cold winds can rush down and stir up sudden storms!
Jesus was sleeping in the back of the boat on a cushion! Mark 4:38
Several disciples were expert fishermen, and even they were afraid of this storm!
Jesus didn't wave a staff or pray a long prayer. He just spoke, and the storm stopped! Mark 4:39
Psalm 107 says only the LORD can calm a storm at sea. Jesus did it! Psalm 107:29