Mark 4:37 - 41

A great gale arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped. But he (Jesus) was in the stern, asleep on the cushion, and they (the disciples) 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?�

The Sea of Galilee is about 21km. north to south (as long as Lake Windermere) and 12km. across at its widest part. Its position in the wind-tunnel formed by the hills makes it particularly susceptible to storms. These storms are not as intense as those experienced in the Mediterranean Sea, but sudden, dramatic changes in the weather occur. Sudden squalls would have been a danger to the small, open fishing boats used in those days.