BACKGROUND MATERIAL

Jesus sometimes got into a boat and headed for the farther shore in order to be free of the demands of the crowd who now followed him in great numbers. On this day he was weary from his work and from arguing with the scribes who constantly took issue with his pronouncements. He was on the Sea of Galilee, also known as Lake Gennesaret. The lake was about eight miles wide and twelve miles long, so it would take at least an hour to make the crossing. Because of his weariness Jesus lay down on a cushion in the rear of the boat and was soon sound asleep. A violent storm arose. This was typical of the Lake of Galilee. Situated as it was at the foot of mountains, the two sides of the mountains served as a funnel to carry strong winds sweeping down on the lake and violently ag…