Behind | Homer’s Odyssey and the Gospel of Mark: Calming the Storm

At times the Gospels appear to emphasize parallels with other ancient literature to make their point. The author of the Gospel of Mark, for example, appears to have been familiar with the Homeric epics, especially the Odyssey, and uses this story to distinguish Jesus Christ from other ancient heroes. A good example of Mark’s use of the Odyssey to emphasize that Jesus was more than a hero, but divine, is the scene where Jesus calms the storm in Mark 4. 

Jesus begins this chapter by getting in a boat, and He eventually sails with His disciples on the Sea of Galilee. The story develops in a way that would immediately recall the sea journeys of Odysseus—the Greek hero from the Odyssey—for ancient listeners. Dr. Dennis MacDonald has outlined some of the key parallels between these two stories. As we mentioned, both Odysseus and Jesus board a boat with their companions.

So they went on board quickly and sat down. 
Odyssey 9.563

… He got into a boat in the sea and sat down … 
Mark 4:1 (NASB)

Later in his journey Odysseus sleeps in the stern of a ship, where there is relative quiet. Once on board Jesus taught in parables, and when evening came He also went to the stern of the ship to sleep. 

Then for Odysseus they spread a rug and a linen sheet on the deck of the hollow ship at the stern, that he might sleep soundly. 
Odyssey 13.73-80

Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. 
Mark 4:38 (NIV)

While Odysseus and Jesus are sleeping, the weakness of their followers is exposed. Odysseus’ companions attempt to steal from him, and Jesus’ disciples begin to doubt him. A great storm with strong winds develops.

They opened (Odysseus’) bag and all the wings rushed out, and swiftly the storm wind seized them and bore them weeping out the sea. 
Odyssey 10.47-49

A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. 
Mark 4:37 (NIV)

But at this point Mark takes things in a different direction. Both stories refer to the people in the boat as being “lost,” and both Odysseus and Jesus are woken up in the storm. But while Odysseus is powerless and tempted to despair, Jesus stands calmly and controls the storm.

Odysseus says of their journey, “We were lost through our own folly” (Odyssey 10:27).

And I woke up, and with a start, my spirit churning— 
should I leap over the side and drown at once 
or grin and bear it, stay among the living. 
Odyssey 10:49-52

The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. 
Mark 4:38-39 (NIV)

Summing up the two accounts MacDonald notes the crucial distinction between the Homeric and Markan scenes: 

Mark emulated Homer by making his hero superior. When the storm arose in the epic, Odysseus was helpless; all he could do was to hold on for dear life until the storm passed … Jesus on the other hand, rebuked the winds and calmed the sea, thus playing a role that Homer gave only to gods … Surely someone greater than Odysseus is here. 

Source: Dennis R. MacDonald, The Homeric Epics and the Gospel of Mark, 2000, pp. 55-62.