WHAT WAS THE
Our present day Bible is the product of a long history. We probably do not give much thought when we
look up a biblical reference that our scripture’s division into chapters and
verses wasn’t always that way. We have
become so accustomed to having our scripture with such divisions that it is
somewhat difficult to visualize it in any other form. Stop for a moment and consider how difficult
it would be to locate a selected reference without the chapter and verses
designated!
Most of the original manuscripts of
the Bible were recorded on scrolls and were lettered by hand. As such they were very expensive and even the
wealthiest worship centers seldom had more than one or two “books”. Consequently, locating a particular passage
would not have been very difficult when only one or two manuscripts
existed. However, the invention of the
printing press made it possible for less expensive duplication and as
additional “books” were added, the need for an easier location system became
necessary. The present division of our
Bible into chapters and verses occurred relatively recently in historical terms
(about 1551)
Although the selection of certain
passages was simplified, the resulting division of the books is NOT without its
problems. Frequently, the divisions are
arbitrary and tend to break the sense of continuity when reporting an
account. However, the major limitation
is that the accounts are treated as separate entities and not put into context,
i.e., what had been happening before and what happed next? Coupled with this
shortcoming as indicated in John 21:25, only selected accounts of our Lord’s
ministry were recorded. Also it
is common knowledge that each of the gospel writers was writing for a specific
audience and his message was primarily directed to convince his readers that
Jesus was indeed the Messiah and seldom would all four gospels be available to
a congregation until a much later date.
READ:
MARK4:35-41
In chapter four a Mark we read several
consecutive parables, the parable of the sower, the growing grain and the
mustard seed. At the end of this
sequence of parables in Mark 4:33-34, the Bible states: “With many such parables
He spoke the word to them as they were able to hear it: He did not speak to them without a parable
but privately to his disciples. He
explained everything”. Then immediately
after those parables we encounter the miracle of the storm being stilled!!
The account of the stilling of the storm
is definitely a miracle in which Jesus exhibits His power over natural forces;
but the report has overtones of a parable and seems to have definite
implications for us today. It seems to
be assuring us that our Lord still has power to still the storms within our
lives thereby provide us with “peace” and “stillness” to our souls.
So what message do we choose to take
from this account? Should we be content
to nod our heads and say, “Wow! What a happening!” or might it be
proper to give Him thanks for providing us with an assurance of His present
power to bring a sense of stillness within the storms of our life?