The gospel writer (Mark) portrays Jesus as the one who alone can triumph over chaotic water, who can calm the stormy sea. The disciples certainly recognised this, for they ask: Who has power over the sea? This is not an idle query. This question captures the gist of the account: Who is this man? By what authority does he act? This was doubly an issue, because Jesus did not invoke the power of God before he spoke or acted; he simply spoke or acted and left it to those around him to decide about him for themselves.