Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Mark 4:36

"And leaving the multitude, they take him with them, even as he was, in the boat. And other boats were with him." — Mark 4:36 (ASV)

Mark includes many details in the story: the time of day, the reference to Jesus “just as he was” (v.36), the “other boats,” the position of Jesus in the boat, the cushion, the sharp rebuke made by the disciples, and their terror and bewilderment. These suggest the report of an eyewitness.

Evening had come, so Jesus decided to go over to the other side of the lake in the boat he had been teaching from (v.1), perhaps wanting to escape the crowd and renew his strength. He did not want to delay his departure by first going on shore.