Lessons from the Gospels 6– Who IS this man?

Matthew chapter 8 is full of the miracles of Jesus. It’s all about miracles and little else. Miracles that surely confirmed He was the Messiah.

But in the midst of this chapter of miracles, we find this interesting miracle:

Matthew 8:23-27 [NLT] 23 Then Jesus got into the boat and started across the lake with his disciples. 24 Suddenly, a fierce storm struck the lake, with waves breaking into the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. 25 The disciples went and woke him up, shouting, "Lord, save us! We're going to drown!" 26 Jesus responded, "Why are you afraid? You have so little faith!" Then he got up and rebuked the wind and waves, and suddenly there was a great calm.

Jesus “rebuked” the wind. To be clear, our Savior was sleeping through this “fierce storm” – apparently not in the least concerned about it. Not the disciples. They were scared.

"Why are you afraid? You have so little faith!" Then he got up and rebuked the wind and waves, and suddenly there was a great calm.

But when they woke Him, Jesus got up and “rebuked” the WIND. Wonder if He went right back to sleep, while the disciples stood there with gaping mouths.

Matthew 8:27  tells us, “The disciples were amazed. "Who is this man?" they asked. "Even the winds and waves obey him!"

Who IS this man?! They had just seen Him heal a man with leprosy by touching him – something forbidden as making you unclean.

He commanded the healing of a young servant, from a distance.

He healed Peter’s mother-in-law and then, “That evening many demon-possessed people were brought to Jesus. He cast out the evil spirits with a simple command, and he healed all the sick.”

With a “simple command” the evil spirits left.

Amazing miracles. We don’t even have actual numbers it was “many”. Too many to be counted?

Who is this man who sends healings, touches lepers, simply commands the demons to get out?

But what drops the jaws (metaphorically) of the disciples is His command of the weather? Perhaps because they felt He saved their lives when all seemed lost.

This is not the only time that the actions of Jesus drew the phrase “who is this man”.

Luke 7:47-49 [NLT] 47 "I tell you, her sins--and they are many--have been forgiven, so she has shown me much love. But a person who is forgiven little shows only little love." 48 Then Jesus said to the woman, "Your sins are forgiven." 49 The men at the table said among themselves, "Who is this man, that he goes around forgiving sins?"

Who is this man to forgive sin?

Well, if He was JUST a man these things would be astounding. What’s more astounding is this:

Phillipians 2:5-8 [NLT] 5 You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. 6 Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. 7 Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, 8 he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal's death on a cross.

Who IS this Son of God that even my life was worthy of His loving sacrifice. Who is this Being, that even for me He gave up “His divine privileges” and took on a human body, with all it’s pains and weaknesses, and then gave that up too?

Who IS this Jesus? Immanuel. Messiah. Son of God. Healer. Good Shephard. Perfect Lamb. Coming King. My Savior. My Lord. My hope. The Rock I build on. The One I follow.

Who IS this Jesus? The Way. The Door. The Gate.

Who IS this Jesus? The Father’s gift to us.

Who IS this Jesus? He is everything – all our hopes and dreams – our future. He is OURS. 

I welcome your questions and comments. You can write me in the chat or any time at Nancy@DynamicChristianMinistries.org.