Who Then Is This Jesus? | Mark 4:35–41

35 On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” 36 And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him. 37 And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. 38 But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” 39 And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. 40 He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” 41 And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”

One of the historical debates concerning Jesus Christ concerned His nature or, more accurately, His natures.  The early church struggled to see that He indeed came in human flesh.  Of course, many also wondered at His divine nature.   The Christ revealed in Scripture is both completely human and completely divine, as we see in this passage.

Jesus Christ is human.  This event occurs on the same day following a full day teaching from the boat (v. 1).  He instructs His disciples to leave the current area to the other eastern side of the lake, and then He falls asleep.  In fact, He sleeps so deeply that the rage of the storm does not rouse Him—an exhaustion indicative of His humanity.  He was “made like his brothers in every respect” (Hb 2:17), including the need for rest.

Jesus Christ is God.  Because the Sea of Galilee is so far below sea level and is surrounded by mountains, and since the conditions near the water are more tropical than the surrounding area, strong winds and storms frequent the area.  This one was particularly powerful, possibly a whirlwind threatening to swamp the boat, and the disciples seem to know that Jesus is their only hope.  Indeed, He silences the wind and waves with the same word He used to cast out the demon (1:25), demonstrating authority that only belongs to God (Ps 65:7; 89:9). 


So, who then is this?  His two natures are essential to what we believe about Jesus Christ.  Because He’s both human and divine, He’s able to destroy the devil and deliver all of us (Hb 2:14–15).  He became a “merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people” (v. 17).  It is only because He has two natures that He can be our Lord and Savior.  

Popular posts from this blog

RE: "Pastor Dayna Muldoon EXPOSED"

Image
It enough to make your heart ache.  "Pastor" Dayna Muldoon  has been pitching her tent in Florida, and like Todd Bentley before , false claims to miracles, healing, and prophecies litter her campsites. This video of a Calvary Chapel pastor exposing her as a false prophet has been appearing in various places, and its been uploaded to YouTube multiple times.  Even Todd Friel got animated about this , and nothing gets him hyper. Here's the deal: Muldoon set up her tent-meetings right down the road from Calvary Chapel St. Petersburg , peeking the interests of many attending the church.  When they listened to the message she presented, however, they found it not to be the Gospel, but instead the typical narcissistic message of health and blessings from God. This is coming from a Calvary Chapel crew, folks that are typically non-cessationists themselves.  Many churches, including this particular Calvary Chapel , host after-glow services where one expects similar claims
Click to read more...

Was Rebekah a child when she married Isaac?

Did Isaac marry a three-year-old?  If you've never pondered this question, it's because nothing in the straightforward reading of the text would suggest that Rebekah was a toddler or that their marriage was arranged. Even so, a couple of verses out of context could be used by skeptics to prove anything.  While perusing the web for a related topic, however, I found a thread stating that the Bible isn't against the raping of children .  The cited evidence was this issue, the claim being that Isaac engaged in pedophilia. The question comes from the fact that Genesis 22:23 announces the birth of Rebekah after the binding of Isaac.  Tradition states that Isaac was then thirty-seven, and Scripture says that the two wed when Isaac was forty (Gn 25:20).  Hence, Isaac robbed the cradle. The whole theory is fraught with assumptions, the primary being that Scripture never records a age marker for Rebekah.  Further complicating the matter, however, is Jewish tradition, which spe
Click to read more...

MacArthur: Calvinism in a Nutshell

Image
From YouTube: Calvinism (Also know by Doctrines of Grace or Reformed theology) John MacArthur use Romans 8:28-30 as main text. The five points of calvinism are Total depravity (total inability), Unconditional election, Limited atonement (Also called particular redemption or definite atonement), Irresistible grace (also called efficacious grace), and Perseverance of the saints. Full sermon http://www.gty.org/resources/sermons/90-427 Romans 8:28, "And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren. And these whom He predestined, He also called. And these whom He called, He also justified. And these whom He justified, He also glorified."
Click to read more...