Thursday, December 19: Mark 4- More Jesus wonderings.

I have recently read RC Sproul’s book, The Holiness of God. In it he referenced the account of Jesus calming the sea, which was part of the reading this morning.

That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, "Let us go over to the other side." Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, "Teacher, don't you care if we drown?" He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, "Quiet! Be still!" Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. He said to his disciples, "Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?" They were terrified and asked each other, "Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!" (35-41).

RC made an interesting observation, which I now see in the text. I am not sure I noticed this before. Clearly the disciples were worried by the storm, which is why they woke Jesus. But they were terrified of Jesus after He calms the storm because they had never seen anyone command nature like Jesus did!

The power and authority of Jesus can be terrifying. He is so far above anything we know from in our world.

Mark is telling the story of Jesus Christ (Christ means Messiah, Anointed One of God), the son of God (1:1). And this is only one of the incidents where Jesus is completely other, completely different, completely above any other person we know.

I pondered why this was and two thoughts filled my mind. One, Jesus is the God-man, fully God and fully man. Two, even in His earthly state He is the perfect Spirit-filled man.

I sat and marveled at Jesus… my Lord, my Savior, God in human flesh. A wonderful meditation less than a week from Christmas…

Thank You for coming and saving me, Lord. Thank You for coming to save all who believe in You. Thank You for being the full expression of God’s love for the world (see John 3:16). Thank You for showing the way into relationship with Almighty God, the Father. Thank You, Jesus. Thank You. Amen.

 

 

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