Mark 4 - WHAT MANNER OF MAN IS THIS?

 NUGGETS…from the WORD of GOD

WHAT MANNER OF MAN IS THIS?

“And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?” —Mark 4:40

          

************

Mark continues to provide support for his opening proposition, “Jesus Christ, [is] the Son of God.” Wearied from a day of teaching a multitude Jesus proposed that they take ship to the other side of the Sea of Galilee. On a pillow in the little vessel He promptly fell asleep, an indication of His real humanity.  He “was in all points tempted, like as we are… [Heb. 4:15]” and understands the fatigue of a hard day’s work. 

In the course of their relatively short voyage a storm arose on the Sea; not an unusual occurrence, but in this instance a storm so severe that hardened and experienced sailors feared they were going to perish (v.38). The ship was full of water, on the verge of sinking and they had exhausted their resources and their skills. So, they awakened their Master with the cry, “Master, carest thou not that we perish?” 

When you consider their action, it is almost ludicrous, since from their perspective His awakening would offer little but  His added concern. I have been often tempted to paraphrase their remark as “Wake up and worry with us.” Sometimes misery does love company!

Jesus’ reaction was threefold. He rebuked the wind, and it ceased. He spoke to the tempestuous sea saying, “peace, be still,” and there was a great calm. Then He spoke to the disciples and said, “Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?” That extraordinary development gave rise to another “fear”—awe and wonder provoking the question, “What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?” (v. 41)  Mark gave us the answer in the beginning: this is Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

How often in the storms of life the Jesus we know (or think we know) appears to be asleep; indifferent, if not unaware of the peril we perceive, the dread (fearful, v.40) we are experiencing. Like the disciples, but because we have forgotten what they did not yet know, we want to wake Him to come and help us worry through our crises. They were going through the story and were still perplexed by “what manner of man” this might be. We have read the book. We know the answer to the question. Here is no ordinary man, but the Lord of glory, God manifest in the flesh, Who has promised those who trust Him as Savior, “they shall never perish.” (Jn. 10:28)

“If He is, in fact, our Master, our Savior and Lord; if His word is true, then “Carest Thou not that we perish?” is a question we have neither need nor right to ask. He is the One Who has “made the earth by his power, he hath established the world by his wisdom, and hath stretched out the heavens by his discretion. When he uttereth his voice, there is a multitude of waters in the heavens, and he causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth; he maketh lightnings with rain, and bringeth forth the wind out of his treasures [Jer. 10:12, 13].” And, He is the “God who cannot lie.” (Cf.Titus 1:2) 

And if that is true, then we have reason to be “anxious for nothing.” Mercifully, our gracious God does not command us to silence, but encourages us “…in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving [to] let [our] requests be made known unto God,” assuring us that “the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep [our] hearts and minds through Christ Jesus [Phil. 4:6-7].” We are encouraged to bring all our anxieties and cares to Him, not out of dread, but in unwavering assurance that “with Christ in our vessel, we can smile” at the storms of life. 

If you are tempted to doubt and fear in some unprecedented circumstance, remember, He has power over it and has promised the believer His deliverance—one way or another, sooner or later. Let us never forget what manner of Man He is.  Faith, after all, is not merely believing in Jesus, but believing Him!

“Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”   —Heb. 4:14-16

—Pastor Frasier