Who Are You


 

 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 winds and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.

He said to the 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!” Mark 4:38-41

Have you ever tried to put yourself in that boat? I have.  What were the disciples thinking? “We’re all gonna’ die. We’re all gonna’ die!”  Then someone has the brilliant idea to wake up Jesus. By their reactions to his action, I can’t think they expected what happened to happen. I think they woke him up because he was the leader. It was his idea to go to “the other side.” Now it was his responsibility to get them there.  And he did!

          At that point everything changed.  Picture those same men once Jesus had spoken. “What just happened?”  “Did he just tell the wind and waves what to do?” “He sure did and they did what he said!”

          Now they’re in shock. They exchange looks of total amazement.  “Who is this?” How can they not know the answer to that? Seriously, they’ve been with him for some time, heard him preaching, seen him drive out demons, heal the sick and offer forgiveness of sins. Still they are in awe. “Who is this?”

          Have you ever experienced a moment like that with a friend you’ve known for at least a few years? You’re together and suddenly she’s singing, singing in a voice that should be recorded and shared with the world. “You can sing?” You ask, astounded that you never knew.  Or maybe you’re visiting another friend and comment on a beautiful painting or sculpture only to find out that she is the artist. To say you’re surprised is an understatement, right?

          What if you were leaving that friend’s house just as the sky opened up to rain and that same friend said, “Stop!” and the rain stopped? Is she calling 911 at that moment? Or maybe giving you CPR?

          We think we know people and then… SURPRISE! The disciples did know Jesus. They had seen miracles but some of them were fishermen, subject to the mercy of the weather. They knew the dangers of a bad storm. They also knew that once it set in, there wasn’t a big chance that it was going anywhere anytime soon. Then Jesus said, “Quiet! Be still!” and that happened! “Who is this?”

          Take a minute to look at your life. Have you ever had a “who are you” moment with Jesus?  Write him a note of thanks for the times he has surprised you with his mercy, grace and amazing power.

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