Rev. Eric Brown
“What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey Him?” The disciples were certainly impressed with Jesus. He had just stood up and rebuked the winds that were roaring on the Sea of Galilee… and they stopped. Things went still. And so they ask, “What sort of man is Jesus?”
And the first answer is somewhat obvious. He is true God and true Man, the Creator of both wind and wave. He is and also their Master. The disciples were awed by Christ’s power. However, while it’s good to note that Jesus has power, the more important thing is what is He does with that power. Jesus having power doesn’t do me much good if He’s the sort of man who will give me noogies for all eternity.
What sort of Man is Jesus? Well, at the start of the lesson in Matthew 8, He’s a tired and worn out man. He’s preached all day, then spent all that evening healing people and then he finally He has the disciples row Him out on the boat so He can rest, away from the crowd. And there, He sleeps. Yet, a storm rises, and after the disciples beg Him, He gets up and calms the sea for them.
What sort of Man is Jesus? The sort who becomes tired and worn for our sake. The sort who will never hesitate to save us (even when we’re acting all fearful like the disciples). The sort who will rise to put an end to death anger and give us life—indeed everlasting life. He’s the sort who would go to the Cross to win us salvation. And that is a wondrous thing.
Rev. Eric Brown is pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Herscher, Illinois.
