Who Is This?

           Yesterday I was trying to help Joanne create a Facebook page, but was having a bit of difficulty. Basically in the sign-up process Facebook was telling me that Joanne Records was not a person (not a real name), and that I should create an account for a business. I don’t remember this happening when I signed up. We have to prove that Joanne is Joanne – a person and not a business. Maybe I’m doing something wrong, but if so, I haven’t figured it out yet. Many years ago when we lived in New York State we received a phone call the day before Christmas one year. A man whose voice sounded like it was urgent asked if we were “open” – he needed to get a last minute Christmas present. Remember, this was back in the days when music was recorded onto vinyl record albums and sold in stores throughout the land. If you haven’t “gotten” it yet, the man mistakenly thought we were a record store named “Scott Records”. More recently, when I signed up for Facebook, I found a group that calls itself “Records really is my last name”. It never seemed all that obscure to me. But I have to find a way to prove that Joanne is, indeed, a person, although I’m pretty sure she already knows she is.

            One evening, after a long day of teaching and performing miracles, Jesus purposed to get into a boat with His disciples and get across the lake and find some peace and quiet. So much did He need it that Jesus fell asleep in the stern. Then a storm came up quickly – as it can on Galilee – and the disciples began to be afraid – to even fear for their lives. It must have been pretty bad weather, considering that at least some of them were seasoned fishermen. In their fear they woke Jesus and questioned whether He cared that they might die in the storm. What a question to ask Jesus, huh? – “Don’t you care…?” Fear leads us to say and do some pretty stupid things. Have you ever been tempted to question whether the Lord cares? We know it’s something we shouldn’t do, yet we can fall into just like the disciples.

            Jesus responds to them by standing and speaking to the storm. His authority was sufficient to cause the roiling elements to be at rest immediately. Then He wonders as to where there faith was in the face of fearful circumstances. Their response shows a new and different kind of fear – the kind someone feels in the direct presence of the holy and awesome God. And they ask, “Who is this? Even the wind and waves obey Him?” They were realizing that Jesus was much more than a mere man. The only logical answer to their question is: “Jesus Christ, the Son of God… the God-Man”. Could anyone less than that do what Jesus did? It was no parlor trick. The wind and the waves certainly knew who He was. They had no trouble hearing and obeying. Certainly that was a kind of proof as to the identity of Jesus. The answer to the question “Who is this?” was obvious.

            We do not have the advantage and opportunity to see Jesus at work face to face. But the Scriptures – and Jesus Himself – say we are blessed for our faith even when we have not seen. Praise God for this blessing.

John 1:10-13 (KJV) ¹⁰  He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. ¹¹  He came unto his own, and his own received him not. ¹²  But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: ¹³  Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

John 20:27-31 (NIV) ²⁷  Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe." ²⁸  Thomas said to him, "My Lord and my God!" ²⁹  Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." ³⁰  Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. ³¹  But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

Matthew 16:15-16 (NIV) ¹⁵  "But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?" ¹⁶  Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."

PRAYER:  Father, I say that your son – Jesus Christ – is Messiah and Lord, Master and Savior. Increase my faith and let this truth sink deeply into the fiber of my being, so that in all of life my response to you will be one of trust and confidence. Thank you. In Jesus’ name, AMEN.”

Jesus Christ is Lord!  

Scott