Who Is This Man?

To say the disciples were on a steep learning curve is an understatement. The men who boarded the boat with Jesus were clearly captivated by him and stayed with him when many of those who now flocked around him later retreated from his disturbing teaching. Yet, despite the privilege of private tutorials from Jesus about the nature of the Kingdom of God (4:34), they were a long way from grasping the truth of who Jesus was.

This episode on the lake resulted in a pivotal shift in the disciples’ thinking and awareness. Until now, they had wanted to remain close to this amazing man who taught with such authority, healed the sick and cast out demons. Now, having witnessed his power over wind and rain, they were overwhelmed by great terror and awe (41). Before this miracle they had undoubtedly been inspired by Jesus, but they had had no reason to see him as anything more than a very special man, a man who, like any other, needed to sleep after a day’s hard work (38). The quelling of the storm changed all that, but it would not be until after the resurrection that they would truly begin to comprehend the answer to their question, “Who is this?” (41).

Jesus made it possible for his disciples to share a deep, mutual companionship with him, but it was beginning to dawn on them who he was, and they were awestruck. Much later, one of them sought to explain who Jesus really was, how in Jesus “the Word became flesh,” how through Jesus “all things were made,” and “in him was life.” (John 1:3,4,14). Authentic intimacy with God nurtures not only gratitude and joy in the presence of Love, but also a deepening awe in the presence of the Holy.

Meditate on who Jesus is: Word become flesh, Savior, Lord, Bread of Life, Light of the world.