What Manner of Man is This?

But the men marveled, saying, what manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!  Matthew 8:27  (KJV)

Jesus had just calmed the sea and winds by the simple utterance of a few words.  One minute the whole world seemed to be about to end for those out at sea that night, and the next moment all was completely calm.

What an amazing display of power those followers witnessed that night.  One can only imagine what they must have felt.

Those who have been out on the waters far from the reach of shore know that they have a less sure grip on their own situation.  If something should happen to the vessel they are safely aboard, they are at the mercy of the winds and seas.

That night Jesus removed in an instant, all the danger which had only moments before threatened to end it all for them.

We have all been learning from the moment we are born just how things work in this world where we live.  As human beings we learn the limits set upon everything around us.  Hot is hot, cold is cold.  Birds can fly, but humans must go to greater lengths to sustain their bodies off the ground by the use of other devises.

Morning follows night and evening after day.  Seasons come and seasons go.  Nature continues in all kinds of patterns and cycles.  Scientists depend upon what they have learned of the limits and laws set upon this environment that we were born into.

Yet with a few word, this Man Jesus demonstrated that He was not like you and I and.  He somehow had authority over the very things we know had to be set.  The fixed points in the nature of things did not limit Him.  Rather He could bend the rules.

With Jesus, water could be wine and a life-threatening storm could be calm.  The terminal illness and even death was no matter for this ¨other manner of man.¨

Jesus is not like you and I.  Those who were in His presence could only marvel at all they saw and heard.  But we do not need to feel left out.  We can read of Him daily and what is more, we can approach Him still today.

Our Savior not only paid a price for our ransome, but He called us each to Him.  His very words and desire was to have you and I seek Him and find Him.  In fact, all the many promises that the Holy Scriptures hold for the future of mankind were made to hinge upon just this.  We all will be weighed one day as to whether or not we are actually found in Him and Him in us.

This means everything for us.  Nothing, not even that desperate gulp of air which our body needs to sustain itself is more important than our need for Him.

So then, what manner of man is He?

It is more than obvious and needs no more proof that He was different, but how?  Well, we can simply say that He was somehow magically the Son of God and dismiss any further blessing which could follow.  Or we could consider His connection to His Father.

Jesus Himself explained to the world that His power came from His connection to His Father.  It is true that God conceded things to His Son, but it was not only from His position as a family member.  Being the very Son of God should and does entitle Jesus to power and authority, but Jesus says that His strength lie not in that, but in the fact that He always did the will of His Father.  Every thought and every action of Jesus was to obey and honor His Father.

So then, even though God was completely thrilled to do things for His only begotten Son, but it was all the more satisfying as Jesus worked so hard always to please Him.

Those who have children love to give good things to them.  But when your child is doing exactly what you ask of them, it brings even more pleasure to reward them.

What is more in the case of Jesus, He never used His favor that He found from His Father to bolster up His own ego.  Instead Jesus was completely humble.  He always told us that the praise we give him may be due Him, but He looks for the praise He finds coming from His Father.

Therefore, when we ask ourselves, what manner of man Jesus was.  We start down a long and involved road.  We open ourselves to learning more than we are physically capable in our current nature.  But this does not stop us.  We would come to know this wonder, who walked amongst us.  We will lift up our hearts and our understandings far higher than we are capable.

In awe we come, to seek and to find.  May the Holy Spirit minister to our hearts today and begin teaching us just what manner of man Jesus is and what He means for you and me today and throughout all eternity.

Amen

Scott W