"WHO THEN IS THIS?"

Mark 4:35-41                       (ESV)
"35 On that day, when evening had come, HE said to them, "Let us go across to the other side."
36 And leaving the crowd, they took HIM with them in the boat, just as HE was. And other boats were with HIM.
37 And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling.
38 But HE was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke HIM and said to HIM, "Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?"
39 And HE awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, "Peace! Be still!" And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.
40 HE said to them, "Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?"
41 And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, "WHO THEN IS THIS", that even the wind and the sea obey HIM?"



Many times I have read the history of JESUS simply SPEAKING to the raging storm and bringing calm to the situation.  But recently my EYES were OPENED to a different revelation.  JESUS was/is GOD IN THE FLESH and HE was displaying that to the disciples, only their eyes could not SEE the TRUTH, until HE was gone from them AND the "comforter" was sent to them (John 14:26; Acts 2).  When GOD speaks to us through HIS HOLY SPIRIT, it is as real as it gets!  We have to have "FAITH in HIM that HE exists and rewards those who seek HIM" (Hebrews 11:6)!!

JESUS told "them" that they were going "across to the other side."  GOD IN THE FLESH told "them" where they were going, but their eyes soon were focused on the storms right in front of their eyes, and not on the FAITH in what GOD IN THE FLESH and HIS WORD!  GOD THE CREATOR simply spoke the worlds into existence (Genesis 1) and JESUS was there with HIM (John 1:2)!  Since GOD created the Heavens and the Earth, shouldn't they obey HIM?  Yet, even after "there was a great calm" and GOD IN THE FLESH asked them "Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?", they were filled with GREAT FEAR and asked "WHO THEN IS THIS?"

Am I any better than they were though?  GOD can reveal HIS PLAN for my life to me, and when it doesn't happen just when "I THINK" it should, I begin to DOUBT!  I DOUBT whether it was GOD speaking to me, or whether GOD has changed HIS mind, or whether GOD is able to "pull off" what HE revealed to me?  2 Timothy 1:7 says "for GOD gave us a spirit NOT OF FEAR but of power and love and self-control".  If fear doesn't come from GOD, fear must come from the enemy, and he doesn't want GOD's Plan to be fulfilled!

When GOD reveals HIS Plan to me, yet still requires me to walk by faith, shall I say because of not being able to SEE through my doubt "WHO THEN IS THIS"?  GOD FORBID!  ALMIGHTY GOD, Creator of the Universes, sustainer of life, WHO dwells inside of my body (John 17:23), cause me to Spiritually mature to the point of SEEing YOU and trusting the Plan that YOU have laid before me.  May I so demonstrate YOUR attributes that this world will inquire "WHO THEN IS THIS"???