Discovering Who Jesus Is

Four big, brawny, lifelong experienced fishermen, Peter, James, John, and Andrew, along with several other grown men, were now transporting Jesus across the Sea of Galilee, but they were terrified for their lives.  These fishermen had battled sudden, unexpected storms on Galilee all their lives.  But this storm was different.

The Sea of Galilee is really a large lake, about 16 miles long by 9 miles wide.  It is about 640 feet below sea level and is surrounded by towering hillsides.  Cool air rushing down the ravines and clashing with the hot air from the sea valley sometimes creates sudden, fierce winds that stir up steep waves strong enough to swamp a boat.  If the waves hit the boat broadside, they can quickly capsize you in a moment.

These legendary storms caused skepticism in our current times. One man who lived in this area was skeptical of the Biblical story until he experienced a storm of Biblical proportions. In the early morning hours of May 15, 2022, strong easterly winds (about 87 mph) blew through, toppling trees, blocking roads, and combined with the high -water levels in the Sea, creating flooding damage all along the promenade of Tiberias.  Damages were estimated to be about $50 million. Similar storms also occurred in 1969 and 1992.

This was probably the type of storm the disciples faced in the Scripture accounts. (Matthew 8, Mark 4, Luke 8). All three gospel writers described it differently – “great tempest,” “great storm of wind,” and “a storm of wind, they were filled with water and were in Jeopardy.”  This was a storm that severely tested the skill and bravery of these seasoned men. Their small ship was being tossed around like a small toy boat.  The waves were rapidly filling the boat. They could not stay afloat very much longer,

Jesus was sleeping peacefully in the back of the boat just as if it were a quiet, beautiful summer day!  The disciples rushed back to him. “Master, carest thou not that we perish?”

Jesus stood up and rebuked the wind and the waves, saying, “Peace. Be still” (Mark 4:39). The wind ceased, and the waves became calm.

Now the disciples were stunned. They had an even greater fear than their fear of the storm.  “What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”  Who is this Jesus that we thought we knew?

In the following days and weeks, the disciples watched Jesus heal the lame, make the blind see, the deaf to hear, cleanse lepers, raise the dead, restore the palsied, cast out demons, and feed the 5,000.

Some time later, Jesus told the disciples about his coming crucifixion and resurrection. (Matthew 16:21). As an encouragement, He told them that some of them would not taste of death until they had seen the Son of man coming in His kingdom. (Matthew16:28).

Not long after, James, John, and Peter were invited to accompany Jesus up a high mountain (Matthew 17). They were then ushered into the presence of the glorified Jesus as he talked with Moses and Elijah.

“And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light. And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him.” (Matthew 17:2-3) (Peter later wrote that they were eyewitnesses of his majesty, (2 Peter 1:16), and John wrote in John 1:14, “We beheld His glory.”). Luke recorded that his countenance was altered and his raiment was white and glistening. (Luke 9:29). They saw Jesus in His glory, such as they had never seen him before!

Peter (who felt obligated to speak whether he had anything worth saying or not) suggested that they build three tabernacles, one for Jesus, one for Moses, and one for Elias.  Luke 9:33 informs us that Peter didn’t know what he was saying.

God, the Father, had to intervene and tell them, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.” (Matthew 17:5).

Despite witnessing Jesus’ miracles and authority, Peter, James, and John still struggled to grasp His true identity. They tried to equate Jesus with Moses and Elias, but Jesus’ greatness far surpassed theirs. He was God; they were mere mortals.

And herein lies one of the biggest problems among modern Christians.  We want to talk about him as our friend and have a loving relationship with Him.  And so, in the process, we try to bring Him down to our level. But, even though He said He is our friend (John 15:15), He is still our God. We may be friends with the mayor, the chief of police, the governor, or even the president of our country, but we still have to show respect for who they are.  We may be friends with our dad, but he is still our dad.

Today we get excited over great athletes, actors, heroes, or even great politicians or statesmen. And we often show them more honor, praise, respect, and worship than we do to Jesus.

He is not just our buddy.  He is God, the judge over all the earth.  He is the Creator, the Sustainer, the Sovereign over everything and every person that exists or ever existed. He is sovereign over all of nature’s forces. He is our Savior and the lover of our souls.  He is the very essence of love.  “God is love.” (1 John 4:16). God demonstrated His love by action. “In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.  Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.  (1 John 4:9-10)

But this Jesus, who loved us and gave Himself on the cross for us, is also our judge.  “For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son: That all men should honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. He that honoreth not the Son honoreth not the Father which hath sent him. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.” (John5:22-24).

This is the same Jesus who is described in Philippians chapter 2. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:  Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.  Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;  And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians2:5-12)

If you know Him as Savior, love Him.  If you love Him, serve Him, and follow Him. If you follow Him, you will obey, respect, honor, and glorify Him.  He is your Lord of lords and King of kings in your life.   Put Him on the throne in your life.