The Good News

Dedicated to the good news of Jesus Christ

Vol. 1 Issue 23

Who Is This Jesus?

Capernaum – There seems to be one question concerning Jesus of Nazareth that is on everybody’s mind. Who is this Jesus? Who is this rabbi who speaks with authority in the synagogues? Who is this person who claims that his miracles are a sign that he has authority to forgive sins? Who is this man who can heal the sick and cast out demons? Who is he and who sent him? Even his disciples are asking "Who is this?"

A few days ago, after teaching all day from a boat as the crowd stood on shore and listened, Jesus was exhausted and in need of some rest.

That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, "Let us go over to the other side." Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, "Teacher, don't you care if we drown?"

He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, "Quiet! Be still!" Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.

He said to his disciples, "Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?"

They were terrified and asked each other, "Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!" (Mark 4:35-41 NIV)

It seems though that the demons have a definite idea about who Jesus is. After crossing the lake the boat arrived in the region of the Gerasenes.

When Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an evil spirit came from the tombs to meet him. … When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of him. He shouted at the top of his voice, "What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God?" (Mark 5:2, 6-7a)

Still others only think of him as Mary’s son, the carpenter. After returning from the Gerasenes, Jesus and his disciples went to Nazareth to spend some time with his family.

When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed.

"Where did this man get these things?" they asked. "What's this wisdom that has been given him, that he even does miracles! Isn't this the carpenter? Isn't this Mary's son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon? Aren't his sisters here with us?" And they took offense at him. (Mark 6:2-3 NIV)

The word about Jesus has even caught the attention of King Herod. Many of his people, some involved in a plot with the Pharisees, have taken stories about Jesus to the king.

Some were saying, "John the Baptist has been raised from the dead, and that is why miraculous powers are at work in him." Others said, "He is Elijah." And still others claimed, "He is a prophet, like one of the prophets of long ago." But when Herod heard this, he said, "John, the man I beheaded, has been raised from the dead!" (Mark 6:14b-16 NIV)

Everybody seems to have their own ideas about who Jesus is. Even you must have some thought as to who the rabbi called Jesus is. For twenty-three weeks The Good News has been chronicling the activities of this teacher, or prophet, or whatever you may call him. We have reported on his miracles, his triumphs and his frustrations. We have told you about his friends, his enemies and those on the fence. We have written about his teachings and the power of his words. Surely by now you have an opinion as to who this Jesus really is. Don’t you? Who is this Jesus?

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THE MIRACLES OF JESUS by Phil Sanders

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