Who Then is This?

Jesus and the twelve were in a boat on an evening after a long day of teaching. A wind storm came upon them and the boat began filling with water. Jesus was in the stern. Asleep. On a cushion. The disciples woke Him and said, "Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?" (Mark 4:38; NASBU).

Jesus got up. He rebuked the wind. He said to the sea, "Hush, be still" (Mark 4:39; NASBU). The wind died down. The sea "became perfectly calm" (Mark 4:39; NASBU).

Jesus then spoke to the twelve. He asked two, what must have been, confusing questions. "Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?" (Mark 4:40; NASBU). As the boat filled with water the hearts of the disciples filled with fear. Fear for their lives. Now Jesus is asking them why. And He is asking them about their faith.

All of this served to unnerve them even more: "They became very much afraid..." (Mark 4:41; NASBU). In response to Jesus' two questions they raise one among themselves: "Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?" (Mark 4:41; NASBU).

Who then indeed. That seems to be the question of questions. Once the twelve answered this question everything else fell into place for them.

By the way...The more I come to know Him...the more my fear is replaced with faith.

Jason Cicero

With Him

Jesus set apart twelve men for a number of reasons. I am most envious of the one I read about in Mark 3:14. He chose these men to "be with Him."

What I do by faith, they did in the flesh. They saw Him with their eyes. They heard His voice with their ears. Their hands touched Him. They walked with Him. They worked with Him. They played with Him. They were "with Him."

Oh, how I want to be with Him! My joy is full knowing what awaits. "They shall see His face..." (Revelation 22:4).

Jason Cicero

The Great Physician

Jesus was eating at Levi's house. So were many tax collectors and sinners. This did not sit well with the scribes and Pharisees. "How is it that He eats and drinks with tax collectors and sinners," they asked. When Jesus heard their question He put things in perspective: "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance" (Mark 2:17; NKJV).

It helps me to know that Jesus ate with sinners because I am one. It helps me to know that He came to meet the needs of those who are sick because I am sick. It helps me to know that He came to call sinners to repentance because I have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.

What I most desperately need...He is.

Jason Cicero

Do I Do What He Did?

To be a disciple of Jesus Christ is to discipline oneself to be like Him. Jesus prayed without ceasing. He kept the converstation with His Father going.

"Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed" (Mark 1:35; NKJV).

Jesus had the same amount of time in a day that I have. Jesus needed sleep as much as I do. Jesus had a greater purpose that I do.

His time, His needs, and His purpose did not keep him from getting away from it all to talk to His heavenly Father. Do mine? Then He said to me, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny Himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me" (Luke 9:23; NKJV).

Jason Cicero

Hidden in My Heart

Jesus said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM." (John 8:58; NKJV)

Sunday Morning Starters

Christ has given us the great responsibility to teach others about Him (Matthew 28:18-20). It may be that we fail to teach others because we do not know what to say or where to begin. Consider this. When Jesus began His public ministry He called Philip to “follow Me” (John 1:43). Philip then found Nathanael and explained that they had “found Him of whom Moses in the law, and also the prophets, wrote - Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph” (John 1:45). Nathanael was less than impressed. Nathanael believed that folks from Nazareth were from the wrong side of the tracks so he dismissed Philip’s idea that this Nazarene was the Messiah altogether (John 1:46). Philip simply said, “Come and see” (John 1:46).

Most folks we will try to teach will be similar to Nathanael. They will be unimpressed. Unimpressed that we have Lord’s Day Bible classes, that we preach from the Bible, that we come together on Wednesday evening to read and study God’s word. Why not simply say to them, “Come and see”? This seems to be an effective way to bring others to Jesus. For Nathanael did come and Nathanael did see (John 1:47-49). In fact, this same method is used by Jesus and the Holy Spirit (Matthew 11:27; Revelation 22:17).

As the Lord’s Day approaches, let us be about the business of inviting others to “come.” To “come and see.” To “come” and hear the good news about Jesus; the good news about His death, burial and resurrection; the good news about the forgiveness of sins; the good news about a heavenly home. Let us say to those who need Jesus, “Come."

Jason Cicero

Mark's Portrait of Jesus

Mark presents Jesus as an active, compassionate, and obedient Servant who constantly ministers to the physical and spiritual needs of others. The distinctive word of this book is euthus (translated “immediately”), and it appears more often in this compact gospel than in the rest of the New Testament. Jesus is constantly moving toward a goal that is hidden to almost all. Mark clearly shows the power and authority of this unique Servant, identifying Him as no less than the Son of God (1:1, 11; 3:11; 5:7; 9:7; 13:32; 14:61; 15:39). Chapter by chapter, the book of Mark unfolds the dual focus of Christ’s life: service and sacrifice. The purpose of Mark is to present the Christ as the servant of the LORD.

Jesus calls me to be His servant and the servant of others. Jesus calls me to discipleship: “Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me” (8:34). I am to “be last of all and servant of all” as His disciple ( 9:35). To be great in this Man’s kingdom is to be a “servant” and a “slave of all” (10:43-44). I am to follow His example: “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many” (10:45).

Jesus calls me to sacrifice my life for Him and for others. To save my life I am to lose it in Him and for Him (8:34-37). Like the Rich Young Ruler, I am to sacrifice whatever it takes to follow Jesus (10:21). The sacrifice I make for Him and others will be rewarded now and in eternity: “…who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time – houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions – and in the age to come, eternal life” (10:29-30).

Jesus calls me to victory through suffering. A cross is an instrument of death: “…let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me” (8:34-38). His victory came after persecutions, suffering and death (10:30, 33-34). Mine will too.

See Mark’s portrait of Jesus and give your life to the service of the Lord, sacrificing your time, energy, your very life for others!

Jason Cicero