Title: Who is he/Mark 4:35-41
Who he is (Mark 4:35-41 Lee Jin-woo)
Today's text is the story of Jesus calming the storm on the Sea of Galilee. The content of today's text is also recorded in other Gospels. As such, if you look at the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke, also called the Synoptic Gospels), you can see that similar or the same events are recorded in different Gospels. Some events are recorded in all three Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke. The events in today's text are also recorded in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke, not in today's Gospel of Mark.
Even thinking about it now, it would not be easy to cross the sea in a boat at night, but Jesus and his disciples began to cross the sea. I don't know how long it's been, but a great storm has begun. In fact, some of Jesus' disciples were fishermen. It must have been their daily routine for them to go out. However, even if there were some fishermen who were accustomed to boating, they would have had no choice but to do so in a great storm that raged as if they had made a decision. Although it is not recorded in today's text, the disciples from the fishermen probably did everything they could in the light of their experiences so far. There is no way that a great windstorm would have been left unattended. At first, if there was anything they could do, they would have found and done everything. Then, when things get out of hand, they start looking for Jesus. When the disciples found Jesus, Jesus was sleeping on a pillow in a stern. When they see Jesus sleeping, the disciples say:
“Teacher, do you not care that we perish?” (verse 38).
In fact, even in our lives, there are times when an unexpected storm strikes. Often, it appears that Christ is indifferent to the problems of his people, as if sleeping, and not heeding their prayers. But it must be remembered that just because Christ sleeps does not mean that He sleeps all things aside.
Because the Keeper of Israel neither slumbers nor sleeps (Psalm 121:3,4). Although he sleeps, his heart is awake.
In some ways, from Jesus' point of view, these disciples' reactions may have seemed absurd. In spite of the teaching and teaching so far, the disciples collapsed at a very decisive moment. Of course, it was never that the disciples did not have faith. The disciples must have had more faith than any other people at that time. But a great storm blew in the dark sea, and fear took hold of the disciples, and the fear made it appear that they did not even have faith.
In this situation, Jesus finally woke up and calmed a great storm with just one word, “Be still, be still,” and then rebuked the disciples for their lack of faith, saying, “Why do you have no faith?”
According to the authoritative manuscripts of the New Testament, the word ‘still’ is inserted in this passage. “Why do you still have no faith?” Reading this, the meaning becomes clearer. They had followed Jesus all this time, but the disciples had not yet had enough faith. Jesus felt sorry for this, so he rebuked these disciples for their lack of faith.
Thus, the storm incident was closed. After such a commotion, the disciples are startled and talk among themselves. ‘Because who he is… ’
The disciples were following Jesus, but they still did not know exactly whether Jesus was the Son of God. So, the title may have been ‘teacher’. The disciples must have been amazed at how much Jesus they had known so far had the power to calm a great storm with a single word. So we talk to each other. The question “who is he?” was ultimately an ontological question about the divinity of Jesus.
This question can be said to be in the same vein as the question asked, ‘Who do you say I am?’ in Matthew 16:15.
The question ‘who is he?’ was a question posed by the disciples themselves, and ‘who do you say I am?’ was directly asked by Jesus.
The basis of faith is ultimately based on the relationship between God the Creator and man as a creature. When God created man, He wanted to establish a relationship. It is clearly revealed in the covenant with the Israelites in the Old Testament. Faith is ultimately a relationship with God. Of course, faith is built not only by myself but also through the community, but before the community, the basis of faith is the one-to-one relationship between God and me.
Jesus always asks us. ‘Who do you say I am?’ he asks. How would you guys answer this question?
Among the brothers who participated in the Mongolian mission this summer, there is a brother who recently enlisted in the military. Even if you don't reveal who you are, you will know everything. Anyone who knows how the brother got to Mongolia will know. One day, the brother's mother came to me and said just one word. ‘I wish I could go back to Mongolia and meet God. It is my wish to see them live their religious lives properly.’
As soon as the brother went to Mongolia, he became ill for a few days. The brother said this to him when he was sick and struggling. He said, ‘I believe that God lives, but that God is the God of my parents, not my God.’
In fact, the God of the parents is of no use in faith. Because the God of my parents did not save me. It was very heartbreaking to hear that brother's story. Actually, the God of my parents, the God of my friends, the God of anyone's...because it is of no use. After all, God is of no use to me other than my God. The basis of faith ultimately begins with meeting my God. No matter how many years you go to church, no matter how many times you worship, in the end, it is of no use if you do not meet and confess to ‘my God’.
We need to examine our one-to-one relationship with God. When establishing a relationship with God, the Bible uses various parables.
Father and son (Matthew 6:9)/ Shepherd and sheep (Psalm 23:1)/ Master and servant (Romans 1:1)/ Friends (John 15:14) are explained with various parables. I occasionally asked the students who were raising them while working on campus. You can find out the status of your faith by asking, ‘What kind of God is this to you now?’ We need to examine our relationship with God from time to time, if not often.
We speak without hesitation and say that God is our Father. However, there are times when we say that we are Heavenly Father, but we do not feel anything in our hearts.
I ask you guys. ‘Is God the Father? Are you the director of an orphanage?’
I had a son who lost his watch. This son is hugged by his father as if nothing is wrong rather than sullen. Because I know my father will buy me another watch. With this reasoning, ‘I haven’t read many words… .I couldn't even pray... .I didn't even evangelize... There are people who think only of .' and think that God is only a reproacher. To these people, God is more like the director of an orphanage than a father. Of course, God does rebuke, but it is clear that that is not all.
It seems that there is something special about the years I have been attending church, but it is absolutely not. I went to church for a long time and worshiped every week without exception, but the emotion and emotion I had while attending the service had long since disappeared, I had no memory of when I met God.
In the book of Revelation, God clearly rebuked the Ephesian church for abandoning their first love. Remember the first time you met God. We need to think about how much of the emotion, emotion, and grace of that time remain now.
Now we must meet God anew. You must meet God anew in your daily life. I hope that we can meet God through the Word during Q.T, through prayer, and sometimes even in our dreams while sleeping.
Today, God wants to meet you. And right now, right now.
At this time, everyone wants to close their eyes and meditate for a moment. At this time, I don't think about other people... I think I'm alone in this place and I want to check my relationship with God. Who is God to me now? God is asking you the same question at this time. ‘Who do you say I am?’ How would you answer this question?
Who is God to me?
Not the God of my parents, not the God of my friends, but I really need to meet my God.
I want to meditate on this for a while and pray. “Who do you say I am?” Answer this question yourself. And at this time, I really hope you will meet my God who bore the cross for me anew.