WHO IS THIS MAN?

SCRIPTURE READING

Matthew 13:53-57

Now it came to pass, when Jesus had finished these parables, that He departed from there. When He had come to His own country, He taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished and said, “Where did this Man get this wisdom and these mighty works? Is this not the carpenter’s son? Is not His mother called Mary? And His brothers James, Joses, Simon, and Judas? And His sisters, are they not all with us? Where then did this Man get all these things?” So they were offended at Him.

But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own country and in his own house.”

Luke 5:17-25

Now it happened on a certain day, as He was teaching, that there were Pharisees and teachers of the law sitting by, who had come out of every town of Galilee, Judea, and Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was present to heal them. Then behold, men brought on a bed a man who was paralyzed, whom they sought to bring in and lay before Him. And when they could not find how they might bring him in, because of the crowd, they went up on the housetop and let him down with his bed through the tiling into the midst before Jesus.

When He saw their faith, He said to him, “Man, your sins are forgiven you.”

And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, “Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?”

But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, He answered and said to them, “Why are you reasoning in your hearts? Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Rise up and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins”—He said to the man who was paralyzed, “I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.”

Immediately he rose up before them, took up what he had been lying on, and departed to his own house, glorifying God.

Matthew 8:23-27

Now when He got into a boat, His disciples followed Him. And suddenly a great tempest arose on the sea, so that the boat was covered with the waves. But He was asleep. Then His disciples came to Him and awoke Him, saying, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!”

But He said to them, “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?” Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. So the men marveled, saying, “Who can this be, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?”

Mark 1:21-24

Then they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath He entered the synagogue and taught. And they were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.

Now there was a man in their synagogue with an unclean spirit. And he cried out, saying, “Let us alone! What have we to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth? Did You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!”

DEVOTIONAL

How can Jesus be both God and man?

Christians have wrestled with that question for centuries. Our minds naturally want to understand how it works. But sometimes we can become so focused on figuring out the how that we lose sight of the who.

Jesus was fully human. He was born, grew up in a family, became tired, slept, ate, walked, and lived among people who knew Him personally.

That familiarity actually became a problem for some of the people in His hometown. They knew His mother. They knew His brothers and sisters. They knew Him as the carpenter’s son. So when they saw His wisdom and mighty works, they struggled to reconcile what they were witnessing with the man they thought they already knew.

Their understanding was being confronted.

And sometimes ours needs to be confronted, too.

If we only allow God to be as great as what we can understand, then our understanding has become the limit we have placed on God.

Luke 5 gives us another picture. Friends lowered a paralyzed man through a roof and placed him before Jesus. Everyone expected Jesus to address the obvious physical need, but Jesus first told the man that his sins were forgiven.

The religious leaders immediately recognized the problem: Who can forgive sins but God alone?

Jesus knew exactly what they were thinking. So He healed the man’s paralysis as visible evidence of the authority He had just claimed.

The man stood up, picked up his bed, and walked home.

This was not simply a good teacher doing something impressive.

Jesus was doing what only God could do.

Later, His own disciples faced the same question from a boat in the middle of a storm.

Jesus was asleep.

That detail matters. The man Jesus was tired enough to sleep while waves were covering the boat.

Then He stood up and rebuked the wind and the sea.

Everything became calm.

The disciples were amazed and asked what kind of man this could be that even the winds and the sea obeyed Him.

Again, their understanding was being confronted by who Jesus actually is.

The same Jesus who slept in the boat commanded the storm.

The same Jesus who walked the streets of Nazareth forgave sins.

The same Jesus people knew as a man exercised authority that belongs to God.

He is not simply a teacher, prophet, religious leader, or good example.

Jesus is God who came to dwell among us.

That truth should still amaze us.

But familiarity can slowly take the wonder out of things that should leave us in awe. We can sing the name of Jesus, read stories about Jesus, pray in the name of Jesus, and talk about Jesus so often that we stop being amazed by Him.

So ask yourself:

When was the last time Jesus amazed me?

When was the last time you looked at something God had done and thought, Only God could do that?

Maybe we need to allow Jesus to confront our understanding again.

Not so that we stop thinking or asking questions, but so that our understanding does not become the boundary of our faith.

Scripture anchors us in the truth of who Jesus is. Our experiences with Him should always be understood in light of what Scripture reveals about Him.

And Scripture keeps bringing us back to the same Person.

Jesus.

The disciples did not follow an idea. They followed Him.

The man lowered through the roof did not need a religious theory. He needed Jesus.

The disciples in the storm did not need a better explanation of weather. They needed Jesus.

And whatever you are facing today, your greatest need is still found in Him.

Do not get so caught up trying to understand everything that you lose sight of who is standing in front of you.

Look again at Jesus.

Let Him restore your amazement.

PRAYER FOCUS

Jesus, I want to see You rightly.

Forgive me for the places where familiarity has caused me to lose my wonder or where I have allowed my understanding to limit what I believe about You.

Thank You that You are fully God and fully man. You came near to us, and You still hold all authority.

Let Your Word shape what I believe about You. Help me never to redefine You according to my preferences, experiences, or understanding.

Restore amazement in my heart.

In every situation I face, help me take my eyes off the how and fix them again on who You are.

You are my Savior. You are my Lord. You are my King.

[Pray from your heart.]

In Jesus’ Name I pray, amen.

FAMILY REFLECTION

Ask:

When was the last time Jesus amazed you? What is something you have seen God do, or something Scripture reveals about Jesus, that reminds you He is greater than what we can fully understand?

Prayer Challenge:

Choose one situation your family is facing where you have been focused on how everything is going to work out. Bring it to Jesus together, and shift the focus from figuring out the how to trusting who He is.