Jaw-dropping Jewels about Jesus
Rarely does Jesus, God the Son, do exactly what we expect of Him. It seems odd that He so frequently surprises us, given that He never changes. Hebrews 13:8 makes this absolute statement: “Jesus the same yesterday, and today, and forever.” Still, though He is blessedly consistent in His goodness, Jesus does unforeseen things. Even when He does what is expected, He does not always do it in the way that we anticipate. Let us join with Jesus on a jaw-dropping journey. (I will be using this opening paragraph for each of the brief messages in this series. The following material will change daily.)
Following the inappropriate question of the disciples (Mark 4:38b – “And they awake Him, and say unto Him, ‘Master, carest Thou not that we perish?’”). Jesus, of course, responds appropriately: “And He arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, ‘Peace, be still.’ And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm” (verse 39). As the Creator (John 1:1-3), Jesus has full authority over nature, and He exercises it to full effect here. He could have performed this miracle progressively – and it still would have been a miracle – but it is immediate, producing “a great calm,” with both wind and waves ceasing. Colossians 1:16 confirms the absolute power of Jesus: “For by Him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by Him, and for Him.” Verse 17 then provides additional insight: “He is before all things, and by Him all things consist [hold together].” Just as Jesus holds the entire universe together, He holds our lives together. Probably each Christian has at least one story to tell of a time of great distress and stress in which Jesus has provided unusual and unexpected peace. Such times are to be cherished as direct interventions into our lives by our living and loving Lord. “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you” (John 14:27a) – indeed He does.