Who Then Is This?

Last Sunday we began a trek into the high peaks of Mark’s Gospel—with steep trails, thin air, and spectacular views of the Son of God!  Mark’s story of Jesus is fast-paced; the Messiah comes on the scene and takes charge!  This Jesus is the God-Man who’s come to do no less than transform your life and this world.  Here are a few key state­ments from and about Jesus in Mark’s Gospel:

“The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel” (1:15).

“Rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed” (1:35).

“And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, ‘Son, your sins are forgiven’” (2:5).

“They were all amazed and glorified God, saying, ‘We never saw any­thing like this!’” (2:12).

“Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.  I came not to call the righteous, but sinners” (2:17).

“And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, ‘Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?’” (4:41).

“For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (10:45).

Who says these kinds of things?  Who goes around declaring people forgiven?  Who calls the masses to repentance?  Who walks on water and calms the sea?  Who claims to give his life as a sacrifice to cover the guilt of sin so that people can be redeemed—saved forever?  Answer:  Jesus the Christ, the Eternal Son of God.  And no one else.

So here’s the question:  In light of these staggering facts, is your life in sync with Jesus? Does your use of time and energy and money and language, and do your hopes and dreams, show that you’re in awe of the Living Lord Jesus Christ?  Or do you follow a religion with a back-seat Jesus, an only-when-I-need-a-hand Jesus, a taken-for-granted Jesus?  Can’t have it both ways.  Friends, don’t settle for anything less than the one, true, spectacular, Lord Jesus Christ!