What Manner Of Man Is This?

"WHAT MANNER OF MAN IS THIS?" Matthew 8:23-27 8-4-7

Today we’ll talk for a little while on, [WHAT MANNER OF MAN IS THIS] the Lord Jesus Christ. Listen as I read today’s text found in:

Matthew 8:23-27 23And when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him. 24And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep. 25And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish. 26And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm. 27But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!

Have you ever wondered, what was the purpose of this experience? Why was a storm allowed to arise on the sea with Christ in the boat?

The purpose of the storm was to cause His followers to ask in amazement, Matthew 8:27 27But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!

He proved once again that He is the Messiah! Calming the storm did three things.

1. It demonstrated who He is: the Sovereign Lord who has all power—even power over nature.

2. It strengthened the belief of His followers: belief in Him as the Messiah and in His personal care as their Savior.

3. It gave to those on the boat and to us today a picture of His care and power—His care and power to deliver through all the storms of life (including our trials and fearful experiences).

It don’t matter what the storm or trial is or how terrifying it may be, Christ is able to deliver and bring about an assuring calm, if we’ll turn it over to Him.

1st pt.5: 7Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

I’m afraid we’ll go to Him many times with our problems and then it seems that we’ll continue to worry with the problem. I suppose that’s our human nature.

I can’t think of many trials that would be more freighting than to be caught in a life-threatening storm at sea**.

In this experience God demonstrated His wonderful care and power to deliver believers through the storms of life.

We find in this account the basic fact that true disciples follow Jesus no matter what. The words in verse 23 have a great meaning, ["His disciples followed Him"].

His disciples followed Him wherever He went. They had made a genuine commitment; they were now committed to following Him regardless of the circumstances and the cost.

We get a good idea of the sacrifice His disciples made when we read about Peter’s family. Matthew 8:14-15 14And when Jesus was come into Peter’s house, he saw his wife’s mother** laid, and sick of a fever. 15And he touched her hand, and the fever left her: and she arose, and ministered unto them.

Peter and the others had left home, seldom to return, at least for any length of time. This was no doubt a big sacrifice for them and their families!

Let me read you these verses,

Luke 9:23-24 23And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. 24For whosoever will save his life shall

lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.

Luke 14:33 So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple

Romans 8:13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify** the deeds of the body, ye shall live

Phil. 3:8 Paul says, Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord:-- Paul says now that he has found out the truth about Jesus Christ, his former religion he counts only as dung; useless, worthless, Jesus Christ is now uppermost in his thinking. The things that he used to consider most precious he now considers to be dung— He says he flushes his religion down the drain. He flushes away all the things he used to trust. Now he trusts the Lord Jesus and Him only for his salvation.

Phil. 3:8 Paul says, Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ

Let me remind us that every body that met Jesus didn’t follow Him. And it’s the same today, not all people that hear of Jesus and what He has done for lost mankind follows Him. Maybe they’re afraid that the waters might be to rough.