MARK 4:35-41 _ As evening came, Jesus said to his disciples, Let s cross to the other side of the lake. So they took Jesus in the boat and started out, leaving the crowds behind (although other boats followed). But soon a fierce storm came up. High waves were breaking into the boat, and it began to fill with water. Jesus was sleeping at the back of the boat with his head on a cushion. The disciples woke him up, shouting, Teacher, don t you care that we re going to drown? When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and said to the waves, Silence! Be still! Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm. Then he asked them, Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith? The disciples were absolutely terrified. Who is this man? they asked each other. Even the wind and waves obey him!
JESUS WAS SURROUNDED BY QUESTIONS
THE NECESSITY FOR SIGNS
WHO IS THIS MAN?
CHRISTOLOGY (UNDERSTANDING THE SIGNS OF JESUS)
JESUS AS MAN: TEACHES, TELLS STORIES, MODELS ETC
JESUS AS GOD: MIRACLES, AUTHORITY, LOGOS OF GOD ETC
ROGER OLSON _ Is there a basic, universal Christian belief about Jesus Christ that we must build on and return to? There is: Jesus Christ as God incarnate; one unified person the eternal Son of God equal with the father; of two distinct but never seperate natures, human and divine. Merely functional Christologies that attempt to describe Jesus Christ solely in terms of his human accomplishments cannot suffice; if Jesus Christ was not God there is no particular reason to suppose he cannot be surpassed. People who settle for a merely functional Christology will inevitably begin looking for another Christ or at least allowing for the possibility of many Christs.
ROGER OLSON _ Christianity is Christ, and that means that at its very centre it necessarily includes belief in and affirmation of Christ s full diety. He does not merely have the value of God for us; He is God for us, as Karl Barth never tired of saying. At the same time, we must remember that he was and is not only truly human, but also the true human. From Jesus Christ we learn not only the will and character of God but also our own humanity. The Mosaic of Christian Belief
CHRIST: 1 PERSON, 2 NATURES FULLY MAN. FULLY GOD.
LET US TURN UP THE DIAL ON BOTH NATURES
MARK 4:35-41 _ As evening came, Jesus said to his disciples, Let s cross to the other side of the lake. So they took Jesus in the boat and started out, leaving the crowds behind (although other boats followed). But soon a fierce storm came up. High waves were breaking into the boat, and it began to fill with water. Jesus was sleeping at the back of the boat with his head on a cushion. The disciples woke him up, shouting, Teacher, don t you care that we re going to drown? When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and said to the waves, Silence! Be still! Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm. Then he asked them, Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith? The disciples were absolutely terrified. Who is this man? they asked each other. Even the wind and waves obey him!
TO READ THIS LITERALLY, WE MUST READ IT FOR WHAT IT WAS WRITTEN TO BE: A SHORT STORY NARRATIVE. A PARABLE, WITH A HISTORICAL FIGURE.
GOD SENDS JONAH TO THE NINEVITES WITH A MESSAGE OF JUDGEMENT.
SIDENOTE: THE NINEVITES WERE THE EQUIVALENT TO THE NAZIS OR THE WORST EMPIRES WHO HAVE PILLAGED HUMANITY.
HE REFUSES, GETS ON A BOAT TO RUN AWAY FROM GOD.
HIS REBELLION BRINGS DISASTER TO THE PEOPLE ON THE BOAT, A STORM COMES, HE FESSES UP, THE SAILORS REPENT AND JONAH GETS THROWN OVERBOARD IN THE STORM.
JONAH GETS SWALLOWED BY A GIANT FISH.
JONAH COMPOSES A BEAUTIFUL, REPENTANT PRAYER WHILE CRAMPED IN THE BELLY OF THE FISH.
THE FISH VOMITS JONAH ONTO THE LAND.
GOES TO NINEVAH AND PREACHES A SERMON.
BEYOND ALL BELIEF, ALL (EVEN THE COWS) COME TO REPENTANCE.
JONAH GOES OUT OF THE CITY, WANTS TO DIE BECAUSE THESE PEOPLE ARE SUCH ENEMIES.
GOD PROVIDES, AND HE STILL WANTS TO DIE.
FINAL WORDS FROM GOD: CAN T I HAVE COMPASSION ON ALL PEOPLE, (EVEN THE COWS)?"
THE POINT OF THE STORY:
THE POINT OF THE STORY: DON T DISOBEY GOD, OR YOU WILL BE EATEN BY A GIANT FISH.
THE POINT OF THE STORY: DON T DISOBEY GOD, OR YOU WILL BE EATEN BY A GIANT FISH. GOD S MERCY IS FOR EVEN THE WORST OF OUR ENEMIES.
WHERE AS JONAH DIDN T CONFRONT THE STORM, JESUS DID.
WHERE AS JONAH DIDN T CONFRONT THE STORM, JESUS DID. THE SIGN: JESUS IS NOT JUST A PROPHET LIKE JONAH
EVEN THE WIND AND WAVES OBEY HIM!
PSALM 65:7 _ You quieted the raging oceans with their pounding waves and silenced the shouting of the nations. PSALM 89:9 _ You rule the oceans. You subdue their storm-tossed waves.
PSALM 107:23-30 _ Some went off to sea in ships, plying the trade routes of the world. They, too, observed the Lord s power in action, his impressive works on the deepest seas. He spoke, and the winds rose, stirring up the waves. Their ships were tossed to the heavens and plunged again to the depths; the sailors cringed in terror. They reeled and staggered like drunkards and were at their wits end. Lord, help! they cried in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress.
PSALM 107:23-30 _ He calmed the storm to a whisper and stilled the waves. What a blessing was that stillness as he brought them safely into harbor!
THIS IS A SIGN THAT JESUS IS LORD OF ALL CREATION
SO, WHAT S THE LESSON HERE?
PSALM 65:1 _ What mighty praise, O God, belongs to you in Zion. PSALM 89:52 _ Praise the Lord forever! Amen and amen!
PSALM 107:31-32 _ Let them praise the Lord for his great love and for the wonderful things he has done for them. Let them exalt him publicly before the congregation and before the leaders of the nation.
WONDER + WORSHIP
GOD OF WONDERS _ Lord of all creation God of wonders beyond our galaxy Hallelujah, to the Lord of heaven and earth