In a book written by an author calling himself, “Avi,” you will find a question asked that you have heard countless times. The book is about a young boy who gets so entangled in reading action comics that he imagines others surrounding him to be super-heroes in disguise. The question and the title of the book, is “Who Was that Masked Man Anyway?”
Many years ago, a similar question was asked, but not about the Lone Ranger. Jesus had been ministering and teaching all day and when evening came, he and his disciples got into a boat to travel to the other side of the sea.
And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships. And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? 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. And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith? And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?
Mark 4:36-41
One way to paraphrase that last question is, “Who is this man?” These men were in shock that the wind and sea had immediately become still and calm when he had spoken only three words; “Peace, be still.”
There is an old saying that is ever so true. “Familiarity breeds contempt.” I cannot imagine that these men were being deliberately contemptuous toward Jesus. Nevertheless, they had been in his presence enough that they were taking for granted who they knew down deep inside that he really was. He was their Creator and he was their God.
In our own lives, there could be times when we speak of Jesus as we would some fellow that lives in another country. The word “contempt” simply means, “the state of being despised; dishonored; disgraced.” Just as the disciples were at least slightly irreverent and insolent, we should be careful to guard our conduct and remain conscious of our own actions. He deserves to be treated in this life in a manner similar to the way we will treat him in the next.
To keep things in the proper perspective, maybe we should often ask ourselves the question, “Who is this man?” When we do, we might just be instantly stricken speechless as we begin to silently praise him for all that he is and all that he has done.
Moreover the Lord answered Job, and said, Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct him? he that reproveth God, let him answer it. Then Job answered the Lord, and said, Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer thee? I will lay mine hand upon my mouth. Once have I spoken; but I will not answer: yea, twice; but I will proceed no further. Job 40:1-5
“The believing man does not claim to understand. He falls to his knees and whispers, “God.” The man of earth kneels also, but not to worship. He kneels to examine, to search, to find the cause and the how of things.” ― A.W. Tozer