“WHO CAN THIS BE?”
Intro: When we begin to study the wonderful things of this Bible, it causes me to think about the number of people that just refuse to believe that there can be a God so wonderful and great. God is so magnificent that it is hard for man to imagine someone being willing and able to do the things that God does for all mankind. I ask you this morning to stop and review what God has done and to think if there is anything or anyone that compares to the marvelous work of compassion and love for all mankind like my Lord. When I think about the Lord, makes me want to shout, Hallelujah.
Text: Mark 4:35-41
Illustration: Nine-year-old Danny came bursting out of Sunday school like a wild stallion. His eyes were darting in every direction as he tried to locate either mom or dad. Finally, after a quick search, he grabbed his Daddy by the leg and yelled, "Man, that story of Moses and all those people crossing the Red Sea was great!" His father looked down, smiled, and asked the boy to tell him about it.
"Well, the Israelites got out of Egypt, but Pharaoh and his army chased
after them. So the Jews ran as fast as they could until they got to the Red Sea. The Egyptian Army was gettin’ closer and closer. So Moses got on his walkie-talkie and told the Israeli Air Force to bomb the Egyptians. While that was happening, the Israeli Navy built a pontoon bridge so the people could cross over. They made it!
By now old dad was shocked. "Is THAT the way they taught you the story?" Well, no, not exactly," Danny admitted, "but if I told you the way they told it to us, you’d never believe it, Dad."
”Here is a direction/course that Jesus gave His disciples. The Word of God is also filled direction and a course for you to follow and with many promises for you. But first you need to grab a hold of God’s Word.
Through times of trials God will direct you and fulfill His promises in you and through you. The important thing here is that you must believe what He said is for you. And the other thing is to remember what He has said.
Psalms 37:23 “The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord and He delights in his way.”
Jesus took much faith in knowing that His disciples were being sent to the other side, knowing what they had to face, but He was not afraid or even anxious about what was going to happen on the way to the other side. Jesus is and always was in control of every situation that He had to face.
I. THE AWE OF THIS MAN
A. There was so much that they have seen Christ do, just one more thing to add to the list of miraculous things He did caused them to stand in awe when He calmed the wind and the storm. Their fear quickly changed to awe and amazement of the power that Jesus had to do this miracle.
Illustration: On Christmas Day 1968, the three astronauts of Apollo 8 circled the dark side of the moon and headed for home. Suddenly, over the horizon of the moon rose the blue and white Earth garlanded by the glistening light of the sun against the black void of space. Those sophisticated men, trained in science and technology, did not utter Einstein’s name. They did not even go to the poets, the lyricists, or the dramatists. Only one thing could capture the awe-inspiring thrill of this magnificent observation. Billions heard the voice from outer space as the astronaut read it: "In the beginning God"--the only concept worthy enough to describe that unspeakable awe, unutterable in any other way. "In the beginning God created"--the invasive, the inescapable sense of the infinite and the eternal.
B. Just as we will find throughout Mark, the people were astounded at his teaching. But the big event here was that he not only taught with authority, he demonstrated authority over demons. He cast them out of a man. He silenced these unclean spirits just as he had silenced the storm.
Mark 2:12 “Immediately he arose, took up the bed and went out in the presence of them all, so that all were amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!”
II. THE AUTHORITY OF THIS MAN
A. What else does he have authority over? When you consider all of it?
• Illnesses 1:29 • Leprosy 1: 40 • Paralysis & sin 2:1 • Sabbath 2:23 • Withered hand 3:1 • Storm 4:35. Is he a victim of circumstances or victor over death? Have you handed the authority for your life over to him or are you still fighting battles with your own strength? Who is this man? The disciples had to deal with that question. You do, too.
Mark 1:27 “And they were all amazed, insomuch that they questioned among themselves saying, What thing is this? What new doctrine is this? For with authority commandeth he even the unclean spirits and they do obey him.”
B. The authority that He used came from His father, when you think about how God spoke and the world came into exist. The authority he had was even overwhelming to the Sadducees and Pharisees because they could not understand how he could forgive sins and heal sick bodies with the same spoken word. Yes they were amazed at His authority.
John 5:27 “And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of Man.”
III. THE ABILITY OF THIS MAN
A. But let’s go on. The disciples have rowed the boat across the Sea of Galilee. When they get out they are in Gentile territory. What does Jesus do first? He casts out an unclean spirit just as he did when he started his ministry in Jewish territory. He opened his ministry in Capernaum with an exorcism. He opens his ministry in Gentile land the same way. And this time it doesn’t just involve the man. By the time it is all over with, 2000 pigs are dead.
Ephesians 3:20 “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.”
B. They came to realize that Christ had the ability to whatever He put His mind to do for the lives of people that He encountered. Some-times we lose sight of the ability that Christ has to meet the need or overcome the situation that is present. I am here to tell you that God can do all things for all people that will simply have faith in Him.
Romans 4:21 “And being fully convinced that what He had promised He was able to perform.”
