What Manner of Man Is This?

My Come, Follow Me studies for this week took me to Matthew 8, Mark 2-4, and Luke 7 for a lesson titled “Thy Faith Hath Saved Thee.” The following important counsel preceded the lesson: “Be careful to rush your study of the scriptures. Take time for prayerful pondering, even if it means you don’t have time to read every verse. These moments of pondering often lead to personal revelation.” The following paragraph introduced the scripture block. 

One of the clearest messages in the New Testament is that Jesus Christ is a healer. Accounts of the Savior healing the sick and afflicted are many – from a woman with a fever to a widow’s son who had died. Why the emphasis on physical healing? What messages might there be for us in these miracles? Certainly one obvious message is that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, with power over all things, including our physical pains and imperfections. But another meaning is found in His words to the skeptical scribes: “That ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins” (Mark 2:10). So when you read about a blind person or a leper being healed, you might think of the healing – both spiritual and physical – that you can receive from the Savior and hear Him say to you, “Thy faith hath saved thee” (Luke 7:50).

The scripture block contains many stories of Christ healing various people of diseases and other health problem. As I studied this scripture block this time, I imagined what I would do under similar situations of the people in the time of Jesus Christ. My husband has had one health problem after another for more than ten years. I would try to take him to a place where Christ could heal him. Other loved ones suffer for physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual problems. I would encourage them to go to Christ to be healed.

In addition to healing many people, Jesus Christ performed many miracles. One experience that shows the power of Christ is the story of calming the winds and the waves as found in both Matthew 8:23-27 and Mark 4:35:41. Mark’s record contains more details, so I will use his writing.

35 And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side.

36 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.

37 And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.

38 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?

39 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.

40 And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?

41 And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?

Many of us have gone through experiences where we were being buffeted by “the winds and the waves” of life. It could be a relationship problem, a financial problem, a health problem, or the loss of a loved one. Like His disciples, we may even cry out, “carest thou not that we [suffer]?” The only way to find true peace is to turn to Jesus Christ and allow Him to calm our storms.

The version of the story found in Mark gives four important questions that are important for us to consider: (1) Carest thou not that we perish? (2) Why are ye so fearful? (3) How is it that ye have no faith? (4) What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?

I know that Christ does care about each one of us and how we handle the tests, trials, and tribulations that come into our lives. I know that He can bring peace into our lives even as we struggle with our problems.

I also know that Christ can work miracles in our behalf. However, faith comes before miracles. We must have faith that Christ can work miracles in our lives even if He chooses not to do so. In addition, I know that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and the Savior of the world. He came to earth to prepare the way that all of us may return to the presence of Heavenly Father.