“And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, ‘Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him’!” (Mark 4:41)
This verse speaks volumes. It points to the truth that Jesus’ disciples had a lot to learn about him and his ministry. But they would never fully understand his purpose for coming, at least not until his death on the cross and subsequent resurrection from the grave.
Ironically, early in Jesus ministry a demon declared, “Let us alone! What have we to do with you, Jesus of Nazareth? Did you come to destroy us? I know who you are – the Holy One of God!” (Mark 1:24) The demons knew exactly who he was. For everyone else, however, it was a progressive realization that first required his death and resurrection.
There are also repeated exchanges in the New Testament where Jesus instructs his followers not to tell anyone about what they had seen, or what had just happened to them. For example, when Jesus healed two blind men, he sternly warned them, “See that no one knows it.” (Matthew 9:30) And when Jesus healed a leper, he told him, “See that you say nothing to anyone”. (Mark 1:44)
Why would Jesus not want others to hear about the miracles he was performing? One would think the miracles alone would serve as convincing proof the he really was the Son of God.
If you read the New Testament, all those miracles scared the daylights of those both in and out of power – so much so that they led to the conspiracy that resulted in Jesus’ death on the cross. Ironic isn’t it? Jesus was crucified for claiming to be someone they believed he was not – the Son of God!
There are a couple of good explanations for all the confusion. First, the Jew in the day of Roman rule was looking for a savior, but one who would save them from the Romans, not their sins. The Roman government was very hard on Jews, so they were looking for the promised messiah to conquer the Romans and govern over them. They thought the messiah prophesied in the Old Testament would set up his kingdom on earth, not in heaven. In other words, they were looking for a political ruler, not a heavenly king.
However, Jesus did not come to rule, but to serve by laying his life down for the sins of others. He pointed this out to Nicodemus when he said, “For God did not send his son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through him might be saved.” (John 3:17); and to his disciples when he explained why he spoke in parables: “To you it has been given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God; but to those who are outside, all things come in parables.” (Mark 4:11)
Even with that explanation, Jesus knew that his disciples would not immediately understand. In fact, when he was coming down from the Mount of Transfiguration with Peter, John and John’s brother, James- all three of whom had just seen Jesus’ face transformed to shine like the sun as he spoke to Moses and Elijah – he instructed them, “Tell the vision to no one until the Son of Man is risen from the dead.” (Matthew 17:9)
Miracles have their place but seeing is believing because Jesus’ appearance after the resurrection made a real difference in the lives of his disciples. Think about it. They all scattered when he was crucified, not wanting to suffer the same fate. But when he appeared to them after the resurrection, they became steadfast believers, missionaries and evangelists, literally giving their lives for the cause of Christ.
No one is the same once they understand who Jesus really is and why he came. That’s what he meant when he said, “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10)
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