Who is Jesus, and Why Does It Matter?

²² One day he got into a boat with his disciples, and he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side of the lake.” So they set out, ²³ and as they sailed he fell asleep. And a windstorm came down on the lake, and they were filling with water and were in danger. ²⁴ And they went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we are perishing!” And he awoke and rebuked the wind and the raging waves, and they ceased, and there was a calm. ²⁵ He said to them, “Where is your faith?” And they were afraid, and they marveled, saying to one another, “Who then is this, that he commands even winds and water, and they obey him?” (Luke 8:22-25, ESV)

Companion passages: Matthew 8:23-27 and Mark 4:35-41

1. Jesus was a who grew .

This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. (Hebrews 4:15, NLT)

2. Jesus is present in our circumstances.

He is our .

And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing? (Mark 4:38b, ESV)

He is our and .

And they went and woke him, saying, “Save us, Lord; we are perishing.” (Matthew 8:25, ESV)

And they went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we are perishing!” (Luke 8:24a, ESV)

3. Jesus is and in sovereign .

Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the LORD drove the sea back by a strong east wind all night and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided. And the people of Israel went into the midst of the sea on dry ground, the waters being a wall to them on their right hand and on their left. Exodus 14:21-22, ESV)

If he withholds the waters, they dry up; if he sends them out, they overwhelm the land. (Job 12:15, ESV)

Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. He made the storm be still, and the waves of the sea were hushed. (Psalm 107:28-29, ESV)

For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities – all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. (Colossians 1:16-17, ESV)

“It is by far the most amazing miracle of the entire Bible – far more amazing than the resurrection and more amazing even than the creation of the universe. The fact that the infinite, omnipotent, eternal Son of God could become man and join himself to a human nature forever, so that infinite God became one person with finite man, will remain for eternity the most profound miracle and the most profound mystery in all the universe”
(Grudem, Wayne. Systematic Theology. p. 563)

4. Jesus is the only to salvation.

5. Jesus deserves our highest level of , , and .