The Apostle Paul, in Titus chapter 2 verse 13, depicts Jesus as our “Great God and Saviour.”
This is an astonishing statement about Jesus that directly confirms that He was not only human, but divine in nature as well.
Some of the things that
John Mark records about Jesus serve to provide a background and confirmation for what the Apostle Paul was to say about Jesus in his letter to Titus.
Mark tells about the sudden windstorm that arose on the Sea of Galilee as Jesus and a number of His disciple friends were crossing over.
There was great danger of being swamped. The terrorized men woke up Jesus, who seemed oblivious to the storm.
On being awakened, He commanded the wind to cease and the sea to be still. A great calm came over the sea. The men were astonished and said: “Who can this be, that even the wind and sea obey Him” (Mark chapter 4 verse 41).
Jesus proved that He is the great God who had power over nature and power to save the men from danger.
Possession
The next event recorded by Mark, is that of a man set free from demon possession. This man met Jesus soon after He landed on shore.
What would Jesus do with him? The man was pretty scary. He was excluded from polite society and all attempts to control him failed. He broke the shackles and chains that were used to restrain him. Then he isolated himself in the mountains and graveyards, and mutilated himself with sharp stones.
Jesus was not afraid of him; instead He had compassion on him and delivered him from the possession of the demons that tormented him.
Later this same man was seen at peace with himself, sitting, now fully clothed and in his right mind.
Jesus proved that He is the great God who had power over evil spirits and could save a man from their clutches.
A third event Mark recounts was the healing of a woman who had a flow of blood that had lasted 12 years.
This could only be frustrating and embarrassing for this poor woman. She had sought help from physicians, but Mark says she suffered from their attempts and was no better off, but grew worse.
The woman had a thought: if she could only touch Jesus’ garment, she would be healed. Why she thought that is hard to fathom. But she did it anyway and indeed she was healed.
Jesus was aware of her desire for healing and of her faith that He would have compassion on her. He did not fail her and said: “Daughter, your faith has made you well, go in peace” (Mark chapter 5 verse 34).
Jesus proved that He had power over disease and power to save a woman from its effects.
Mark records another event in which a 12-year-old girl was raised up from death.
The father was an official in charge of a Jewish synagogue. His child was near the point of death, which prompted him to seek out Jesus.
Before Jesus could get to the home, the child died. Jesus reassured the father that all would be well. He entered the room where the child was lying, took her hand and said: “Little girl, I say to you arise.”
Arose
The girl arose and walked. The father, mother and three disciples of Jesus were present: “And they were overcome with great amazement” (Mark chapter 5 verse 42).
Jesus proved that He is the great God who had power over death and had power to save a little girl from its grip.
It should be noted that for every difficulty, Jesus had a solution. There was nothing too hard for Him!
He had power over nature when it threatened. He had power over evil when it had a man in its grip. He had power over sickness and disease for a woman who was suffering. He had power over death when a young girl had died.
Jesus Christ can help us when we have problems that are greater than our own strength. He has power to forgive, to save, to comfort and console us in our grief. He is our Great God and Saviour!
Lorne Moorhead is a retired pastor living in Flin Flon.
