Discovering who Jesus is

This is yet another instance where Jesus purposefully creates a situation to make his disciples wonder, start asking questions, stir interest. He could have just tell them who He is and what powers He has (full control over creation, in this case). Yet He chooses to take them on the path of self discovery. He wants them to draw conclusions on their own.

It starts off with Him telling his disciples “let us go over to the other side”. As if He would say “I’ve got something for you”. The crowd was left behind, this is something for those really interested, who care to find out more. It doesn’t seem this was meant just for the close twelve (“There were also other boats with Him” v.36). The play starts right away (v.37) and He is sleeping … hmmm!!! You do that and you’ll get some questions raised (which is the point of it all). “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” Ok, you’ve got our attention; you better tell us what’s going on here? BAM, Jesus does His thing (which is to show tremendous power over nature) and then instead of making a statement (about who He is and why He can do this), He again asks questions. Questions that made them search inside. I believe Jesus asked a question, paused and let it sink in; then asked another question. The text doesn’t tell us that and it doesn’t tell how long has passed till they asked their questions (v.41). Isn’t it interesting that they started having a group discussion of sorts? Jesus is right there with them, after all the question concerns Him, why not ask Jesus? But this is ok, the question has been born and it spreads among them. They all get worked up. It’s a question you HAVE TO find the answer or it’s not going to go away. It is a good question: “Who is this?” WHO IS JESUS?

Don’t you find it puzzling that they’ve been following Him for this long and didn’t even know who He is? They followed without all their questions answered??? They knew a little bit and that it seems was enough to follow Him, figuring in time they will find out more.

And Mark doesn’t answer the question for us. It just leaves us right there with the disciples wondering, as if the question is for us to answer. The point is not getting the answer but make the reader wonder, ask the question too. It doesn’t matter after all what Mark believed the answer is, what matters is what does the reader think the answer is?

Created about 4 years ago