Originally posted: 09/17/2019
…And they being afraid wondered, saying one to another, What manner of man is this!… (8:25 KJV).
If Luke 8 were the only chapter written to expound upon the Person of Jesus Christ, it just may well be enough. How can a mere man be all that He is? How can a mere man do all that He did?
His life, His miracles, and His words still cause people today to wonder “What Manner of Man is This!”
Consider What Manner of Man He Is
- He is the Preacher.
- Soon afterwards, He began going around from one city and village to another, proclaiming and preaching the kingdom of God, (8:1).
- He is the Healer.
- …The twelve were with Him, 2 and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and sicknesses… (8:1-2).
- He is the Sower.
- He spoke by way of a parable: 5 “The sower went out to sow his seed… 11 “Now the parable is this: the seed is the word of God,” (8:4-5, 11).
- He is the Revealer of Mysteries.
- His disciples began questioning Him as to what this parable meant. 10 And He said, “To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the rest it is in parables, so that seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand…” (8:9-10).
- He is the Light.
- “Now no one after lighting a lamp covers it over with a container, or puts it under a bed; but he puts it on a lampstand, so that those who come in may see the light. 17 For nothing is hidden that will not become evident, nor anything secret that will not be known and come to light,” (8:16-17).
- He is Brother to the faithful.
- But He answered and said to them, “My mother and My brothers are these who hear the word of God and do it,” (8:21).
- He is the Ruler of creation.
- … a fierce gale of wind descended on the lake, and they began to be swamped and to be in danger. 24 They came to Jesus and woke Him up, saying, “Master, Master, we are perishing!” And He got up and rebuked the wind and the surging waves, and they stopped, and it became calm. 25 And He said to them, “Where is your faith?” They were fearful and amazed, saying to one another, “Who then is this, that He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey Him?” (8:23-25).
- He is Lord over every spirit.
- He came out onto the land, He was met by a man from the city who was possessed with demons… 29 For He had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man… 33 And the demons came out of the man… (8:28-29, 33).
- He is the Great Physician.
- And a woman who had a hemorrhage for twelve years, and could not be healed by anyone, 44 came up behind Him and touched the fringe of His cloak, and immediately her hemorrhage stopped, (8:43-44).
- He is the Resurrected Life.
- While He was still speaking, someone came from the house of the synagogue official, saying, “Your daughter has died… 54 He, however, took her by the hand and called, saying, “Child, arise!” 55 And her spirit returned, and she got up immediately… (8:49, 54-55).
How do we respond to What Manner of Man He Is?
We must carefully consider What Manner of Man He Is. Jesus Himself asked His disciples to do so, And He continued by questioning them, “But who do you say that I am?” (Mark 8:29).
He asks the same of us.
- Jesus told us exactly What Manner of Man He Is.
- “I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep…27 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; 28 and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. 30 I and the Father are one,” (John 10:11, 27-30).
- “I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep…27 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; 28 and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. 30 I and the Father are one,” (John 10:11, 27-30).
- His life validated His claims.
- “If I do not do the works of My Father, do not believe Me; 38 but if I do them, though you do not believe Me, believe the works, so that you may know and understand that the Father is in Me, and I in the Father,” (John 10:37-38).
- If we tell Jesus we are His followers, is it mere lip service or do our lives validate our claims?
- “Now no one after lighting a lamp covers it over with a container, or puts it under a bed; but he puts it on a lampstand, so that those who come in may see the light,” (8:16).
- “Now no one after lighting a lamp covers it over with a container, or puts it under a bed; but he puts it on a lampstand, so that those who come in may see the light,” (8:16).
One day the truth of our hearts will be revealed.
Lord, Jesus, may we have ears to hear, hearts to worship, wills to submit, and lives that bring You glory, that Your light in us would draw others to see What Manner of Man You Are! And please Lord, deliver us from any self-deception as we carefully listen to Your Word, for we are desperate for all You have for us.
“For nothing is hidden that will not become evident, nor anything secret that will not be known and come to light. 18 So take care how you listen; for whoever has, to him more shall be given; and whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has shall be taken away from him,” (8:17-18).