Who Is THIS???

Yesterday during Sunday school we were in Colossians 1:15-20.

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 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. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.
Colossians 1:15-20

When we got to the part "in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell", we began to discuss other passages that state the God-ness, the full deity, of Jesus Christ. I was reminded of the story that I read to Chaya in one of her reading lessons last week.

And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him. And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, "Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?" And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, "Peace! Be still!" And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. He said to them, "Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?" And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, "Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?"
Mark 4:36-41

I used to wonder why the disciples were so amazed in this story. But I am reading from the perspective of a twentieth century Westerner. I grew up on the Bible stories. And sometimes the miraculous nature of the events is lost on me. A couple months ago I was reading in Psalms and came upon this passage:

By awesome deeds you answer us with righteousness, O God of our salvation, the hope of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest seas; the one who by his strength established the mountains, being girded with might; who stills the roaring of the seas, the roaring of their waves, the tumult of the peoples,
Psalms 65:5-7

After reading this I realized why the disciples were so afraid-- well, probably. This passage in Psalms is speaking about the power of Yaweh, the God of Israel, the One True God. And the disciples, being Jews, would have been familiar with this passage. So they would know that God is the only one with power over the wind and waves. It was as if they were looking at Jesus, and thinking, "Only God can command the wind and seas. He MUST be God. But how can a MAN be GOD?!?! Who IS this?"

So as I was chewing over how to write this down, I was reminded of a song we used in a Christmas play at church a few years ago. It is called "Who is this?"

If you are interested, you can listen to it here:
"Who is this? (Miracles)"

A Psalm of David. Ascribe to the LORD, O heavenly beings, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength. Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness. The voice of the LORD is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, the LORD, over many waters. The voice of the LORD is powerful; the voice of the LORD is full of majesty. The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars; the LORD breaks the cedars of Lebanon. He makes Lebanon to skip like a calf, and Sirion like a young wild ox. The voice of the LORD flashes forth flames of fire. The voice of the LORD shakes the wilderness; the LORD shakes the wilderness of Kadesh. The voice of the LORD makes the deer give birth and strips the forests bare, and in his temple all cry, "Glory!" The LORD sits enthroned over the flood; the LORD sits enthroned as king forever. May the LORD give strength to his people! May the LORD bless his people with peace!
Psalms 29:1-11
 
Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice, "Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!" And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, "To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!" And the four living creatures said, "Amen!" and the elders fell down and worshiped.
Revelation 5:11-14