What Manner Of Man Was He?

In Matthew 8 Jesus and his disciples get on a boat to travel to the other side of the sea. When they got out to sea tragedy struck, a great storm arose on the sea and the boat was being swamped by waves. The disciples, many of whom were skilled fishermen and veterans of the sea, became afraid for their live. However, in the middle of the storm that was terrorizing them, Jesus was asleep. He who was peace found peace even in a stormy situation.

They went to him and woke him saying, “Save us Lord; we are going to die.” He promptly responded, “Why are you afraid, O ye of little faith?” He rose and rebuked the winds and the sea and there was a great calm. Everything fell still at the sound of his voice and peace settled in where only moments before a storm had raged. Shocked and no doubt somewhat surprised, the disciples, according to scripture marveled and said, “What manner of man is this? Even the winds and the seas obey him!”

I find it somewhat interesting that those who would eventually know him best were faced with the same question that would later haunt the minds of the multitudes who would come into contact with him and those in authority that would condemn him. A Roman soldier would one day stand at the foot of his cross and marvel that this, without a doubt, was surely the son of God. But here we find the disciples, those that will learn the answer to the question much better than anyone else, asking among themselves, “What manner of Man is this?”

I find a challenge in that question because the manner of man that he was is the manner of man that I must strive to be. I think it would be a good exercise for every man to measure themselves against the answer to that question. What manner of man was he? When I formulate an answer to that question I set a goal to strive for. Because, the manner of man that he was is the manner of man that I must strive to be!