The human brain is amazing. I have heard estimates over the years of the large capacities in our brains that never get utilized. I was watching a PBS show recently about the brain. One of the doctors talked about the millions of pieces of data that we “see” every day and how our brain stores it, utilizes it or ignores it. The doctor said this in a more sophisticated way then I just did but you get the point. The example was used of driving a car. As you drive down the freeway signs, on ramps, off ramps, trucks, cars and a myriad of other stimuli will become visible to you. The human brain sorts out the input and decides what to do with it.  Some information could be the sudden appearance of brake lights ahead of you. Your brain would communicate that danger is approaching unless you hit the brakes. If a sparrow flew over the road you may or may not give it a second thought. It is fascinating what God has built into the human brain. If a person has been through significant hardship then their “fight or flight” response may be highly sophisticated. If a person has grown up in a stable, calm, grace filled home they will perceive threats, trouble and life itself from an entirely different set of assumptions, responses and reactions. In our text for this week the disciples witness two miracles that Jesus performed. He quieted a storm on the Sea of Galilee and he healed a demon possessed man. (Luke 8:22-39) After Jesus quieted the storm the disciples asked, “who is this?” Though they had called Jesus “Master” earlier in the account they had been overcome by fear and momentarily lost faith. The disciples weren’t “sure” about the identity of Jesus. I don’t think the identity of Jesus was “clear” in their minds until the Holy Spirit was poured out in Acts 2. An interesting contrast takes place when the demon possessed man meets Jesus. The troubled man says, “Jesus, Son of the Most High God”. The demons inside the man “SEE” Jesus with crystal clear clarity. They know Jesus is the eternal Son of God, the “Word made flesh”. John 1:14
The demons had better theology than the disciples did! What does your brain “perceive” about the identity of Jesus? In “The Knowledge of the Holy” AW Tozer says, “the most important thing about a human is what they think of God.” Luke 10:22 gives us some eternal insight into the relationship between the Father and the Son. This Scripture helps us answer the question, “who is this?”, in regards to the identity of Jesus. There are many cults in our world that get the identity of Jesus wrong. Theology matters because it determines what you think about our Triune God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
God Bless You
Pastor Drew
