Introduction: Who Is This?

“Who is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?” — Mark 4:41

In the last book, Jesus was born in Bethlehem, grew up in Nazareth, and began His work. He called some fishermen to follow Him, and they left their nets behind.

Now Jesus travels from town to town with His disciples. Huge crowds follow Him wherever He goes. And everywhere He goes, wonderful things happen.

In this book you will see Jesus do miracles: things only God could do. He makes people who can’t walk get up and walk. He stops a storm with a word. He feeds thousands of people with one boy’s lunch. He even brings people who have died back to life.

You will also hear Jesus tell stories. Jesus was the best storyteller there has ever been. His stories are called parables. They are about ordinary things, like seeds and sheep and coins and builders, and every one of them teaches us something about God.

Wherever Jesus went, people asked the same question: “Who is this?” Who is this man who can forgive sins and calm the sea and raise the dead? Who is this man who loves the people everyone else ignores?

As you read these stories, you can ask that question too. And by the end, you might know the answer.

Dear Jesus, as we read about the wonderful things you did and the stories you told, help us to know who you really are, and to love you more. Amen.