Jesus Is Amazing
Reading through the gospels, it is clear that Jesus was amazing to people.
They were amazed at Jesus in the synagogue on the Sabbath:
“Then he went down to Capernaum, a town in Galilee, and on the Sabbath he taught the people. They were amazed at his teaching, because his words had authority.” (Luke 4:31-32)
- At the end of the sermon on the Mount, the people were amazed by Jesus:
“When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.” (Matt 7:28-29)
- After Jesus calmed the storm, the disciples were amazed at His power:
“The men were amazed and asked, ‘What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!’” (Matt 8:27)
- The people were amazed at how Jesus drove out demons:
“And when the demon was driven out, the man who had been mute spoke. The crowd was amazed and said, ‘Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel.’ “(Matt 9:33)
- People who knew Him were amazed:
“Coming to his home town, he began teaching the people in their synagogue, and they were amazed. ‘Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?’ they asked.” Matt 13:54)
- They were amazed by the things He did:
“Great crowds came to him, bringing the lame, the blind, the crippled, the mute and many others, and laid them at his feet; and he healed them. The people were amazed when they saw the mute speaking, the crippled made well, the lame walking and the blind seeing. And they praised the God of Israel.” (Matt 15:30-31)
- Even the Pharisees who saw Jesus heal a lame man (lowered by his friends from the roof), healed, were amazed:
“One day Jesus was teaching, and Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there. They had come from every village of Galilee and from Judea and Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was with Jesus to heal those who were ill. … Immediately he stood up in front of them, took what he had been lying on and went home praising God. Everyone was amazed and gave praise to God. They were filled with awe and said, ‘We have seen remarkable things today.’” (Luke 5: 17, 25-26)
People were amazed by Jesus – family, strangers, friends, disciples, Jews, Pharisees, everyone found Him amazing.
The Gospel of Jesus Christ (the good news He was sharing) was amazing to people back then; they had never heard or seen anything like this. The gospel is amazing and should be amazing to us! The gospel is all about Jesus’ sacrificial death, resurrection and ascension into heaven. It is amazing! This is the good news that the world needs to hear. People need to hear and understand that they need a Savior. People should be amazed at the impact of the gospel on us.
Are we still amazed by Jesus?
Or have we become professional Christians who “profess” to be Christians but no longer demonstrate the zeal for Christ we once had. Professional Christians behave as if:
- They are here to reform society, not to tell of Jesus who reforms
- Believing in Jesus and living His way, is all part of a self-betterment course
- Their goal is to fill a building with people
- Here to entertain with amazing events
- As one pastor said “…having no intention to roll up their sleeves and serve. They are looking to the church to feed them, meet their needs, serve their schedules and offer many of the latest and coolest programs in town.”
- When the Holy Spirit came upon the believers in Acts, those watching them were amazed by the impact on their lives:
“Utterly amazed, they asked: ‘Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans?” (Acts 2:7)
“Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, ‘What does this mean?’” (Acts 2:12)
- After Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, taught and operated in the Spirit, people were amazed at the gospel:
“Then Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked straight at Elymas and said, ‘You are a child of the devil and an enemy of everything that is right! You are full of all kinds of deceit and trickery. Will you never stop perverting the right ways of the Lord? Now the hand of the Lord is against you. You are going to be blind for a time, not even able to see the light of the sun.’ Immediately mist and darkness came over him, and he groped about, seeking someone to lead him by the hand. When the proconsul saw what had happened, he believed, for he was amazed at the teaching about the Lord. (Acts 13:9-12)
If we are not intentional about being amazed about the gospel of Jesus, lethargy sets in, and the enemy gets us to settle into professional Christianity.
“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:14-16
You and I need to ask ourselves about our level of amazement with Jesus?
Can people see the change in behaviour in our lives? Can they see that we are different to the world around us? Can they see that we influence the people around us to be amazed by Jesus?
Could our lack of amazement be evidence of our loss of a lampstand?
My heart has been convicted, dear friend, and I hope your heart has been convicted too. It is time for us to step up and be amazed again at the wonder of the gospel and what it means for all the people around us.
We know they need Jesus; life is challenging without Jesus!
Here is a song by Jesus Culture that is great to meditate with today, as you consider again how amazing Jesus is. ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WcZZmKNWkeQ )
Lord, forgive me for becoming comfortable and easygoing about my responsibility to be a lamp ON a lampstand in MY world. Forgive me for my lethargy my lack of urgency in making sure that I tell people around me the good news that I have in my heart. It is because I am not amazed anymore, Lord. I have lost my zeal, passion, and first love for You, and I need to fan the flame in my heart. Help me take a fresh look, Lord, to remember what You have done and Who You are. Holy Spirit fall afresh on me that the zeal of the Lord might burn in my heart anew. Help me be amazed, and may You in me, amaze people!
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