Jesus Still Amazes!

"The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law."  - Mark 1:22

How long has it been since something really amazed you? The collapse of the Soviet Union, the taking down of the Berlin Wall, the World Wide Web, cell phones, then smart phones were also quite amazing, and still are today.

Nowadays, it really has to be something truly amazing to knock us off our feet. Thanks to modern science and technology, amazing seems to be almost commonplace; even mundane.

Early in N.T. times, the teachings within the synagogues could have been perceived as  having grown routine and ordinary. But, that was all about to change, and in a big way.

I will use the Gospel of Mark to illustrate this. After Jesus' baptism (Mark 1:9-11), his time being tempted by Satan in the desert (Mark 1:12-13), and calling of the first disciples (Mark 1:14-20), he was ready to go. 

From Galilee, Jesus and his small band of disciples traveled to Capernaum. There he stopped to teach in a synagogue on the Sabbath. He amazed the people because "he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law" (Mark 1:22).

But it wasn't just his teaching that caught their attention. Jesus also expelled an evil spirit from a man there (Mark 1: 23-26). The people were amazed about this "new teaching."

From his teaching and healing, to driving out demons, Jesus never stopped amazing the people in and around Galilee. There was nothing like Jesus before, or since. Even today, Jesus continues to amaze us thanks to his teachings and example. 

And though the word "amazing" may not hold the same wow-factor today that it once did, there can be no doubt that the life and minstry of Jesus Christ is right at the top of the "amazing" list.

For a brief period of time, the Only Begotten Son of God actually walked here among us on earth. And though he is but temporarily gone, he promised to return for all of his believers. And on that day...well, what else can I say, but "Amazing!"

Scripture: 1 Timothy 2:5; John 3:16; John 1:14; Mark 9:23; John 21:25 

Prayer:  If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.  -Romans 10:9

God bless you always,

Julie