(Guest Author - 9/15/19)
YOU ARE AMAZING!
Webster defines Amaze as: to fill with great surprise or sudden wonder/ astonishment/ to bewilder.
We might react when amazed with: “Wow, did you see that? Can you believe what you saw?”
OR “I can’t believe they would do something like that; it’s horrible! (Remember 9-11)
One scripture that amazes me is the reaction of the Gadarenes in Matthew 8:28-34. Jesus had just taken care of their worst local problem. You see there were these 2 totally out of control Violent men who were demon-possessed and there was no knowing what they would do next. The Bible says they were so violent no one could pass that way! I would think the townspeople would be falling on their faces in gratitude saying, “Thank You, Jesus! Thank You!” Or maybe, “How long can You stay with us. We need You. We would love to have You live here--- because You know those two are NOT the Only people with problems!” Instead their response is horribly amazing, “...they pleaded with Him to leave their region.”
I’m amazed at Jesus calming the storm, walking on the water, healing people, feeding people, raising Lazarus from the dead, having Peter find the money to pay taxes in the mouth of a fish, ALWAYS having the right answer, forgiving people and taking time for them… the list goes on and on, but what I’m shocked about is what amazed Jesus!
In Matthew 8: 5-10, a foreigner, a Roman centurion showed amazing faith in Jesus. When the centurion asked for help, Jesus responded, “I will go and heal him.” But the centurion in effect said, “That won’t be necessary --- I know what it is like to be in control. When I tell someone to do something they do it! I know You are in control and if You say it--- it’s done! (My paraphrase) Matthew 8: 10 says that Jesus was astonished. You can find the same incident in Luke 7:1-10. In Luke 7:9 It says, “Jesus was amazed at him.”
In Matthew 13:53-58, Jesus goes to His hometown of Nazareth. The people listened to Him for a while and then started in questioning, “We know this man, we know His family. Where did He get all this ability.” (My paraphrase) They took offense at Him and “He did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith.” The same incident is mentioned in Mark 6:1-6. Mark 6:6 concludes, “And He was amazed at their lack of faith.” The key thing here is faith--- the same old question “do you trust Me?” Keep in mind Proverbs 3:5-6 “...lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him...”
Around the hometown crowd who thought they knew all about Him, He was amazed at their LACK of faith and He could not do many miracles there because of it. With the centurion, Jesus was amazed at the strength of his faith. SO--- what about YOU? As Jesus looks at you is He amazed at how great your faith in Him is OR is He amazed that it’s so small?
Mark 9:23 has challenged me many times. Jesus is talking, “Everything is possible for him who believes.”
Lois Jordan
YOU ARE AMAZING!
Webster defines Amaze as: to fill with great surprise or sudden wonder/ astonishment/ to bewilder.
We might react when amazed with: “Wow, did you see that? Can you believe what you saw?”
OR “I can’t believe they would do something like that; it’s horrible! (Remember 9-11)
One scripture that amazes me is the reaction of the Gadarenes in Matthew 8:28-34. Jesus had just taken care of their worst local problem. You see there were these 2 totally out of control Violent men who were demon-possessed and there was no knowing what they would do next. The Bible says they were so violent no one could pass that way! I would think the townspeople would be falling on their faces in gratitude saying, “Thank You, Jesus! Thank You!” Or maybe, “How long can You stay with us. We need You. We would love to have You live here--- because You know those two are NOT the Only people with problems!” Instead their response is horribly amazing, “...they pleaded with Him to leave their region.”
I’m amazed at Jesus calming the storm, walking on the water, healing people, feeding people, raising Lazarus from the dead, having Peter find the money to pay taxes in the mouth of a fish, ALWAYS having the right answer, forgiving people and taking time for them… the list goes on and on, but what I’m shocked about is what amazed Jesus!
In Matthew 8: 5-10, a foreigner, a Roman centurion showed amazing faith in Jesus. When the centurion asked for help, Jesus responded, “I will go and heal him.” But the centurion in effect said, “That won’t be necessary --- I know what it is like to be in control. When I tell someone to do something they do it! I know You are in control and if You say it--- it’s done! (My paraphrase) Matthew 8: 10 says that Jesus was astonished. You can find the same incident in Luke 7:1-10. In Luke 7:9 It says, “Jesus was amazed at him.”
In Matthew 13:53-58, Jesus goes to His hometown of Nazareth. The people listened to Him for a while and then started in questioning, “We know this man, we know His family. Where did He get all this ability.” (My paraphrase) They took offense at Him and “He did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith.” The same incident is mentioned in Mark 6:1-6. Mark 6:6 concludes, “And He was amazed at their lack of faith.” The key thing here is faith--- the same old question “do you trust Me?” Keep in mind Proverbs 3:5-6 “...lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him...”
Around the hometown crowd who thought they knew all about Him, He was amazed at their LACK of faith and He could not do many miracles there because of it. With the centurion, Jesus was amazed at the strength of his faith. SO--- what about YOU? As Jesus looks at you is He amazed at how great your faith in Him is OR is He amazed that it’s so small?
Mark 9:23 has challenged me many times. Jesus is talking, “Everything is possible for him who believes.”
Lois Jordan