This Amazed Them

This Amazed them.  Matthew 12.22-30 
The crowd was amazed and asked,

“Could it be that Jesus is the Son of David, the Messiah?” 

In the last few days the question, What Amazes You? and responses poured into my ‘in box’.  Here are a couple more from your heart:

What Amazes You? “People whose trust is bigger than their fear when life takes a very difficult turn.” 

What Amazes You? “How He shows up through that random smile, a kind gesture, a red tail hawk perched high on the fence or a butterfly flying by. He's on time, in His fullness, so personal and better than what we could imagine, even in pain and hardship when things don't make sense. He shows a glimpse of Himself. 

His story and how it unfolds. We can't write this stuff. He's in every detail!” 

Yes, Jesus is in the details and the gospel writers record that, for which I am so grateful.

How to read this passage:  Ask God to open your heart and mind as to what the verses mean, and if there is anything he wants you to ‘take’ from it or even do with it.  Then read it through slowly, and see if some element particularly ‘speaks’ to you, or if it is simply meant for you to know more about Jesus.

Matthew 12.22-30, New Living Translation  “Then a demon-possessed man, who was blind and couldn’t speak, was brought to Jesus. He healed the man so that he could both speak and see. The crowd was amazed and asked, “Could it be that Jesus is the Son of David, the Messiah?” 

But when the Pharisees heard about the miracle, they said, “No wonder he can cast out demons. He gets his power from Satan, the prince of demons.”

Jesus knew their thoughts and replied, “Any kingdom divided by civil war is doomed. A town or family splintered by feuding will fall apart. And if Satan is casting out Satan, he is divided and fighting against himself. His own kingdom will not survive. And if I am empowered by Satan, what about your own exorcists? They cast out demons, too, so they will condemn you for what you have said. But if I am casting out demons by the Spirit of God, then the Kingdom of God has arrived among you. For who is powerful enough to enter the house of a strong man like Satan and plunder his goods? Only someone even stronger—someone who could tie him up and then plunder his house.  Anyone who isn’t with me opposes me, and anyone who isn’t working with me is actually working against me.”

While this passage is about Jesus’ power over the demonic, that is not my focus just yet, but rather how people observing Jesus were Amazed by him.  

A few gospel samplings:  “When Jesus had finished these words, the crowds were amazed at His teaching; for He was teaching them as one having authority, and not as their scribes.”1 

“Immediately, when the entire crowd saw Him, they were amazed and began running up to greet Him.”2

“He returned to Nazareth, his hometown. When he taught there in the synagogue, everyone was amazed and said, “Where does he get this wisdom and the power to do miracles?”3 

Onlookers, eyewitnesses to Jesus’ teaching and miracles, were amazed—they were filled with wonder--they had never seen or heard anything like Jesus. But 

Are you Amazed? We have access to the same teaching and power of Jesus today—so, 

Are you amazed?  Watch: http://www.godtube.com/watch/?v=DZLGDLNX

 

Christine DiGiacomo
PastorWoman.com


1 – Matthew 7.28-29, NIV

2 – Mark 9.15

3 – Matthew 13.54