When Was the Last Time You Were Amazed by Jesus?

"Jesus Heals a Possessed Man" by James Tissot

Click here to listen to this sermon.

“And they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, ‘What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him’” (Mark 1:27).

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ!

Today is the Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany. Epiphany means “manifestation” or “shining forth.” The readings appointed in the Church’s lectionary for this season focus on the truth that God Himself has come to visit us in our Lord's incarnation. If Christmas is the season to celebrate that the Word became flesh, Epiphany celebrates that it is the Word that became flesh, and we beheld His glory.

In last week’s Gospel, Jesus began His ministry and called His first disciples in Galilee. Today, He takes those disciples with Him to worship in Capernaum.

On the Sabbath, following their selection to become fishers of men, Peter, Andrew, James, and John, together with Jesus, attended the synagogue service. Since synagogues had no resident-ordained ministers, the rulers of the synagogue would invite some rabbi (teacher) or scribe present to read and teach the lessons. So, Jesus was often invited to address the congregations in the towns and villages He visited.

Mark does not tell us the specific message on this Sabbath, but he does tell us the impression Jesus’ preaching made on the worshipers. They were amazed, for Jesus did not teach as the scribes did. These teachers of the Law always appealed to the interpretations of past rabbis and were particularly adept at breaking down God’s Word into any number of legalistic regulations. Jesus instead always proclaimed the Gospel on His own authority. For us, too, Christ is more than just a wise teacher or model on which to pattern our lives. He is the one who, in word and deed, reveals to us the undeserved love of God for sinners incorporated in His own person. His is the final word.

It is not at all surprising that Satan, despite his defeat in the wilderness, was not ready to let such a message and such a preacher go unchallenged. It was the devil who caused a man in that synagogue to cry out against Jesus, for clearly, this man was not speaking for himself. He could not of himself have known what he said about Christ. However, Satan and the evil spirit that possessed this man knew who Jesus of Nazareth was and what His purpose was. They knew He was the Son of God and that He had come to destroy Satan’s hold over mankind. With his words, Satan revealed him wiser than many modern theologians. But this knowledge did him no spiritual good; it only filled Him with fear and trembling. He knew he faced hell and that the Gospel was not meant for him.

Though what the unclean spirit said was true, Jesus would not accept his words as testimony. Satan was not a proper witness, for those hearing him could say, “Those are the words of the father of lies. How can we believe them?” Besides, Jesus was not yet ready to openly proclaim that He was the Messiah. Most of His audience would have read political aims into the word Messiah (see John 6:15). That’s why Jesus told the unclean spirit, “Be silent!”

Our Lord had compassion on the man possessed by the unclean spirit—a most dreadful condition, as we see when the spirit left him convulsing and crying out loud. “Come out of him!” the Lord commanded, and the evil spirit could not resist. “And they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying ‘What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits and they obey Him’” (Mark 1:27).

Fittingly for the season of Epiphany, the people all beheld the glory of the Word made flesh as they heard Him teach, and “they were astonished at His teaching for He taught as one who had authority.” They watched the Incarnate Word heal the man with the unclean spirit with a straightforward command, and “they were all amazed!”

They were all amazed! When was the last time you were amazed by Jesus? That’s a question I asked myself this week as I prepared for this sermon.

You could say that it's part of an occupational hazard. After nearly twenty-five years of preaching and teaching, sometimes it seems like I’ve heard all of this before. And since we follow a three-year lectionary, this is the ninth time I’ve preached on this Gospel. As I began preparing, I wondered, “Can I find something about this text that I haven’t noticed before, something that the saints in this flock of God need to hear?”

God has called me through His Church to speak His Word of forgiveness on His behalf. Some Sundays, I say it like this: “As a called and ordained servant of Christ and by His authority, I therefore forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” On other Sundays, I say this: “In the stead and by the command of my Lord Jesus Christ, I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”

By Christ’s authority, in the stead and by the command of Jesus, I speak in God’s name and with God’s authority. In a genuine and beautiful sense, I get to speak for Jesus. I don’t just teach about Jesus or reveal the historical words and works of Jesus. Instead, I declare and announce the present-day reality of what Jesus has done, is doing, and will do. It is an incredible joy and most holy office.

But there comes the occupational hazard. I’m so used to “revealing” Jesus to others and “speaking for” Jesus to others that I sometimes find it difficult to encounter the living Christ as He is revealed to me, both in the Scripture and by my fellow believers. I often read His Word primarily as a source of what to say to others rather than what He says to me.

Is this something you might experience in your own way? Many of you have gathered here for worship and study God’s Word for decades. You know the text. You know the miracles. You know the sayings. You know the events of the life of our Lord, and that is to be celebrated!

But when was the last time you were amazed by Jesus?

I don’t know about you, but I found myself envious of the crowds at Capernaum. They heard our Lord and were astonished. They saw He didn’t teach like the rest. He didn’t talk like the others. He spoke with authority. He spoke with a power that sent unclean spirits shrieking and skedaddling. And they were amazed.

I don’t know what they heard. I don’t know if they had anything like saving faith. They probably had no idea about Jesus' real mission. At this point in His ministry, Jesus’ closest disciples had yet to understand His mission. It is a great grace of God that the fuller narrative has been revealed to us, and it is the continued grace of God how the saving work of Jesus is revealed through us.

But the people of Jerusalem were astonished at His teaching. They marveled at Jesus’ authority. They did not have to be the authority. They didn’t need to explain, defend, apply, or hold anyone accountable for it. Jesus said what He said. They heard it. They were amazed by it.

When was the last time you were amazed by Jesus?

I’m not saying we should not study and learn. I’m much in favor of memorizing Scripture. Also, I do not think we need some fresh revelation beyond Scripture to hold our attention or keep things interesting. But I find myself explaining Jesus’ words more often than astonished at them. I share Jesus’ words with others more than I am personally and existentially surprised at Jesus’ words.

It may be time for a little sense of wonder in our faith. To wonder does not mean “it is all subjective” or “we cannot know anything.” To be astonished at the words and works of Jesus does not mean we abandon our confession of faith or drown in a sea of uncertainty. Instead, we can embrace the tension. God has revealed many things about Himself but veils much in mystery.

May God forgive us for not recognizing the amazing things that happen right here, week in and week out. Rather than just going through the motions, listening with half an ear, responding merely by rote, be amazed!

Be amazed! In the stead and command of Jesus, your pastor speaks to you in God’s own name and by His authority. In a genuine and beautiful sense, I speak for Jesus. I do not just teach about Jesus or reveal the historical words and works of Jesus. Instead, I declare and announce the present-day reality of what Jesus has done, is doing, and will do for your forgiveness, salvation, and eternal life.

Be amazed and wonder! In Holy Baptism, God adopts us as His dear children. Miraculously, He works in us the forgiveness of sins, rescues us from death and the devil, and gives eternal salvation to all who believe this, as the words and promises of God declare. As we live in our Baptism, the Old Adam in us is daily contrition and repentance is drowned and dies with all sins and evil desires, that a new man should daily emerge and rise to live in righteousness and purity forever.

Be amazed! In Holy Absolution, you receive absolution from the pastor as from God Himself, not doubting but firmly believing that your sins are forgiven before God in heaven.

Be amazed! As you gather at the Lord’s altar. There, in, with, and under the bread and wine, you receive Christ’s body and blood for the forgiveness of your sins and the strengthening of your faith. In the Lord’s Supper, you join with angels, archangels, and all the company of heaven to receive a foretaste of the Marriage Feast of the Lamb.  

We can be bold and humble as we hear and handle the Word of God. We can stand with great conviction, even as we sit at the feet of our Lord and listen. We can both confess and ask questions. We can experience the living voice of Christ, not just figure out how to explain what He means to others. We can be amazed at the God who comes to us, who speaks to us, and be amazed at the actual words He speaks.

As Christians, we can be confident in the promises of Scripture and humble before the Word of the Lord. As a pastor, I can be confused by Jesus and wonder at His Word, even as I declare with absolute confidence the Gospel He has given (and commanded) me to declare, in His name and with His authority. You are forgiven for all your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

 Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, English Standard Version, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.