Our Amazing Jesus
Mark 1:21-22
Introduction
Isn’t it amazing what amazes us today?... It is amazing what it takes to amaze us..... We’ve seen it all.
When I was a little boy, I was amazed with stories of Lost Treasure. I buried "treasures" in our back yard and put maps in the attic of our house. Now Mason, my grandson, and I go GeoCaching...
Today, we’re going to look at Our Amazing Jesus. Perhaps you’re here and you’ve never seen the real Jesus who loves you and died for you. Maybe as a believer, it’s been a while since you looked again at all He has done for you.
I. The People Were Amazed at His……..
His Teaching/Words vs. 21, 22
The first thing that captured the attention of the people was His teaching. At the age of 12 He was already amazing them with his understanding of the Law. He brought the Word of God to life. The commandments were no longer just rules that were used to beat people down. They were a way of relating to God and each other that brought harmony and love.
He also taught as one who had authority unlike the religious leaders of the day.
He taught in a way that they understood WHY they should follow God – Because God loved them so. And this amazed the people, because they were used to being told what to do, when to do it and how to do it in order to earn God’s favor.
His Power (The Demoniac)
He did things they had never seen before….. He healed, He fed 1000s, He calmed the seas, He walked on water, His power was amazing.
His Love
His love knew no boundaries. He loved the down and out. He loved the Samaritans. He even loved the Romans.
His Forgiveness
The Woman caught in Adultery…
I believe that when they all got together, they would say, “Do you remember the time when Jesus….. And they would sit back and say, “Isn’t He amazing?”
II. Is Jesus Still Amazing to You and Me
His Word/s - The Bible – The Living Word of God….. It is a miracle that we still have the Bible.
Grace – He Gave Us What We Didn’t Deserve.
John Newton - Amazing Grace how sweet the sound….
Mercy – He Didn’t Give Us What We Did Deserve
“Mercy Came Running” Song
Once there was a broken heart, Way too human from the start, And all the years left it torn apart, Hopeless and afraid.
Walls I never meant to build, Left this prisoner unfulfilled, Freedom called but even still, It seemed so far away
I was bound by the chains, From the wages of my sin, and just when I felt like giving in
Mercy came running, Like a prisoner set free,
Past all my failures, to the point of my need
When the sin that I carried, Was all I could see,
When I could not reach mercy, Mercy came running to me.
Ephesians Chapter 2 – “But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them."
When was the last time you wept tears of joy because God save your soul?........
"I stand amazed in the presence of Jesus the Nazarene, and wonder how he could love me, a sinner, condemned, unclean.
O’ How marvelous! O’ How wonderful! And my song shall ever be: O’ How marvelous! O’ How wonderful is my Savior's love for me!"
"He took my sins and my sorrows, he made them his very own; he bore the burden to Calvary, and suffered and died alone."
"When with the ransomed in glory his face I at last shall see, 'twill be my joy through the ages to sing of his love for me."
His Cross - Does the Cross Still Amaze You? His Resurrection – Does The Empty Tomb Still…..? His Heaven – Does His Promise of Heaven Amaze You?
When we are NOT amazed, we start to live earthly, selfish lives. We stop sharing the Good News. We stop reaching out to those in need. If you live without that awe and wonder, don’t you know that pretty soon you will lose that desire to serve God.
But if you DO live in amazement of how much God loves you; how He pours out His forgiveness; if you focus on how willing God is to embrace you and care for you; if you are aware that no matter where you are or where you go, that God is with you. Then something amazing happens – We become like little children again who worship their Heavenly Father in awe and wonder.
CHILDREN ARE AWESOME – I work with them every day. They are full of WONDER and AMAZEMENT. Do you know why? Because most things are New to them. They are having their first experiences with the world……………
God wants us to return to that. To see Him as our awesome Heavenly Father…. And if we do that….
III. He Will Amaze The World Through Us vs. 28
Matthew 5:16 - Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
NEWSWEEK – “The Decline and Fall of Christian America”….. Post Christian America, One generation away
So how in the world can the story of Jesus ever capture the attention of mankind again?
It has to start with You and Me. If we are not amazed by what God has done and is doing, they may never stop to listen to His voice.
But if we do the Book of ACTS shows us what will happen. The Disciples AMAZED the people in Jesus name and turned their Pagan, Pre-Christian World Upside Down
HE HAS NO LESS OF A TASK FOR YOU AND ME
OUR AMAZING JESUS – ARE YOU AMAZED?
