30th Day of Lent
We are Allowed to be Amazed
"Jesus was walking ahead of them; they were amazed" Mark 10:32
Amazed and afraid. Those two feelings often go together. Amazement is a response to something out of the ordinary, something exceptional. And, when we see something out of the ordinary and exceptional, that may cause us to be afraid, or perhaps apprehensive. I'm amazed in this devotional reading how often Marty points to verses I've never paid much attention to. This make me afraid I've been missing out on some important understandings over the years! :)
The disciples and followers of Jesus were both amazed and afraid. They were amazed by his teachings and miracles. But they were afraid about where all this was heading, to Jerusalem, and conflict that he said would lead to his death. And if he was to die, what about those that followed him? Would that be their fate as well?
Their fear was real, but in the end, Jesus overcomes our fears. By the cross and resurrection, Jesus restores our relationship with God forever. God takes something horrible, the cross, and turns it into something beautiful in the resurrection. We no longer need to fear, for God loves us and is with us. And that's amazing!
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ReplyDeleteI like Marty's thought that it would seem that after experiencing so many of Jesus' amazing miracles, eventually nothing would surprise us. Yet, our God is a master of surprises and we will never be bored!!!
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