It is exciting to see how different details in the Scriptures can stand out for us each time we read them. I believe it does prove this truth:
For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. –Hebrews 4:12 (NIV)
God’s word is still relevant, even though some of it was written down more than 2000 years ago. Despite the world we live in today being so different from when Jesus walked this earth, God’s word is still applicable!
A detail I missed that was in one of the Scripture stories from last week’s reflection is something from this verse:
But Peter rose and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; and he went home marveling at what had happened. –Luke 24:12 (ESV)
I find it interesting that we are given the detail that “Peter went home marveling at what had happened.” He saw the proof with his own eyes that Jesus’ tomb was empty, and Peter went home marveling over it! Jesus had risen from the dead, and Peter, along with the other disciples, would see Jesus in His glorified state at different times over the course of the next forty days.
A Google definition of marvel is: “To be filled with wonder or astonishment.”
A Biblical definition of marvel is: “A person’s reaction to a supernatural act of God.”
Photo courtesy of Martin LaBar under Creative Commons License (CC BY-NC 2.0)
Who and what other Scriptures share stories about people marveling at different things?
Jesus’ parents, Mary and Joseph, marveled!
Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said, “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.” And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him. –Luke 2:25-33 (ESV)
The Holy Spirit revealed to Simeon that before he died, he would see the Savior of the world, Jesus Christ. When Mary’s time of purification came, forty days after giving birth to Jesus, Mary and Joseph brought Him to the temple in Jerusalem. The Spirit enlightened Simeon to know when Jesus was consecrated to God at the temple. He knew Jesus was going to save both the Israelites and the Gentiles. Mary and Joseph marveled at Simeon’s words, which gave them confirmation of the significance of Jesus, who was entrusted to them.
Those in the synagogue at Nazareth marveled!
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” And he rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. And he began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” And all spoke well of him and marveled at the gracious words that were coming from his mouth. And they said, “Is not this Joseph’s son?” –Luke 4:18-22 (ESV)
Shortly after Jesus’ public ministry began, He was preaching in Nazareth, the city He grew up in. He unrolled the scroll and read the first part of the passage above which was from the book of Isaiah, revealing who He was. Those in the synagogue knew that Jesus was the son of Joseph, a carpenter, whom they did not think held much wisdom or importance. They marveled that Jesus was speaking words of God’s grace as He revealed that God’s Spirit was upon Him.
Jesus’ disciples marveled!
One day he got into a boat with his disciples, and he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side of the lake.” So they set out, and as they sailed he fell asleep. And a windstorm came down on the lake, and they were filling with water and were in danger. And they went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we are perishing!” And he awoke and rebuked the wind and the raging waves, and they ceased, and there was calm. He said to them, “Where is your faith?” And they were afraid, and they marveled, saying to one another, “Who then is this, that he commands even winds and water, and they obey him?” –Luke 8:22-25 (ESV)
The disciples spent much time with Jesus as He taught them, and they saw the many miracles Jesus did. Even with that first-hand knowledge, they became scared when a storm arose on the Sea of Galilee. They awoke Jesus to let Him know they were going to die. Jesus rebuked the sea and calmed the storm. The disciples were surprised to see how even the wind and storms were under Jesus’ control. Despite being afraid, they marveled at Jesus’ power.
Photo courtesy of Martin LaBar under Creative Commons License (CC BY-NC 2.0)
Jesus marveled!
He went away from there and came to his hometown, and his disciples followed him. And on the Sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astonished, saying, “Where did this man get these things? What is the wisdom given to him? How are such mighty works done by his hands? Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him. And Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor, except in his hometown and among his relatives and in his own household.” And he could do no mighty work there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and healed them. And he marveled because of their unbelief. And he went about among the villages teaching. –Mark 6:1-6 (ESV)
Jesus returned to Nazareth and began teaching in the synagogue. The people marveled at the wisdom Jesus shared and the mighty deeds He was doing. Sadly, the people questioned if a carpenter’s son could truly do the supernatural things they saw. Because of their lack of faith, Jesus had to leave the area. Jesus marveled at their lack of faith and moved on from Nazareth.
Once, when Jesus entered Capernaum, there was a centurion’s servant who was sick and about to die. The centurion knew of Jesus and asked some elders to summon Jesus to heal his servant.
And Jesus went with them. When he was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends, saying to him, “Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you come under my roof. Therefore I did not presume to come to you. But say the word, and let my servant be healed. For I too am a man set under authority, with soldiers under me: and I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” When Jesus heard these things, he marveled at him, and turning to the crowd that followed him, said, “I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith.” –Luke 7:6-9 (ESV)
The centurion showed genuine concern for his servant. He also displayed great faith, knowing that Jesus did not need to be physically present to heal his servant. Jesus marveled at his faith and even stated that He did not know of any person in Israel who had such faith. What an example the centurion gave us!
A friend and I marveled!
A friend was excited to share a story. He read in a church bulletin about the need to visit homebound people. He felt an inkling God was calling him to do it, but he told the Lord he didn’t want to do it for a few reasons. As he went about his chores, the Lord kept prompting him to go look at the bulletin again, impressing upon him to step out and call about this need. He finally said, “Yes, Lord.” When he connected with the man he was assigned to, he marveled at God’s divine encounter. They discovered they grew up in the same town, about ninety minutes away! They attended the same school being a year apart and were in the Army at the same time reporting to the same colonel.
With my friend saying yes to the Lord, he was stepping out in faith, knowing God was working in his life. We both marveled at God bringing them together after all those years. When we are open to the Spirit, we can’t help but marvel at what happens! Be encouraged to step out in faith.
Photo courtesy of Martin LaBar under Creative Commons License (CC BY-NC 2.0)
Be encouraged this week to marvel at…
…how God’s word speaks to your life.
…the empty tomb.
…the salvation of the world, and the light to the Gentiles, Jesus.
…the words of grace that Jesus speaks.
…the storms in your life that Jesus calms.
…the power of faith that causes supernatural events to occur.
…what miracles Jesus can do when you have faith.
Be encouraged also to be like the centurion in…
…recognizing the power of Jesus.
…knowing God is in control of everything.
…trusting God to guide and lead.
REFLECTION:
How do you marvel at Jesus working in your life?
Does your faith make Jesus marvel?
Lord, you are my God; I will exalt you and praise your name, for you have done marvelous things, plans made long ago in faithfulness and truth. –Isaiah 25:1 (ISV)