Let Yourself Be Amazed

They were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one who had authority, not as the scribes. (Mark 1:22 ESV)

About halfway through reading the Gospel of Mark, I noticed that Jesus’s disciples, the crowd who followed him, and even the Pharisees and others who were antagonistic toward him were repeatedly “astonished” or “amazed,” frequently provoking arguments and questioning:

• “Who is this?”
• “How is he doing this?”
• “Where did his wisdom and authority come from?”
• “We know this guy and his family, right?”

Jesus’s teaching first astonishes the people. In the same passage, they’re amazed when he casts an unclean spirit out of a man. He amazes them again when he heals a paralyzed man. “We never saw anything like this!” they exclaim in Mark 2:12 (ESV).

When Jesus brings a little girl back from the dead, the witnesses are overcome with amazement. The people of his hometown are astonished by his teaching. Later, Jesus walks on the surface of the sea to meet his disciples who are in a boat in the middle of a storm. Understandably, they are utterly astounded.

People are astonished beyond measure when Jesus heals a deaf man. In another instance, they are greatly amazed. Jesus’s assertion that it will be difficult for rich people to enter the kingdom of God exceedingly astonishes his disciples. “Then who can be saved?” they ask in Mark 10:26 (ESV).

Shortly thereafter, those who follow him are amazed and afraid because he’s heading to Jerusalem. After he drives the moneychangers out of the temple, the crowd is astonished by his teaching. When the Pharisees try to trap Jesus by asking him if it’s right to pay taxes to Caesar, even they have to marvel at his answer.

Here’s a bit of what English is up against. The first word encountered in Mark for astonished has a root that means to strike. It’s a picture of one being knocked out of his senses or out of her self-possession. These people aren’t just saying, “Oh, awesome,” and moving on. They have lost their presence of mind at Jesus’s unprecedented teaching.

Another word, often translated amazed, means to stand outside of one’s mind, to be beside oneself. The crowds and the disciples were beside themselves in ways it’s difficult for us to comprehend now that we have the whole story.

When Jesus gets into the boat with the disciples after having walked to them on the water, the Greek uses a string of words that could be translated something like “very much,” “out,” “over and above,” “beside themselves.” To express this, the translators add the word utterly before astounded. Utterly means clear to the outer limits.

When was the last time you allowed yourself to be astonished to the limit by Jesus—by his teaching, by his works, by the wonders of your life? I use the word allow intentionally, because I think some of us are so jaded that we need to consciously loosen the tight hold we have on our sophistication and be amazed sometimes.

Throughout all the events in Mark, huge crowds follow Jesus everywhere. They press upon him so closely that he’s nearly crushed at times. They keep him and his disciples so busy they can hardly find time to eat. When the people can’t find Jesus, they search until they do. Then they spread the word. Several times after Jesus heals someone, he strictly charges them not to tell anyone. But they can’t keep quiet!

Do you cultivate the need to be that close to Jesus? Do you ever drop everything so you can search for him? Are you so astounded by his work in your life that you can’t help talking about him?

While I believe we need to exercise our marvel muscles, at the same time, we’re instructed to be sober-minded, living balanced lives. Jesus often rebukes the people for following him simply because he fed them. He criticizes them for continually seeking after signs. We shouldn’t be forever seeking something new. We have the revelation of the Word made flesh.  We must not train ourselves to need constant emotional or spiritual stimulation. We have the mind of Christ. But we do need to practice appreciating Jesus for the truly jaw-dropping things he does for us every day. After all, what is man that he is mindful of us (Psalm 8:4 ESV)?

Majestic Lord, open our eyes to the wonder of your works. Teach us to gratefully acknowledge our dependence on you. Help us learn to see your hand at work in our lives every day. Amen.

Scripture for Reflection

O Lord, our Lord,

how majestic is your name in all the earth!

You have set your glory above the heavens.

Out of the mouth of babies and infants,

you have established strength because of your foes,

to still the enemy and the avenger.

When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers,

the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,

what is man that you are mindful of him,

and the son of man that you care for him?

Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings

and crowned him with glory and honor.

You have given him dominion over the works of your hands;

you have put all things under his feet,

all sheep and oxen,

and also the beasts of the field,

the birds of the heavens, and the fish of the sea,

whatever passes along the paths of the seas.

O Lord, our Lord,

how majestic is your name in all the earth! (Psalm 8 ESV)

Reach for More

Slow down. Stop. Look around. What do you have that hasn’t been given to you by God? What can you do without his help? Now write down something astonishing he’s done for you today.

Through the gift of a faithful mother and grandmother, Diane Pendergraft grew up knowing Jesus as a friend. Married for nearly two-thirds of her life, there has been time for several seasons, from homeschooling to owning a coffee shop. She has three grown children and eight grandchildren. An element of this season is writing about literature and life at Plumfield and Paideia.

Photograph © Havilah Galaxy, used with permission