Amazing Jesus | Feb 26
Amazing Jesus | Feb 26 | Jamison Creel
What adjective do you use for someone who regularly surprises you by exceeding your expectations? “Amazing!”
In the first century, Jesus' words and actions continually left people speechless and frozen in their tracks or more simply put He left them amazed. Mark uses eight different “amazing” words, twenty-four different times in his Gospel just to try to convey how exceptionally unique Jesus was and is. His words and actions have the same impact twenty centuries later.
“Amazing Jesus” is a series from the Gospel of Mark starting on February 26th.
Can you use some more “amazing" in your life?
Isaiah 11:1 and 2 Then a shoot will grow from the stump of Jesse,
and a branch from his roots will bear fruit.
2 The Spirit of the Lord will rest on Him—
a Spirit of wisdom and understanding,
a Spirit of counsel and strength,
a Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord.
Luke 4:18 and 19 The Spirit of the Lord is on Me,
because He has anointed Me
to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent Me[l]
to proclaim freedom[m] to the captives
and recovery of sight to the blind,
to set free the oppressed,
19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor
Isaiah 61:1 and 2 The Spirit of the Lord God is on Me,
because the Lord has anointed Me
to bring good news to the poor.
He has sent Me to heal[a] the brokenhearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives
and freedom to the prisoners;
2 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor,
Isaiah 61:2-6 …and the day of our God’s vengeance;
to comfort all who mourn,
3 to provide for those who mourn in Zion;
to give them a crown of beauty instead of ashes,
festive oil instead of mourning,
and splendid clothes instead of despair.[b]
And they will be called righteous trees,
planted by the Lord
to glorify Him.
4 They will rebuild the ancient ruins;
they will restore the former devastations;
they will renew the ruined cities,
the devastations of many generations.
5 Strangers will stand and feed your flocks,
and foreigners will be your plowmen and vinedressers.
6 But you will be called the Lord’s priests;
they will speak of you as ministers of our God;
you will eat the wealth of the nations,
and you will boast in their riches.
Matthew 11:4-6 Jesus replied to them, “Go and report to John what you hear and see: 5 the blind see, the lame walk, those with skin diseases are healed,[a] the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor are told the good news.”
Slide 6
Isaiah 35:5-6 Then the eyes of the blind will be opened,
and the ears of the deaf unstopped.
6 Then the lame will leap like a deer,
and the tongue of the mute will sing for joy,
Slide 7
Matthew 11:6 And if anyone is not offended because of Me, he is blessed.
Matthew 26:36-45 Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane,[i] and He told the disciples, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” 37 Taking along Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, He began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed. 38 Then He said to them, “My soul is swallowed up in sorrow[j] —to the point of death.[k] Remain here and stay awake with Me.” 39 Going a little farther,[l] He fell facedown and prayed, “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup pass from Me. Yet not as I will, but as You will.”
40 Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping. He asked Peter, “So, couldn’t you[m] stay awake with Me one hour? 41 Stay awake and pray, so that you won’t enter intotemptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
42 Again, a second time, He went away and prayed, “My Father, if this[n] cannot pass[o] unless I drink it, Your will be done.” 43 And He came again and found them sleeping, because they could not keep their eyes open.[p]
44 After leaving them, He went away again and prayed a third time, saying the same thing once more.