Open my eyes that I may behold wondrous things from Thy law. (Psalm 119:18)
If I could do one thing for members of your congregation, I would give them fresh eyes to see the Word of God as though for the first time.
I would give them a new appreciation, a deeper enjoyment, a delight in the Law of the Lord (Psalm 1:2).
We sometimes envy those who have come late to the Kingdom and are reading God’s word for the first time. They are enchanted by its stories, excited by its champions, enthralled by its riches, thrilled by its insights, and elated by its promises.
No doubt you have noticed that when Jesus taught, people were amazed and astonished. Scripture tells us that in so many places. Check out Matthew 7:29; 9:33; 12:23; 13:54; Mark 1:22,27; 2:12; 5:20,42; 6:2,51; 7:37; 10:26; 11:18; and Luke 4:32,36; 5:9,26; 8:25; 9:43; 11:14; 13:17; 20:26. In John, the wonderful statement of 7:46 (“Never man spake like this man!”) seems to be the closest thing to this.
I have two questions concerning this:
(1) Why were the people amazed at Jesus’ teaching?
(2) And, why aren’t we?