Throughout the Gospel narrative there are several references to people being "amazed or astonished" at the teaching and healing ministry of Jesus. Luke uses the same words to describe the public response to similar activity by the apostles after the ressurection in the Book of Acts.
The activity and teaching by Jesus and the apostles was so dramatic people were rendered immovable. The teaching or healings were so profound that they stood out from all other conversation and activity. Indeed, people being raised from the dead, healed from leprosy, paralysis and blindness is dramatic and mind-blowing. They stood out. The amazement and wonder of such teaching and healing shook up the comfortable and prompted the complacent to respond. It silenced arrogant legalistic religious leaders, empowered the powerless, and made the imperfect whole. The references are too numerous to mention regarding the amazing, awe-inspiring and astonishing activity or responses in the New Testament. A few can be found in: (Lk. 7:16; Mark 2:1-12; Matt. 22:22; Acts 2:43; 4:13-21; 5:12ff, etc.).
Recently while studying and meditating on the the passage where Jesus heals a paralyzed man spiritually and physically (Lk. 5; Matt. 9; Mark 2) it occured to me that we are no longer amazed or astonished. After the healing and teaching by Jesus Luke writes: Everyone was amazed and gave praise to God. They were filled with awe and said, "We have seen remarkable things today." I don't think the majority of the 21st Century church is awed or amazed like the ancients of faith. We worship in climate controlled mega facilities with computer generated sermon notes, or illustrations, preceded by great musicians, drama and video clips with flawless execution. We call it worship. This isn't a worship rant so don't even go there. In all fairness you could apply the same thing to those churches with mega choirs, towering pipe organs and orchestras.
Why do you suppose it takes so much to amaze, astonish or impress us in the 21st century? Media, technology, cinematography, medical advances, great books, thoughts and ideas are readily available and easily accessible via the Internet. The level of the quality of entertainment on the big screen or the little one at home, makes a community theatre production look like something we could do in our own backyard. Advertisements convince us that it really is all about us and our happiness. Life is spinning so fast and technology re-invents itself so rapidly we just aren't impressed. But it would be too easy to let technology and media take the blame for our lack of wonder.
Perhaps we just aren't awestruck because we rarely find ourselves in the presence of a Holy and righteous God, including many of our corporate worship experiences. Isaiah 6, gives a great description of what happens when you encounter the power and presence of the living God. At 45, I'm not nearly as interested in participating in an emotionally charged, flawlessly executed worship show as I am with being personally broken, challenged, comforted, and indicted by the awe-inspiring Word of God.
Minister types often wonder why we are not having the same kind of numerical response as the Apostles did in Acts, when the barrier-breaking gospel exploded. Thousands responded and followed Christ regularly. People were awestruck. We're awestruck or obssessed with Paris Hilton, Barry Bonds, Tiger Woods, Oprah, Letterman's Top 10, Starbucks, XM radio, Ipods, Itunes, Illegal immigration, politicians, and more. The early pilgrims of faith were awestruck by Jesus and His followers who simply ministered through His power, in His name and by the Word of God. Maybe it's time we (church leaders) reclaimed the awesome, awestruck, earth moving power of God for our churches and the culture. I want that so bad for all churches and every Christ-follower. However, it's not going to happen until we (leaders) get on our knees, surrender our pride and humble ourselves before God. The church can't be awestruck or amazed if her leader's aren't. Let it begin with us!
