Pastor’s Corner September 2011

The following was published in our monthly newsletter, the Redeemer Report.

Jesus is Amazing!

As we have trekked through the gospel of Mark together, in rapid succession there are several dramatic demonstrations of Jesus’ power in the first several chapters we have just studied. I love how Mark captures the immediate reaction by witnesses- After casting a demon from a man in the synagogue (Mark 1:21-28), Mark writes, “And they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.” After Jesus healed the paralytic lowered through a ceiling by his friends (Mark 2:1-12), Mark writes- “And he rose and immediately picked up his bed and went out before them all, so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!” After calming the storm on the Sea of Galilee Mark 4:35-41) Mark writes, “And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?” After freeing Legion from thousands of demons (Mark 5:1-20) and sending him for to the Decapolis to proclaim what the Lord had done, Mark writes- “and everyone marvelled”. After healing the chronically ill woman and raising Jarius’ daughter from the dead (Mark 5:22-43), Mark writes- “they were immediately overcome with amazement.” Every time we gather to hear the Word of God preached, we should have the same amazed reaction as the audience that witnessed the above mentioned events first hand. We should be amazed by Jesus. We should marvel at our Savior. Mark likes the word “amazing” because that is exactly what Jesus is. As you read this newsletter, please view all the opportunities for fellowship, learning, and service at Redeemer as ways to grow closer to our amazing Savior and the rest of His amazing people. In the Lamb, Pastor Tony Felich