Does anything amaze you these days? Maybe a breathtaking scene of God’s creation viewed in-person or on a computer. A new invention. An awesome skill or talent. Or perhaps a little one taking their first steps.

At the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, he preached what became known as ‘The Sermon on the Mount.’ Hear His listeners’ response. “When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law” (Matthew 7:28-29).

Why was the crowd amazed? Jesus’ message was unlike anything they had ever heard! This God-man spoke truth with authority, a sharp contrast to hypocritical religion and Greek philosophies of the day.

As Jesus traveled, He spoke to His disciples concerning events occurring along the way. Mark records, “The disciples were amazed at his words” (Mark 10:24). It seems Jesus was always taking them by surprise, putting a new spin or raising the bar on an old teaching.

In the book of Acts, we see incredible things happening among believers as the power of the Holy Spirit came upon them. As foreigners heard the disciples “speaking in his own language” (not a language known by the disciples), they were “utterly amazed” (Acts 2:6-8).

After Jesus’ resurrection, the apostle Paul boldly preached and miracles ensued. One response of a non-Jew was, “(H)e believed, for he was amazed at the teaching about the Lord” (Acts 13:12).

I pray that these days, we may still be amazed. Read a red-letter Bible and be amazed at Jesus’ teachings that sound nothing like what the world is trying to persuade us to believe today. Be amazed at His power and miracles. Be amazed that as Christians, we are a part of His heavenly kingdom. Be blessed and be amazed!