Amazement

Tonight I will focus on our second topic in my New Testament class. We learned in class an interesting association! Our teacher emphasized how in many verses of Mark the people are utterly "astonished"/"amazed" and so forth at Jesus Christ's behavior, most particularly at certain ways that he acts in contrary to the predominant mannerisms of the time among Jews.

Many of the leaders of the time cultivated a hyper conservative interpretation of the Law (in the Holy Scriptures) in Jerusalem and the surrounding Jewish towns. The main groups of religious leadership (remembering that the prophets had ended with Malachi) were the Pharisees and Sadducees and scribes. Especially the Pharisees tried to define religious requirements so ultra conservatively that they even considered it "unlawful" to heal on the Sabbath or expound on doctrine with one's personal conviction.

Such are a few examples:

Mark 1:22 - And they were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes. (because at the time, when reading in the synagogue, a rabbi would possibly read the scripture and then quote the words from other texts or rabbis, but Jesus, after reading Isaiah, spoke directly that the prophecy was fulfilled in Him)

Mark 5:42 And straightway the damsel arose, and walked; for she was of the age of twelve years. And they were astonished with a great astonishment. (because He rose the girl from the dead!)

One thing that was especially amazing was that he touched her dead body, something that was considered a most unclean act, when he rose her from the dead. Truthfully, even though he healed on the Sabbath and many were shocked at his audacity, he was humble about it, trying hard to let them know how they needed to change their way of thinking, and remember to focus on the Truth and on his mission.

The Church in modern times has been involved in some things that “astonish” even many of its members. It's true that many of the members of the Church were surprised to see such a calm organization organizing and funding rallies and communications to support Proposition 8 in California, and other initiatives over the years in many states. Generally the Church of Jesus Christ stays out of political issues, but the subject of preserving marriage between one man and one woman is not a question of debate for God nor his followers.

While I know that such divisive issues will continue to surround us in the coming years, we can realize that after the astonishment should come a desire to share our wonder, search for truth, and broadcast love.