SCRIPTURE: Matthew 9
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
(Read my reflection from 2008)
The crowd was amazed and said, “Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel.” But the Pharisees said, “It is by the prince of demons that he drives out demons.” [Matthew 9:33-34]
Jesus defied expectations, He was not the Messiah anyone expected.
He claimed to forgive people, like God.
He accepted the tax collectors as human, and even ate with them???
He didn’t practice the usual religious rituals (fasting) like a normal ‘religious leader’.
He could heal the deaf and mute, and even raise the dead!
No wonder news about Him spread rapidly through the region.
Is He the Messiah, or a devil child (as the Pharisees concluded)?

It’s too bad that we have become so familiar with Jesus, we are no longer amazed.
Over-familiarity has led to under-appreciation.
We use His Name lightly, without the tremor or excitement or wonder (or concern) that was sparked in people who met Him then.
The news of Jesus spread like wildfire, yet for many today His Name produces barely a spark.
I think of a song by John Newton (who also wrote Amazing Grace), and compare this with the ‘ho-hum’ way that many think about Jesus.

How sweet the Name of Jesus sounds In a believer’s ear!
It soothes his sorrows, heals his wounds, And drives away his fear.
It makes the wounded spirit whole, And calms the troubled breast;
’Tis manna to the hungry soul, And to the weary, rest.

To all who claim to believe in Jesus, today’s passage challenges us – do we still feel joy, wonder, excitement, hope when we hear about Jesus?

When Kellogg’s realized that most people were too familiar with the taste of the Corn Flakes cereal brand, they came up with a slogan to re-market it.
“Taste them again, for the first time!” – rediscover how great they really taste
I think this would make a great campaign for Christians in regards to Jesus.
“Experience Him again, for the first time!” – rediscover the thrill of Who He is!
No your typical religious leader, not above relating with sinners, more powerful than anyone else ever, filled with compassion for the weak, neglected, oppressed.

As a believer I admit that my appreciation for Jesus has lost it’s spark.
I want to experience Him again, for the first time.
May the news about Jesus spread within me like wildfire.
Like John Newton, I want to love and appreciate Him more.
The song mentioned earlier finishes like this:

Weak is the effort of my heart, And cold my warmest thought;
But when I see Thee as Thou art, I’ll praise Thee as I ought.
Till then I would Thy love proclaim With every fleeting breath,
And may the music of Thy Name Refresh my soul in death!

This is my prayer too.

PRAYER:
Lord, help me to taste You again, for the first time! May my heart tremble with joy and hope when I think about Who You really are!