How does Luke 9:43 connect to other miracles in the Gospels? Verse in Focus “And they were all astonished at the greatness of God.” (Luke 9:43) Shared Thread of Astonishment • Everywhere Jesus works, onlookers break out in the same response Luke records—amazement that overflows into praise of God. • The wording “astonished” or “marveled” is frequently paired with “glorified God,” underscoring that miracles are never mere displays of power; they are windows into God’s greatness. Miracles That Echo the Response • Paralytic healed and forgiven (Luke 5:25-26) — “They were all struck with astonishment and glorified God.” • Widow’s son raised at Nain (Luke 7:16) — “Fear seized them all, and they glorified God, saying, ‘A great prophet has risen among us!’” • Jairus’s daughter raised (Luke 8:56) — “Her parents were astonished.” • Deaf-mute healed (Mark 7:37) — “They were utterly astonished, saying, ‘He has done all things well.’” • Lame man walks (Mark 2:12) — “They were all amazed and glorified God.” • Feeding the 4,000 (Matthew 15:31) — “They glorified the God of Israel.” Jesus Revealed as Divine—Authority Over Every Realm • Nature (Mark 4:39) — calming the storm. • Demons (Luke 8:29-35) — Legion expelled. • Disease (Luke 4:38-40) — Peter’s mother-in-law and crowds healed. • Death itself (John 11:43-44) — Lazarus. Each sphere yields identical fruit: public wonder that turns upward to the Father, affirming Jesus as the long-awaited Messiah whose deeds fulfill passages such as Isaiah 35:5-6. From Glory to the Cross • Luke places 9:43 immediately before Jesus’ second passion prediction (Luke 9:44-45). • The pattern: miracle → astonishment → prediction of suffering. • The juxtaposition teaches that the One whose power evokes worship will soon pour out His life in weakness, yet both power and sacrifice reveal “the greatness of God.” Implications for Believers • Every Gospel miracle, including the deliverance in Luke 9:42-43, calls today’s readers to the same astonishment and worship. • The consistent reaction across varied crowds verifies the historicity and unity of the accounts. • Remembering that the miracle-working Lord also embraced the cross anchors faith: His might guarantees He can save; His love guarantees He will. |
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