What Old Testament events parallel the amazement described in Luke 5:26? Setting the Scene in Luke 5:26 Jesus has just healed the paralyzed man lowered through the roof. Forgiveness of sins, an instant physical restoration, and the authority of the Son of Man collide in one unforgettable moment. “They were all astonished and glorified God. They were filled with awe and said, ‘We have seen remarkable things today.’” (Luke 5:26) Awe That Leads to Worship The reaction—astonishment, fear, praise—echoes several Old Testament episodes where God’s power breaks into ordinary life and leaves witnesses speechless and worshipful. Old Testament Parallels of Astonishment • Red Sea deliverance – “When Israel saw the great power that the LORD had exercised against the Egyptians, the people feared the LORD, and they believed in the LORD and in His servant Moses.” (Exodus 14:31) – Like the paralytic’s mat, the walls of water said, “Only God could do this.” • Mount Sinai encounter – “There was thunder and lightning, a thick cloud on the mountain, and a very loud blast of a ram’s horn; all the people in the camp trembled.” (Exodus 19:16) – God’s presence produces the same mix of fear and worship seen in Luke 5. • Jordan River parted for Joshua – “So that all the peoples of the earth may know that the hand of the LORD is mighty, and so that you may fear the LORD your God forever.” (Joshua 4:24) – A physical barrier removed by divine power parallels a crippled body instantly made whole. • Fire from heaven on Mount Carmel – “When all the people saw this, they fell facedown and said, ‘The LORD, He is God! The LORD, He is God!’” (1 Kings 18:38-39) – Elijah’s showdown ends with the same spontaneous doxology heard in Galilee. • Resurrection of the widow’s son at Zarephath – “Then the woman said to Elijah, ‘Now I know that you are a man of God and that the word of the LORD from your mouth is truth.’” (1 Kings 17:24) – Life restored, faith affirmed—mirroring the healed man walking and the crowd glorifying God. • Raising of the Shunammite’s child – “She came in, fell at his feet, and bowed facedown to the ground.” (2 Kings 4:37) – The posture of worship matches the amazement in Luke 5. • Cleansing of Naaman – “Now I know that there is no God in all the earth except in Israel.” (2 Kings 5:15) – A diseased body made new prompts public confession, just as in Capernaum. The Thread Running Through the Parallels • A human impossibility meets divine intervention. • Visible, undeniable change follows instantly. • Witnesses respond with fear, amazement, and praise. • God’s reputation, not human ability, receives the spotlight. Why These Parallels Matter Today The same God who split seas, sent fire, and raised the dead stood in Galilee and announced forgiveness with power to heal. Luke 5:26 is not an isolated wonder but part of a long, unbroken history of the Lord revealing Himself so vividly that people cannot help but exclaim, “We have seen remarkable things today.” |
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