How Excited Are We About Jesus?

Have you ever been so excited about something that you could not wait to share the good news with others? It might have been an unbelievable sale at a department store, seeing the Super Bowl winning coach at a steakhouse, or perhaps even finding a long lost item of significant sentimental value. Whatever it was, we just could not wait to let others know! What is the most exciting thing you can think of happening in your life right now? If it is not Jesus, it should be! Let us learn from some people in the New Testament who were so excited about Jesus that even the Master’s telling them not to say a word about Him could not keep them from exclaiming their excitement about Him.

The Miracle

The miracle that forms the context of this excitement is recorded only by Mark and is considered here in three parts. First, Jesus came. “Again, departing from the region of Tyre and Sidon, He came through the midst of the region of Decapolis to the Sea of Galilee. 32Then they brought to Him one who was deaf and had an impediment in his speech, and they begged Him to put His hand on him” (Mk. 7:31-32, NKJ). Decapolis (territory of ten Greek cities) was largely a Gentile area. A number of people came from this area to hear Jesus preach (Mk. 3:8). This is the same place where Jesus cast out demons (Mk. 5:20). Whether or not the healed man was a Jew, this healing in a predominately Gentile region would encourage Mark’s first readers who were also Gentiles. Note that the deaf and speech impaired man was brought to Jesus by others. Perhaps they had more faith in Jesus than the man did (cf. Mk. 2:3-4).

Second, Jesus cleared. “And He took him aside from the multitude, and put His fingers in his ears, and He spat and touched his tongue. 34Then, looking up to heaven, He sighed, and said to him, ‘Ephphatha,’ that is, ‘Be opened.’ 35Immediately his ears were opened, and the impediment of his tongue was loosed, and he spoke plainly” (Mk. 7:33-35). The manner in which this man was healed shows that both Jesus (who used His fingers, spit, and touch) and the Father (to whom Jesus made His request) were explicitly involved. As the text indicates, “Ephphatha” is Aramaic for “Be opened.” Immediately the man was totally healed!

Third, Jesus commanded. “Then He commanded them that they should tell no one; but the more He commanded them, the more widely they proclaimed it. 37And they were astonished beyond measure, saying, ‘He has done all things well. He makes both the deaf to hear and the mute to speak’” (Mk. 7:36-37). Jesus’ commanding them not to tell anyone was likely because He did not want others to have the false concept that His mission was only about healing (cf. Mk. 1:44; 5:43; Mt. 17:9) and/or taking care of physical needs (cf. Jn. 6:26-27). Whatever the reason, the more Jesus told them not to say anything, the more these men told others! Their excitement was such that not even the Master of heaven and earth would keep them from communicating their excitement at what had happened with the man who was healed! Do we have that kind of excitement for the one who healed us from the greatest ailment known—sin? If not, why not? Have we obeyed the Gospel? Are we living faithful lives? Let us seriously examine our excitement or lack of excitement for Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who has done so much for us.

Things That Hinder Our Excitement About Jesus

The number one thing that hinders our excitement about Jesus is a lack of faith. The level of excitement in the men who witnessed the man being healed seems to have been in direct proportion to their extreme disappointment at the man’s finding no cure. We must trust in Jesus, even when things do not seem to go our way. When we “seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness,” He will always give us what we need (Mt. 6:24-33). Second, our excitement about Jesus is hindered when we think we are self-sufficient. The church at  Laodicea had this problem. They thought of themselves as being “rich...wealthy, and have need of nothing,” but the Lord’s assessment was that they were “wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked” (Rev. 3:17). “Lukewarm” describes a people who are completely unexcited about Jesus, which also puts Him on the verge of vomiting (Rev. 3:16). Third, worldliness hinders our excitement for Jesus. It “chokes” the Christian and makes him or her unfruitful (Mt. 13:22; 2 Tim. 4:10 cf. Mt. 16:26; 1 Jn. 2:15). Could it be that one or more of these things hinder us from being excited?

Ways We Show Our Excitement About Jesus

First, we show our excitement about Jesus by spending time in God’s word. It is inconceivable for people not to want to learn more and more about the person whom they have given all to follow….unless they have not truly been crucified with Christ (Gal. 2:20). The Scriptures “testify” of Jesus (Jn. 5:39 cf. Rom. 10:17; 2 Tim. 2:15). Second, we show excitement about Jesus by evangelism, spreading the good news. Remember the examples in the early chapters of John: Andrew, Philip, and the Samaritan woman immediately told their loved ones about Jesus shortly after meeting Him (Jn. 1:41, 45-46; 4:28-29 cf. Mt. 28:19-20; Mk. 16:15-16). How can we keep silent after knowing and experiencing the good news of Jesus? Third, we show our excitement about Jesus by attending church services. Here is where we “stir up love and good works” (Heb. 10:24-25). Jesus has done so much for us; the least we can do is worship Him and study His word together as one! Let us continually rekindle our excitement about Jesus!