We find the above quote in Luke 5:26. People had seen a man rebuke the belligerent authority of the Scribes and Pharisees. They saw a man who claimed to forgive sins, and then prove the claim by healing a paralytic right before their very eyes! The man was Jesus, and as people watched Him, they concluded, “We have seen strange things today.”
As we read of His life in the four Gospels, we find that people looked upon Him from His birth to His ascension with bewilderment, fascination, and astonishment. He was truly unique and distinctive.
People heard Him speak and they were amazed (Matthew 7:28); “Never a man spoke like this man” (John 7:46). When He went into His own country, He taught in their synagogues and “they were astonished” (Matthew 13:54). “And all bare Him witness, and marveled at the gracious words which proceeded out of His mouth” (Luke 4:22). “And they were astonished at His teaching, for His word was with power” (Luke 4:32). Even His closest disciples marveled at the things He did (John 4:27). When he discussed the dangers of riches, His disciples were “exceedingly amazed” (Matthew 19:25). And, even His own mother was amazed at Him (Luke 2:48).
This same “distinctiveness” will be evident in His Body, which is the church (Colossians 1:24). Even the Sanhedrin, after arresting Peter and John, “took notice that they had been with Jesus” (Acts 4:13).
Jesus did not shed His blood to purchase a church that would blend in with society and become invisible. –Toby Miller
Find the truth about God and become a New Testament Christian. Find out more about New Testament Christianity by running some Internet searches for “church of Christ” and “churches of Christ.” You may also want to visit http://www.abiblecommentary.com for Bible study information.
Remember, in order to be saved and enjoy all God’s blessings (not the least of which is salvation), a person must have faith (Jn. 8:24), be willing to repent (Lk. 13:3), and after confessing Christ as Lord, the final step is water baptism (Rom. 6:3; 1 Cor. 12:13; 1 Pet. 3:20-21). Bible baptism is by immersion only (“burial,” Rom. 6:4), and once it is done, heaven puts that person “into Christ” (Gal. 3:27; Rom. 6:3). After proper baptism a person has their sins forgiven (Acts 2:38).