Don’t Miss It: 3 Ways People Respond to Jesus and Why It Matters Today
from Luke 11:14–20
Jesus does something undeniable in Luke 11. He casts out a demon from a man who could not speak. The man’s voice is restored instantly. The miracle is public, clear, and impossible to ignore.
Yet the crowd does not respond with one unified reaction. Instead, Luke shows us three very different ways people respond when Jesus moves. And those responses still show up in our lives today.
1. We Marvel at What Jesus Does but Stop Short of Trusting Him
Luke tells us the crowd was amazed. They watched the miracle unfold and marveled at what Jesus had done. But amazement alone did not lead to faith.
It is possible to be impressed by Jesus without surrendering to Him. We can admire His teaching, respect His compassion, and even talk about His power while keeping Him at arm’s length.
Marveling feels spiritual, but it requires very little commitment. It allows us to observe Jesus without changing our priorities, habits, or hearts. The crowd saw something extraordinary, yet many chose to stay spectators instead of followers.
Being amazed by Jesus is not the same as trusting Him.
2. We Ask for More Proof Instead of Responding in Faith
Some in the crowd were not content with the miracle they had just witnessed. They demanded another sign, as if the evidence in front of them was not enough.
Others went further and accused Jesus of working by the power of Satan. Faced with truth that required a response, they chose denial over surrender.
Jesus answers with simple logic. A divided kingdom cannot stand. Satan does not work against himself. Then He makes a powerful statement, saying He casts out demons by the finger of God.
This phrase connects back to the Exodus story, when even Pharaoh’s magicians admitted that God’s power was undeniable. Jesus is declaring that the Kingdom of God has arrived and that God is actively at work through Him.
The problem was not a lack of evidence. It was an unwillingness to respond. Sometimes asking for more proof is not about wanting clarity. It is about delaying obedience.
3. We Respond with Faith When We Recognize Who Jesus Is
Luke contrasts amazement and denial with the response Jesus is inviting. When people truly recognize who He is, they do not stand back. They move toward Him in faith.
Jesus is not asking for blind belief. He is inviting trust based on what God has already revealed. The Kingdom of God is not theoretical. It is present. It is active. It is personal.
When Jesus sets someone free, the right response is not curiosity but commitment. Not fascination but faith. Not observation but obedience.
This passage reminds us that God has acted. Jesus has come. The Kingdom is near.
The question is not whether Jesus is moving.
The question is how we will respond.
As we move through this season, the invitation remains urgent and personal.
Do not miss what God is doing right in front of you.
Reflect:
Which of the three responses do you most see in yourself right now: marveling at Jesus, asking for more proof, or responding with faith?
Where might Jesus already be at work in your life, but you have hesitated to fully trust or respond?
What would it look like for you to move one step closer to Jesus in faith this week?
Pray:
Jesus, thank You for moving with power and compassion. Forgive me for the times I have admired You without fully trusting You. Open my eyes to see what You are already doing and soften my heart to respond in faith. Help me not to miss Your presence or Your work in my life. Teach me to move beyond amazement and into trust, obedience, and surrender. Amen.