Marvel at Jesus. Live for His Glory.
thoughts taken from Pastor Kris Wilder, FBC Children & Youth Pastor
There’s a little kid inside all of us—and that child comes alive when the songs start, the decorations go up, and the VBS energy kicks in. We’re just a couple of weeks away from heading to Wonder Junction, and we’re not the only ones! Churches all across the country are putting up banners, preparing crafts, and practicing memory verses—all pointing to the same theme:
Marvel at Jesus. Live for His Glory.
Let’s reflect for a few moments on this theme. Because it’s more than just a slogan—it’s the heartbeat of what we want to pass on to the next generation.
What Does It Mean to Marvel?
The word marvel means to wonder, to be astonished, to be struck with admiration. You might marvel at the mountains the first time you see the Tetons or the Grand Canyon. Maybe you’re in awe of an Olympic athlete or a gifted musician. But all of those things pale in comparison to the awe we are meant to feel when we see the glory of Jesus.
Throughout Scripture, people marveled when they encountered Jesus. They marveled at His authority, His wisdom, His power, and His love.
- Mark 4:41 – After Jesus calmed the storm, the disciples said, “What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”
- Matthew 13:54 – The crowd was astonished at His wisdom and mighty works.
- Mark 15:5 – As Jesus stood silent before His accusers, even Pilate marveled at Him.
To marvel at Jesus is to recognize that He is no ordinary man. He is God in the flesh.
What Causes Someone to Marvel at Jesus?
There are two key causes:
1. Seeing That Jesus Is God
In Mark 2, Jesus heals a paralyzed man. But before He does, He forgives his sins—a statement that shocks the religious leaders. “Only God can forgive sins,” they say. And they’re right. So Jesus proves He is God by healing the man on the spot. The crowd was amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw it on this fashion.”
When we see Jesus clearly—see that He is divine—we can’t help but marvel.
2. Experiencing His Grace
In Luke 7, a sinful woman pours out expensive perfume on Jesus’s feet. A Pharisee scoffs, but Jesus tells him a story: Two debtors are forgiven—one a small debt, the other a great one. “Who will love the forgiver more?” Jesus asks. The answer is obvious: the one who was forgiven much.
Those who grasp the depth of their sin and the wonder of Jesus’s forgiveness are the ones who marvel most deeply. That woman left transformed, filled with worship and wonder.
And the same can be true for us.
When we realize that Jesus—fully God—offers grace to sinners like us, we are left in awe.
Why Don’t More People Marvel?
The tragedy is that many do not marvel at Jesus. They don’t marvel at life’s biggest questions—Why am I here? What’s my purpose?—because they don’t see Him as the answer. But the Bible is clear: we were created to marvel at Jesus and to live for His glory.
If we don’t worship Jesus, we’ll worship something else.
But only He satisfies.
As the Westminster Confession says:
“Man’s chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever.”
What Makes Marveling at Jesus Possible?
Here’s the key:
Only God can open blind eyes to see His glory.
In Matthew 16, Jesus asks Peter, “Who do you say I am?” Peter answers, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus replies, “Flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven.”
Marveling at Jesus is a miracle of God’s grace.
As Paul puts it in 2 Corinthians 4:6:
“For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”
That’s what we’re praying for this 2025 VBS week—that God would shine in the hearts of children and adults alike. That He would open eyes to see the glory of Jesus.
What Will Kids Learn at Wonder Junction?
Each day will center on the life of Jesus:
- Monday: His Birth
- Tuesday: His Childhood
- Wednesday: His Ministry
- Thursday: His Death and Resurrection
- Friday: His Return
All of it is designed to help children see what they were created for—to marvel at Jesus—and to discover the joy of living for His glory.
Church Family, What’s Our Role?
Every role matters—whether you’re helping in a classroom, running games, preparing snacks, or greeting families. We are all part of a bigger picture: helping kids see Jesus.
And as we marvel at Him ourselves, His love and truth will shine through us. As we’re filled with the Spirit, we become living witnesses of His beauty.
So let’s pray. Let’s serve. Let’s shine.
And may this summer at Wonder Junction be a week when many come to truly marvel at Jesus—and begin to live for His glory.
thoughts taken from Pastor Kris Wilder during our 2025 VBS emphasis service, Sunday night, June 29, 2025. 🎧 For more details and VBS information, listen here to the entire service.