“But they could not catch Him in His words in the presence of the people. And they marveled at His answer and kept silent.”
Luke 20:26 (NKJV)
There is a striking contrast in this brief verse. The very men who once despised Jesus now stand amazed at Him. His wisdom exposes their motives, unravels their schemes, and silences their accusations. They admire Him. They marvel at Him. But their amazement stops short of transformation. They feel awe—yet they refuse repentance. They witness brilliance—yet they reject surrender. They marvel, but they do not follow.
That tension becomes the doorway into a much bigger conversation: What does true devotion look like—especially when we think about the legacy we are building? And how does the difference between marveling and following shape our understanding of legacy stewardship today?
A Lesson From Those Who Marveled but Did Not Change
We often assume that if people could just see a miracle or hear an anointed message, they would surely come to Christ. But Jesus understood that amazement alone never produces discipleship. Awe can move emotions, but only surrender changes lives.
Jesus had seen this pattern play out across generations: Adam and Eve walked with God yet rebelled; Babel sought greatness apart from God; Israel witnessed miracles yet refused trust; and crowds watched Jesus heal and teach, yet many still demanded His crucifixion.
Human admiration is quick to rise and quick to fade. We have short memories. We are easily distracted. And unless the heart is surrendered, even the clearest revelation cannot anchor us in faithfulness.
Luke 20:26 is not simply a report of silence; it is a mirror. It forces us to ask what Jesus asked then and still asks now: Do you admire Me, or do you follow Me?
Legacy Stewardship Begins With That Question
When we talk about legacy, we often imagine what we will leave behind—values, resources, impact, influence. But Scripture always begins with a deeper question: What is the condition of the heart that is building the legacy?
Marveling at Jesus—being inspired by Him, acknowledging His wisdom, appreciating His miracles—is not enough to build a godly legacy. Legacy stewardship requires daily surrender. The legacy you leave will never exceed the obedience you live.
Those religious leaders admired Jesus’ brilliance, but their admiration left their hearts untouched. Admiration without obedience produces no lasting fruit. It creates no inheritance of faith. It births no generational blessing.
Marveling makes us spectators. Surrender makes us stewards.
Legacy Stewardship Defined Through the Lens of Discipleship
When Jesus called people to follow Him, He never invited them into a life of occasional inspiration. He called them to daily cross-bearing, daily self-denial, daily dependence on Him.
Legacy stewardship is the long obedience of a surrendered life—one decision at a time, one day at a time, shaping what we hand to the next generation.
It is possible to admire Jesus deeply and still resist the hard choices that define true discipleship.
Legacy stewardship planning requires us to ask: What am I still holding back? What part of my life, resources, or influence remains unsurrendered?
Wherever surrender is lacking, stewardship is lacking. And whatever we withhold from Jesus is exactly what cannot become part of our legacy for Him.
Moving From Admiration to Action
As we plan, build, and shape legacy—spiritual, relational, financial, or missional—this text presses us into self-examination:
Is my legacy built on convenience or on obedience?
Am I following Jesus today, or am I merely inspired by Him?
Do I want admiration from others, or transformation by the Spirit?
Am I building a legacy that glorifies God or one that glorifies me?
Legacy stewardship is not merely about what you leave behind; it’s about who you are becoming as you walk with Christ right now. Yesterday’s surrender is not enough for today’s assignment. Legacy requires fresh grace, fresh obedience, fresh dependence—daily.
A Prayer For Legacy Stewards
“Lord, give us daily bread, daily surrender, and daily obedience. Free us from shallow admiration and anchor us in deep devotion. Shape us into disciples whose legacy flows from a life fully yielded to You.”
Amen.
