Jesus is Amazed!

 

            Last time, I wrote about the numerous times that the crowds were amazed by Jesus.  There are at least 25 times that the word “amazed” is used to describe the disciples and/or the crowds in the Gospels, but there are also three times when Jesus used the word “amazed.”

            In Matthew 8 and Luke 7, the Gospel writers recount the story of the Centurion.  This Roman military officer came to Jesus begging Jesus to heal his servant.  He was a leader of over 100 men, but he humbled himself to come to a hated Jew to get help, not for himself, but for his servant. When Jesus quickly offered to go to his home, the soldier just as quickly said that’s too much to ask.  “I know what it is to have power and authority over men, so just give the word and I know my servant will be healed.”  In Luke 7: 9, Jesus was amazed and said, “I have not found such great faith even in Israel” (NIV84).

            There was one other time that Jesus was amazed.  He was in His hometown and began to teach in the Synagogue.  While the people were amazed at His teachings, they were more surprised that He was a mere carpenter’s son, trying to put on airs with them.  They were even more offended than they were amazed.  They failed to honor Him, and His reaction was clear: “He was amazed at their lack of faith” (Mark 6: 6 NIV84).

            Faith is at the very heart of Jesus’ amazement.  The question is whether He is amazed because we have faith the size of a mustard seed that can move mountains or do we lack faith as the people of Nazareth did.

            The writer of Hebrews makes it very clear that no one can please God unless they have faith (Hebrews 11: 6) because faith comes from not just believing in God but earnestly seeking Him.  Faith is the cornerstone of our salvation.  It is the belief that Christ is the Savior of the world coupled with the confidence that He is not only able but will, complete His promises of eternal life.  Hebrews defines it as “being sure of what we hope for, and confident of what we do not see” (Hebrews 11: 1 NIV84). 

            Unfortunately, there will be those times for all of us when our faith may waiver.  After all, we live in a broken world and bad things still happen to even those who follow Christ.  It is at those times that we stand with the father in Mark 9: 24 “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief” (NIV84).

            I know that I will never be perfect on this side of heaven, but I pray that I will constantly grow in my faith and my amazement of God and Christ.  I also pray that if Christ ever has the occasion to say that He is amazed by me, it will be for my faith and not for my lack of it.

Mark 9: 24