Amazing Faith
Matthew 8:5-13
What amazes Jesus?
The scripture records only two times that Jesus was amazed:
1) Once when people lacked faith…
Mark 6:2-6
2 When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed. "Where did this man get these things?" they asked. "What’s this wisdom that has been given him, that he even does miracles!
3 Isn’t this the carpenter? Isn’t this Mary’s son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon? Aren’t his sisters here with us?" And they took offense at him.
4 Jesus said to them, "Only in his hometown, among his relatives and in his own house is a prophet without honor."
5 He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them.
6 And he was amazed at their lack of faith…
(NIV)
2) The other, when a man’s faith far outdistanced those around him
Matthew 8:5-13
5 When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help.
6 "Lord," he said, "my servant lies at home paralyzed and in terrible suffering."
7 Jesus said to him, "I will go and heal him."
8 The centurion replied, "Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed.
9 For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ’Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ’Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ’Do this,’ and he does it."
10 When Jesus heard this, he was astonished and said to those following him, "I tell you the truth, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith.
11 I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.
12 But the subjects of the kingdom will be thrown outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."
13 Then Jesus said to the centurion, "Go! It will be done just as you believed it would." And his servant was healed at that very hour.
(NIV)
Let’s go to Capernaum and see this amazing faith.
Jesus has just finished preaching what we call “The Sermon on the Mount” and the scripture says that…
Matthew 7:28-29
28 When Jesus had finished saying these things,
the crowds were amazed at his teaching,
29 because he taught as one who had authority,
and not as their teachers of the law.
(NIV)
Then as Jesus is coming down off the mountain, Jesus amazes the people again by touching a man covered with the highly contagious disease of leprosy.
Jesus always amazes us. It is amazing to think that the God who cast the stars into orbit would care enough about us to enter into our orbit and cast our sins as far as the east is from the west. It is amazing to think that the God who fashioned the world with His own hands would fashion Himself to take on human flesh and become one of us. It is amazing that…
2 Corinthians 5:21
21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us,
that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
(NKJ)
Jesus constantly amazes us.
When he enters the town of Capernaum, which He had set up as His base of operations, a centurion and his entourage comes to Jesus. The Centurion was the commander of 100 soldiers. Luke’s account of this event tells us that this Centurion was well loved by the Jews in Capernaum. He had invested His own money to build a synagogue for the Jews. He loved them and they loved Him. When Jesus got to town, the Centurion meets Him with a request.
Matthew 8:6
6 "Lord," he said, "my servant lies at home paralyzed and in terrible suffering."
(NIV)
The Centurion’s highly valued servant could not serve. The Centurion made a simple statement to the Lord and Jesus responded:
Matthew 8:7
7 Jesus said to him, "I will go and heal him."
(NIV)
Isn’t that just what you would expect Jesus to say and do? When one comes to Jesus requesting healing, we expect Him to respond by coming and bringing wellness and wholeness. As Jesus turns to go to touch the Centurion’s servant, and amaze the people again, the Centurion puts out his hand to stop Jesus.
Matthew 8:8
8 The centurion replied, "Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed.
(NIV)
Amazing faith recognizes that
The God Who has spoken
can speak again!
His Word is enough!
Isn’t it amazing all we go through in hopes of getting God’s attention? Some will pray long prayers, cry big tears, scream and wail as if God were deaf. Those who do so are no better than the prophets of Baal that Elijah dealt with on Mount Carmel. Some go so far as to pay large sums of money in the hope that God will take note of their generosity and respond to their cries. Those who do so are no better of than Simon the Sorcerer who tried to buy God’s gift.
Faith that amazes Jesus says, “Just speak and it is done!” Faith that amazes Jesus says,
“God said it! I believe it! That settles it!”
Amazing faith recognizes God for
Who He is,
not just what He does!
Matthew 8:8-9
8 The centurion answered and said, "Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof. But only speak a word, and my servant will be healed.
9 "For I also am a man under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to this one, ’Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ’Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ’Do this,’ and he does it."
(NKJ)
The centurion understood what it meant to be under orders. He worked for the Roman government. He had a mission – to keep peace in Capernaum. He was to make sure that the people in Capernaum obeyed the Roman law, the law of the land. Not only was the Centurion’s word, law, but his presence was peace! His presence was all that was needed to make sure the law was enforced.
Thousands of cars drive up and down Airline Drive everyday. Those driving those cars drive them at a variety of speeds, from steady and relaxed to speedracer – ish. But let presence of a police car be seen and brake lights go a flashing! Is the law any different? No! But the enforcer of the law is now present!
The Centurion understood that because Jesus is the healer that was enough for his servant to be healed. Jesus did not need to be present. He is still the healer if he is a million miles away. He can heal from a distance! He is the healer!
Where Jesus is does not change Who He is!
Jeremiah 23:23-24
23 "Am I only a God nearby," declares the LORD, "and not a God far away?
24 Can anyone hide in secret places so that I cannot see him?" declares the LORD. "Do not I fill heaven and earth?" declares the LORD.
(NIV)
The writer of Hebrews says it well:
Hebrews 11:6
6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
(NKJ)
That is faith! To believe that He is and that He rewards those who diligently seek Him! The centurion believed in who Jesus is and said it is enough. Can that be said of us?
Is Jesus amazed at our faith
or
our lack of faith?
