And Jesus Was Amazed (How to Amaze Jesus)
Matthew 8:5-10
5 When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help. 6 “Lord,” he said, “my servant lies at home paralyzed, suffering terribly.”
7 Jesus said to him, “Shall I come 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 amazed and said to those following him, “Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith.
Mark 6: 1-6
1 Jesus left there and went to his hometown, accompanied by his disciples. 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? What are these remarkable miracles he is performing? 3 Isn’t this the carpenter? Isn’t this Mary’s son and the brother of James, Joseph,[a] Judas and Simon? Aren’t his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him.
4 Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own town, among his relatives and in his own home.” 5 He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them. 6 He was amazed at their lack of faith.
EOLS: God responds when we exercise faith that comes through the revelation of His power in our lives.
As Christians, we live our lives in an attempt to walk closely with Jesus. Even when we fall woefully short, we know it, and we want to get back on track as soon as possible. Walking by faith is not always easy. The feedback loop can sometimes be muddled. God speaks to us through circumstances, through prayer, through His Word and through the Church. Sometimes as we listen we’ll know His heart instantly, but most often I find that it takes some time.
Have you ever thought about how it must have been to walk with the Lord in person; to be able to talk with him face to face in daily life? Consider with me, you’re intimate friends in person with this man who you know to be God in the flesh. You know him so well and you watch his every reaction to things that you and others around you do. You let your guard down sometimes, but you also want to please him more than anything. I imagine that the people who walked with Him personally, in the flesh knew how to read him well. They could tell if he was aggravated, happy, deep in thought or contemplative just by looking. It’s hard for me to imagine what he looked like when he was amazed. Picture the Lord just amazed, just astonished, absolutely floored by something! Today we talk about-what it takes to amaze Jesus. How have you amazed Him, has he ever been amazed with you? Let’s talk.
We all want our kids to believe that we can do great things. There’s something very gratifying about your kids believing in you. Of course we all know that there comes a time in the teenage years when your kids stop believing that you’re great, and they start to think of you as hopelessly outdated and perhaps a little on the slow side.
Not long ago my girls and I were at the gym for a workout. As we were preparing to start our respective exercises we walked through the free weights area, and S. mentioned the heavy weights that someone had left on the bench uprights. She indicated that the free weights area was typically for the heavy lifters, the real athletes.
Well, at that moment the Daddy Flag went up. I haven’t used free weights in years, but to my way of thinking that wasn’t much weight at all! Back in the day I lifted quite a bit. I said “that’s not all that much at all” and she looked at me with slightly skeptical eyes and said “really?” I could tell MJ was watching S. and picking up on some of her skepticism and lack of faith that I could do it. In that moment I was amazed at their lack of faith! It simply wasn’t that hard for me to do. It was their perspective that was faulty.
I told her “spot me Sweetie” and she began to get scared as I lay down on the bench. She said “now Daddy don’t you hurt yourself” and I enjoyed the moment that much more! I a quick prayer “help me Lord, I don’t want to miss this!” Thank God, I knocked out seven or eight reps with that barbell, and I could see the amazement now in her eyes. My amazement at her lack of faith had given way to her amazement that her
Daddy could actually do it. She said “wow Dad, you’re pretty strong!” She had seen the football players and body builders back there pumping that iron, but now she saw Big Daddy do it!
MJ echoed with “wow dad that is awesome!” And of course, as a Daddy I enjoyed that quite a bit. Truth is, it wasn’t that much weight, but it was terribly gratifying to show my daughter that I was capable, especially since she initially was skeptical that the old man could do it! My amazement at their lack of faith had turned for the good, because I was able to increase their faith in me.
Let’s press this little analogy a little bit further; I can see a couple of alternative scenarios. What if S had said “Daddy, of course you can do it…you can do more than that because you are a strong man! I have no doubt!” MJ would have joined the chorus and said “yeah Dad you can do it...show everyone here what you can do!” I would have loaded a couple more plates on the bar and I would have really shown off for her! I would have probably amazed myself by doing more than I had thought, simply because her faith in me was so strong. I would have been overjoyed-amazed by their faith and ready to do more for them.
Look at another side with me. What if she had just walked away, what if she had just smirked or shook her head when I told her I could lift that weight, and turned her back. What if Marissa had said “oh come on Stacia, Dad’s too old to do that, let’s go get on the treadmill.” It would actually amaze me that they didn’t have more faith in me.
It would have hurt my feelings, but I certainly wouldn’t have run after her and insisted that she come and watch me. It would not have caused me to stop loving her, but I sure would have been disappointed that she didn’t believe I could do it, and she wasn’t even willing to watch me try it. I would have just gone about my business, knowing what I’m capable of, yet disappointed in her lack of faith in me. She may never know how strong I really am, because she doesn’t have enough faith to even ask me to do something. I’d love a chance to show her how strong I am.
My analogy is terribly imperfect because I’m a carnal man with an ego, and I’m not really all that strong! And lifting weights is good exercise, but beyond that it’s not really important stuff. But I do love my kids, and I do enjoy it when they have faith in me. A little goes a long way. I actually enjoy showing off for my children!
That brings us to God. He enjoys it when His children ask Him to do things, when they want to see just how powerful He is and when they believe He can do it! He is infinitely strong, He can do anything. He doesn’t have the imperfection of an ego that like I do, but in a perfect, infallible sense he is gratified when His children believe that He can and will be strong on their behalf! It moves His heart when His children believe that He can and will do supernatural things for them! This we know: faith moves his heart like nothing else.
Hebrews 11: 6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
Twice in the Gospels I find where Jesus was amazed. Some translations say astounded, other say astonished. I can think of other words-dumbfounded, perplexed, agape, speechless. Just amazed!
Jesus was God in the flesh, and while He was co-existent, co-eternal and co-equal with the Father, He voluntarily limited himself when He became a man and took on a body. He had perfect union with the Father through the Holy Spirit, yet sometimes his human emotions would show through. Picture with me what it must have been like to see the Lord-amazed!
The first time I find him amazed, it’s in a negative sense. Jesus had traveled back to his hometown of Nazareth to be in the synagogue service on the Sabbath. His reputation had grown throughout the region, and Jesus the man was looking forward to seeing his mother, brother and old friends. I’m sure in the back of his mind he was hoping they would accept Him and understand who He was.
I read in this passage that he must have been very hopeful and excited as he went back home. What he got was a huge disappointment.
People were saying this is Y’shua ben Yosef…that’s just lil ol Yshua! We’ve known him since he was a baby. He’s a homeboy! Yeah, they’d heard what he was doing but you know what, he was no big deal, just a good old boy from a good family. Very few people believed that he could do much of anything for them. The scripture says that some even took offense at him! I hear them saying “Who does he think he is?”
Sadly, Jesus simply answered- a prophet is not without honor except in his own country. I hear such disappointment in his voice, perhaps a broken heart. He had looked forward to this moment, and yet he found himself rejected by his own hometown! And the saddest part of the whole story, Mark says:
He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them. 6 He was amazed at their lack of faith.
If anyone should have had a revelation of who Jesus was, it was the people of Nazareth. They had watched him grow up. They knew his family. They were children of Israel, Jesus had come to reveal himself to them. Yet they simply did not believe He could do anything for them.
A few people got it…and he healed them. But most of them blew it. They walked away from the greatest revelation of their lives. Was Jesus willing? Absolutely. Was he available? Yes he was.
Did he go chase them down and demand they believe in Him, so that he could heal them? No way.
Think about what could have happened; people continued to suffer when they could have been healed, if only they had asked. They just didn’t believe the kid from Nazareth could do it.
Jesus was simply amazed at their lack of faith.
I go from a sad story to a story of triumph. Someone not only believed Jesus could do it, they were willing to travel to him and ask point blank, Lord please heal my servant!
Matthew tells the story; a different perspective on how to amaze Jesus!
Jesus was amazed at the great faith of a Roman Centurion. He came to Jesus as an outsider; a military official from the Roman army that occupied Israel during this time in history. The Romans were despised and hated by the Jews as oppressors. Jesus himself had reiterated on occasions that his message was first for Israel, and He didn’t make a strong effort during his time on earth to reach Gentiles with the message of His Kingdom. It was for the “Jew first.”
Yet somehow, this centurion with great power and authority in the Roman army had heard and believe on Jesus’ message. Perhaps he had been an eyewitness to other miracles, and Jesus’ teaching had come to his heart. Whatever the case, something had birthed great faith in this man that not only was Jesus capable of healing his servant, He was willing.
Notice that when He came to Jesus, the Centurion didn’t come shooting dice, or saying “well, it’s worth a try.” He came absolutely convinced on a heart-level of Jesus’ power and authority. As a first step, I see that:
He was moved with compassion for another
A Roman centurion was a powerful man, and he likely had many servants. Roman warriors were known for their brutality and the training they experienced was merciless and fierce. They weren’t known for their compassion, particularly for a servant who would most often be considered expendable; a piece of property. Yet this man was so moved by the plight of his servant and friend that he came to Jesus on his behalf. Matthew uses the word “pais” which means a young person, while Luke uses the more familiar “doulos” which simply means a bondservant. It seems likely that this servant may have been a child, maybe the child of one of his adult servants. He had obviously developed a great love for the child; a love that would drive him to Jesus. His love stirred and fed his faith!
This can take us into another sermon, but suffice it to say-that love is the key. We can operate in the compassion of Jesus, and when we see people as He sees them, amazing things will begin to happen.
What moves us? Are we consumed with our own issues continuously, or are we bearing the burden for someone else?
He Recognized Jesus’ Supreme authority in the spiritual realm.
He wasn’t trying to convince himself that Jesus could help; He knew that Jesus had the power, and that He simply had to ask. Jesus asked him if he would like for him to come to his house to heal the servant. The Centurion said “not necessary Lord, you have the authority to speak the word and it will be done.”
It’s one thing to pray for someone; it’s quite another to truly believe that God will heal them, that He will change the situation. Do we recognize God as the supreme authority, or do we qualify His ability with what we see, what we hear, with what’s possible in the realm of science?
He Spoke His Faith Aloud
When we believe something inwardly that’s good, but we put it on the line when we speak it out where others can hear. Something happens when we speak our faith out-loud. We hear it, other people hear it. It’s one thing to whisper a silent prayer and hope no one hears, because if it doesn’t work out you don’t want to be embarrassed. It’s quite another to speak out your faith and say “I believe God can do this, and I’m willing to ask Him for it, outloud and in front of others!”
The centurion didn’t have a “private faith” and he didn’t want to hedge his bet, because there was no bet. This was a done deal. If for some reason Jesus didn’t respond, then he would be subject to ridicule, but that was fine. It wouldn’t change a thing. Jesus was still Lord, and the centurion would still love and worship Him. His heart had been changed and there was no contingency regarding his love and devotion to Jesus.
When we speak faith out loud, not only do we hear it, but others hear it and God hears it. It puts us out there walking on the water with Peter, it puts us in the boat in the middle of the storm with Jesus sleeping like a baby. It’s do or die, sink or swim! There’s no going back and saying it was just a good thought or a private hope; we’re putting it on the line! And something about that gets God all excited to be strong on your behalf!
When He sees that you really believe he can do it, it stirs His heart. We see it over and over again in the scriptures. Jesus even speaks of faith that can “move mountains.” A mountain is any seemingly insurmountable obstacle that stands in between you and your holy destiny.
Mark 11: 22-24
22 “Have faith in God,” Jesus answered. 23 “Truly[f] I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them. 24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. 25 And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.”
Are we willing to go on record with our faith? Will we declare it? God CAN do this, and I’m willing to ask Him, outloud!
It thrills Him to move mountains on your behalf; believe that He can and will do it!
Let’s bring this to the practical realm. It’s easy to talk about it in church, but when we hit the battle “out there”, how do we work this out?
I’ve had some experience just this week with this, and I’d like to share some thoughts that have come to me; the experience that led me to this sermon today.
(the story of the last week with our Aunt's sickness and death if time allows).
When you receive the “bad report”…speaking life, speaking healing, one person getting the faith and bringing it to others…refusing to accept the “standard report” or the statistics, the percentage odds mean nothing to God.
Whose report will you believe?
Is Jesus amazed with our faith today?
