The Bible records two times that Jesus is amazed.
The first instance is in the sixth chapter of Mark's gospel, when Jesus is in His hometown with his fellow countrymen. The locals in Nazareth are in Jesus' presence and able to hear the wisdom he spoke and see him perform miracles with his own hands. However, because they knew the family he'd come from, that he was a carpenter, and that he had not received formal education; he was not considered worthy to be a rabbi.
Although it was evident that the wisdom he spoke with and the power he performed miracles in was supernatural, they did not believe. As a result, his ability to perform miracles there was limited.
He was not able to do a miracle there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and healed them. And he was amazed at their unbelief. He was going around the villages teaching.
Mark 6:5-6 (CSB)
The second instance is in the seventh chapter of Luke's gospel where a centurion's servant is sick and near death. He heard that Jesus was near and sent a message asking Jesus to save his servant's life. Jesus was on His way to the centurion's house to heal his servant, and the centurion stopped Jesus from entering his house. He said to Jesus to "just say the word and my servant will be healed." Jesus was amazed.
Jesus heard this and was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd following him, he said, “I tell you, I have not found so great a faith even in Israel.”
Luke 7:9 (CSB)
Both instances of Jesus' amazement are centered around faith; the presence and the absence of it.
In one instance, Jesus was physically present but the faith of his fellow countrymen was absent. In the other, the faith of the centurion was present although Jesus was physically absent from his situation.
Without faith, we will not be able to recognize the presence of God in our situation.
However, when our faith is present, it becomes the proof that God is active in our circumstance even when we can't see Him.
Now faith is the reality of what is hoped for, the proof of what is not seen.
Hebrews 11:1 (CSB)
Let us not place our faith in the capability of our adversities, but in the character of our God that will never fail.
Let's make an intentional choice to live by faith.
Faith that is confident in the character of God.
Faith that is proof that He will perform in our situation, even when we don't see Him.
Faith that will amaze God.
So faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the message about Christ.
Romans 10:17 (CSB)
For Reflection:
Where have I placed my confidence? In the character of God or the outcome of difficult life situations?
Are there areas in my life that I can increase my faith?
Scriptures:
Mark 6:1-6
Luke 7: 1-10
Hebrews 11:1
Romans 10:17
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