Astonished!

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.” (Matthew 8:10, NIV 1984).

My Musings – Let the fact Jesus was astonished (feeling or showing great surprise or wonder) soak in before we delve into what it was that astonished Him. Hard to imagine, isn’t it? He who participated with the Godhead in all that was created being astonished by anything, but “being found in appearance as a man,” (Philippians 2:8a, NIV 1984), He set aside many of the aspects of deity to serve His creation and “humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross!” (Philippians 2:8b, NIV 1984).

But what was it that astonished Jesus? “When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help. ‘Lord,’ he said, ‘my servant lies at home paralyzed and in terrible suffering.’ Jesus said to him, ‘I will go and heal him.’ 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. 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.'” (Matthew 8:5–9, NIV 1984).

My Advice – “Who has believed our message? He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.” (Isaiah 53:1, 5, NIV 1984). That He did this for us, is something that we should find astonishing! What then should we do with this wonder and surprise? Believe His message. “It was for this very reason [He] came.” (John 12:27, NIV 1984).