When Jesus heard this, He was amazed at him [the Roman centurion], and turning to the crowd following Him, He said, “I tell you, I have not found such great faith even in Israel.” Then the men who had been sent returned to the house and found the servant well. (Luke 7:9-10)
What amazes Jesus? Great faith…in this case by a centurion, a Gentile military officer. It is interesting that the NT only records two instances in which Jesus is said to be “amazed” (Greek, thaumazo, “to marvel, to gaze in wonder”)–here in Luke 7 and also in Mark 6:6 when He is amazed at the great unbelief in Nazareth, His hometown.
We’ve heard that God is amazing but how about God being amazed? It is quite a concept. God is obviously not “surprised” by anything but Jesus, who is God in the flesh, voluntarily limited some of His divine attributes while on earth. And in this instance He is genuinely amazed and surprised. What surprises Him? Great faith exercised by those in whom it would not be expected (the centurion). And, in Mark 6:6, great unbelief exercised by those who should believe (Jews in Nazareth).
If the centurion’s faith is so highly esteemed by Jesus, it makes sense to look at it more closely. What do we know about the centurion?
1. He was a man of compassion. The fact that he was so concerned about one of his servants says a lot about him. Most men of power think only of themselves, not a lowly servant.
2. He loved the Jews and the God of the Jews. Though he was a Gentile in authority over the Jews, he had a great love for the Jewish people and obviously a great belief in the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
3. He had great humility. While the elders of the Jews make sure to tell Jesus how “worthy” the centurion is, the centurion makes sure to tell Jesus how unworthy he is. The centurion did not see his good works as things that earned him favor in God’s eyes. He saw his good works as expressions of gratitude to a God of mercy and grace who loved him despite his sin and unworthiness.
4. He believed Jesus was who He said He was. The centurion knew that Jesus had all power, including power over disease and death. He also knew that Jesus’ power was so great that all He had to do was speak the word and the universe would obey.
The centurion’s faith both challenges me and encourages me. It challenges me because I see my own faith as so small. I don’t think Jesus would be too amazed at my faith. It is ordinary at best. Like I’ve said before, I identify more with the father in Mark 9:24 who says, “Lord, I believe. Help thou my unbelief.” Faith is a struggle. Doubt often creeps in. Fear and anxiety rear their ugly heads. And I wonder if God is really out there, ready to answer, able to rescue, willing to rescue. It is interesting that in this very same chapter, John the Baptist (the greatest prophet according to Jesus) also wavers a bit in his faith. “Are You the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?” Of course, John is in prison at this time facing execution and it is understandable why he might begin to doubt some. My faith wavers in less dire circumstances.
But the centurion’s faith also encourages me. I have a tendency to see faith as some mystical thing or as some great risk-taking venture. However the centurion’s faith, the “great faith” that so amazes Jesus, is rather simple. The centurion is a man of great humility, evidenced in great compassion for his servants and for others, who simply believes in the great power of Jesus. That is it. Humility that recognizes that I can’t and faith that recognizes Jesus can. Nothing fancy or wild…just simple faith in Jesus.
I long for that kind of faith…a faith that lives in simple humility and learns to rest in Jesus’ power.
Lord, I believe. Help thou my belief.