Authority and Amazement

I have to say that I have been blessed to take part in the Daily Walk Bible reading this year! These readings have provided new insights into the majesty, glory and character of God.

Recently, while reading the Gospel of Mark, my eyes were opened to the sovereign authority that Jesus displayed over: Creation, sickness and disease, demons, over people and especially in his calling of the disciples, in his teaching and over sin. But I was also moved by how many people were “amazed” with Christ. They were amazed with: his teachings, with his power to heal, and with his power over Creation. Mark 7:37 says, “They were completely amazed and said again and again, ‘everything he does is wonderful’” (NLT). Clearly, Jesus’ authority precedes the people’s amazement.

Continuing this idea, Michael Card calls the Gospel of Luke “the Gospel of Amazement.” Card says in his commentary, “Luke exhausts the language of amazement…there are five Greek words that can be translated “amazed” and only Luke uses every one of them” (Luke: The Gospel of Amazement, p. 22). Card goes on to ask the rhetorical question, “why am I not amazed?” This is a great question for us to ponder!

As I was reading this morning I was shocked to see that this time it wasn’t the people, the disciples or those who were healed that were amazed. But, rather, it was Jesus himself! In Luke 7 a Roman Centurion had heard of Jesus’ amazing authority and how the people had been amazed at this authority and so he realized that Jesus was the only hope for his slave, who was dear to him, to be healed. But instead of asking Jesus to come and pray for him and anoint him with oil or heal him through the laying on of hands he simply says “just say the word from where you are, and my servant will be healed” (7:7, NLT). Wow! What faith!! “When Jesus heard this, he was amazed. Turning to the crowd that was following him, he said, ‘I tell you, I haven’t seen faith like this in all Israel!’” (Luke 7:9)

NT scholar Darrell Bock commented that the combination of the Centurion’s “humility, dependent request, and trusting awareness of God’s power is the essence of faith” (Luke 1:1-9:50, 644). Do I have this type of faith? Do you?

Will Jesus find faith in my life, in my family, or in our church when he returns (Luke 18:8)? I hope so! For if we are building our house on the rock (Lk. 6:46-49) then we will have "concrete faith" like this Centurion (Bock, 630)!