WHEN JESUS MARVELLED

 

copyright(c)2015 Daneille Gray Snowden

2015 

WHEN JESUS MARVELED

 

                                                           By Daneille Gray Snowden

 

Matt. 8:10 "When Jesus heard it, he marveled,..."

 

WOW! Can you imagine that? Having Jesus looking at you, then at those all around, saying; "...Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel?" His emotional reaction stated in the same verse- HE WAS MARVELED at this man! I want that, I want to be THERE; in the place where my walk of faith, my words and actions that Jesus' [My Lord & King!] would be marveled at! How about you, are ya with me? Let's dig in and take a look at how this man MARVELED God (the Son).

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To be 'marveled' means causing wonder, admiration, or astonishment and in the Greek: thaumazó (thou-mad'-zo) it is defined as: admire, and to be amazed.

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I want to with all my heart; for my God to admire me and be astonished! Yet, this is NOT what this man...this Centurion was setting out to do. Not at all! He was in a place of desperation; but also REALIZATION of Who Jesus is. A centurion is a soldier over a hundred soldiers. He was a comptroller of the town and well respected in this position. An officer of this stature was; "...chosen by merit, and so were men remarkable not so much for their daring courage as for their deliberation, constancy, and strength of mind." [M. Henry] Think on this, in comparison to all of us today; he had it all! He had prestige, respect, money, authority, intelligence and power. So many of us today, that is how SUCCESS is measured; isn't it? So, if we reach success, especially to this level will our mind & heart set be brought to humility on the behalf of others? This is where this leader was, his heart was broken for his servant who was struck with an awful disease of palsy. Palsy then was a type of paralysis either resulting from a stroke, bells palsy or something that caused numbness. It was looked at as impossible to cure and likely fatal.

 

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Yet, he somehow knew of Jesus and recognized him for WHO HE WAS! Seeing that; this leader (the Centurion) came to Jesus; beseeching him. He recognized that Christ commanded respect because he recognized the true LEADER of the universe!

 "He owns Christ’s sovereignty, in calling him Lord, and referring the case to him, and to his will, and wisdom." [M.H.]



 By 'beseeching' Him, the Centurion became a beggar. 'This is the only instance of one that came to him for a servant: Lord, my servant lieth at home sick.' A humble heart was in this man; simply because He knew Who Jesus truly was (& is today). When we SEEK Jesus, read His Word...dwell in His Presence; we too can have our hearts melted to the place of being humble intercessors and servants of the Most High!

 

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This humility, (self-abasement) had energized the Centurion's 'readiness' to come to Jesus and heal his servant. "Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof." (Matt. 8:8) This act, was an evidence of his faith in Christ.

 

How about us, what is our outward state on the behalf of others...even one's we consider our inferiors (which we shouldn't)? Are we or do we come to God-- with great desperation plus humility for their lives?



 

"The more humility the more faith; the more diffident we are of ourselves, the stronger will be our confidence in Jesus Christ." [MH]

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This centurion man believed in Christ's power to heal, so much; that he felt that there was no need of  physical contact. He believed that the power of Christ knows no limits!



 

Jeremiah 23:23 "Am I a God at hand, saith the Lord, and not a God afar off?"

 

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NOTE: A Centurion's word was LAW in this time period. It was called, dictum factum; "Well-disciplined soldiers know that the commands of their officers are not to be disputed, but obeyed."

Thus, this man believed the same format...what Christ Jesus would say as the LAW of the Universe it shall be done.

Back in v.7 "I will come and heal him;" Expressing here,  FAVOR gained from Jesus to this soldier. Jesus was astonished by Him, (not surprised though) but marveled! How? v.8 "The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed."

 

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HIS FAITH  was great and excellent, rare and uncommon, and Christ spoke of it as a wonderful thing, to teach us what is to be admired. The Centurion was not an Israelite; yet he was being honored by Jesus the Son of God.

In the next few verses Jesus gives a 'talkin to' to the Children of Israel; where much more is expected. "But, there was no greater faith like this gentile's (non Israelite) seen in all Israel." Saying simply; it's the GRACE of God that searches the heart of ALL MAN (regardless of background).

 

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In application; as I stated in the beginning ... we would love to be one that MARVELS God! We have seen here, it's not about us at all! It's humility, and having THE HEART AFTER GOD ON THE BEHALF OF OTHERS! [All as we have seen in the actions of this Centurion man.] PtL!

 

Let's cry to God, for the souls of all man/womankind: who is dying and going to hell. For those who are lost..living in hopelessness; living in darkness.

All for the lost, sinners, the homeless, our family, friends, co-workers, peers, neighbors, leaders and so on.

Please: BESEECH...BEG...seek after the GOD OF THE UNIVERSE...for their lives!

I guarantee you, as you do the Lord will see your hearts and truly be MARVELED!