What Amazing Trust!

Did you know Jesus was only “amazed” twice in all of the Gospel stories? Even a casual reader would see that Jesus was a man of steady balance, not typically given to extreme emotions. Okay, he did get extreme with the extremist Pharisees, but Jesus typically moved with an aplomb characteristic of someone who lived in the flow of the Kingdom among us.

But in Luke 7, we see Jesus was amazed by the Centurion’s trust:

When Jesus heard this, he was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd following him, he said, “I tell you, I have not found such great trust even in Israel.”

Matthew, watching Jesus that day, thought the word “astonished” better described Jesus’ reaction (Matt. 8:10).

Amazed. Astonished.

I want to be like the Centurion, don’t you? Wouldn’t you want to astonish Jesus with your trust? The Centurion had a big occasion to display big trust, and so may you.

I know a man who is experiencing extreme duress in his marriage. Extreme. But he chose the counterintuitive and countercultural path of trusting God, instead of himself, or the court system.

I’m tempted to think he’s nuts. You would if I gave you the details. His lawyer must. The courts sure would. But he has what seems to be an unrealistic and totally impractical trust that God, his Heavenly Father, is indeed in charge. He quite naturally trusts God is all-powerful, and that God loves him perfectly. Would you think him perhaps a little foolish? Naïve?

Based on Jesus’ perspective, it is more likely God will welcome him with, “I’m astonished at your trust, my dear son. Well done, good and trusting Servant. I am well pleased with you, my son.”

I imagine God is, even now, gathering around a few of the heavy hitters in Heaven and saying, “Come over here, quick… Look at my son. Isn’t it amazing he is actually trusting me even though everything and everyone around him is screaming, ‘Look out for #1’? I have not found such great trust even in Israel.”

Imagine my friend’s entrance into heaven. A standing ovation? Now, imagine yours.

Jesus was also amazed by the lack of trust of his hometown people, so…

…he could not do any miracles there… And he was amazed at their lack of trust. Mark 6:5-6

What do you want? To astonish Jesus with your trust or lack thereof?