Sometimes we have to take a step back and think about how we view Jesus.
To most people, Jesus is simply a vending machine--put a few prayers in and you can get the miracle of your choice.
To others, He is just a good teacher. They see Him as a mere man who lived a long time ago who had some good things to say.
I was reading my Bible and I ran across a passage where it says that Jesus "marvelled".
I was curious, so I did a little research...and I found that only one other time does it say that Jesus "marvelled" at someone. These two accounts are so entirely different.
The first is in Matthew 8:5-13. It's the story of the Centurion who comes to Jesus and asks Him to heal his servant.
Matthew 8:5-13 KJV
5) And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him,
6) And saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented.
7) And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him.
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.
9) For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.
10) When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.
11) And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven.
12) But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
13) And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour.
First of all, it is important to note that Romans and Jews hated each other. And a Centurion (basically a General) was not exactly known for his loving, generous nature. But here a Roman Centurion is coming to Jesus--a Jew--and asking him to heal his servant.
When Jesus says that He will come and heal him, the Centurion says that he isn't worthy to have Jesus come to his house.
Once again, this is completely foreign for the times. He probably could have ordered Jesus to do it, but first he asks, then refuses to let Jesus come to his house.
He calls Jesus "Lord", an expression that essentially means "supreme in authority". He states his view of Jesus. The centurion could've seen Jesus as a Jew or a Carpenter, but instead he sees Jesus as the Christ.
When the Centurion says that, Jesus marvels and proclaims that, "I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel".
The result of his great faith? His servant was healed that exact same hour.
The second time that Jesus "marvelled" was in Mark 6 : 1-6.
Mark 6:1-6 KJV
1) And he went out from thence, and came into his own country; and his disciples follow him.
2) And when the sabbath day was come, he began to teach in the synagogue: and many hearing him were astonished, saying, From whence hath this man these things? and what wisdom is this which is given unto him, that even such mighty works are wrought by his hands?
3) Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him.
4) But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house.
5) And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them.
6) And he marvelled because of their unbelief. And he went round about the villages, teaching.
Here, Jesus goes back to his childhood home, and instead of welcoming Him back like the Healer and Teacher He was now famous (or infamous) for, Jesus' neighbors were offended. They were basically asking, "Who the heck does He think He is? He's just a Carpenter!"
They view him as nothing more than a Carpenter. Jesus, the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords is viewed as nothing more than a simple Carpenter in His home country.
Jesus marvels and he could do "no mighty work"..."because of their unbelief".
So we must ask ourselves...How do you see Jesus? Do you see Him as nothing more than a Carpenter? Do you have any faith in Him?
Or do you see him as the Christ, in whom you can place all of your faith?
One results in a mighty work, with results that benefit everyone around you.
The other comes with no results...
No mighty works.
So...Faith=Results...No Faith=No Results
How do you see Jesus?
As a Carpenter? Or as the Christ?
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