The Centurion said, “Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one to ‘go’, and he goes, and that one ,’come’ and he comes”. . . When Jesus heard this he marveled. . . Then Jesus said to the Centurion “Go!” Let it be done just as you believed it would.” And his servant was healed at that moment. (Matthew 8:8-10)

This is a remarkable moment in the ministry of Jesus and so in the relationship of all humanity to our God. Jesus, who did not need to be told what is in a man (John 2:25) was amazed, and “marveled” at a Roman Centurion who boldly compared his life as a soldier to Jesus’ life as the son of God. He compared his military life, built on unconditional obedience, to Jesus’ life in his Father God.

Nothing at all about Jesus could be tangibly compared to a Roman Centurion. Jesus had no place to lay his head, relied on contributions from others, held to no schedule, moved about teaching and preaching, and healing, while the Centurion lived a highly structured life and received a paycheck . He followed orders as he was paid to do. He lived by clearly defined rules among others who lived by the same rules.

Nevertheless, the Centurion looked at Jesus and saw himself in the one and only one quality that they shared: obedience to authority. The Centurion was obedient to Rome, and Jesus was and is obedient to God. It was enough for the Centurion to be bold enough to ask for Jesus to heal the Centurion’s servant.

The Centurion understood that selfless obedience was a source of great power, and, more importantly, that Jesus’ obedience was to God Himself. Jesus, standing near Peter and the other disciples, responded with, “I have not seen such faith in all of Israel!”

(Matthew 8:13)

I have wondered if it is still possible to surprise Jesus such that he would “marvel.” In giving flesh and blood to His son, the Father allowed him to marvel at finding the work of His spirit in an unexpected place. Every one of us has places in our heart that have not been accessible to Jesus, places of fear, or bitterness, cynicism, or hated, or unbelief. Where one of these locked places opens up unexpectedly, I believe there is marveling in heaven at the event and Jesus marvels.

Love in Him,

Prue