Sometimes we misjudge people. No, I’m not talking about “Judge not, that you be not judged.” I’m referring to making an honest assessment of people. We do this all the time. Often our honest assessment of a person is really off target. We can be poor judges of human character and human hearts.
In our text, Jesus marveled at a man’s faith. We might find it strange and hard to believe that Jesus would marvel at anything, but He did. The man was a centurion who explained to Jesus that he had a servant suffering terribly in a paralysis. When Jesus said He would come and heal him, the centurion responds with something like this: “No, you don’t understand. I’m not worthy to have you come into my house, but just speak the word, and my servant will be healed. You see, I understand about speaking a word of authority.”
At these words, Jesus “marveled” and said: “Truly I say to you, I have not found such great faith with anyone in Israel.” Jesus was expecting faith out of His own people, but here was a Gentile with a faith like He’d not yet encountered. He was amazed.
Certain people have amazed me over the years. Individuals who I thought would never even be interested in the gospel became strong believers in Jesus Christ. Some who I believed would be faithful and fruitful for the Lord turned back to the world and dried up on the vine. Others who showed such great interest and spoke such promising words never obeyed the gospel. I feel certain that you have had such experiences in your life as well.
Two things I learn from all of this. Be amazed! Marvel at what the gospel of Christ can do in a person’s heart. Rejoice at their faith and their obedience to Christ. Second, don’t ever withhold the gospel from anybody because of your assessment of them. We have no idea what’s going on in another person’s head or heart. Only the Lord knows. Share the good news with everyone, and let the power of the gospel work in them. Who knows? Maybe you’ll be amazed.
><> Jeff