When Jesus heard this, he was astonished.
—Matthew 8:10
The gospels cite the amazement of Jesus only twice.
On the one hand, he was amazed by the lack of faith of his own people, the Jews. In his home town he was ridiculed and rejected. “And he was amazed at their lack of faith” (Mk 6:6).
On the other hand, he was amazed by the strong faith of a centurion, a Gentile. This soldier approached Jesus, believing he could heal his ailing servant.
Jesus said he could and would: “I will go and heal him.”
The centurion told Jesus not to bother with a hike to his digs: “Just say the word, and my servant will be healed.”
“When Jesus heard this, he was astonished (amazed NCV) . . . ‘I have not found anyone in Israel [any Jew] with such great faith’” (Mt 8:10).
Is Jesus amazed by the potency of our faith; or by its impotence?
Weak faith delivers weak results.