When He Marvels

When Jesus heard these things, He marveled at him, and turned around and said to the crowd that followed Him, “I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!” Luke 7:9 (New King James Version)


And He marveled because of their unbelief. Then He went about the villages in a circuit, teaching. Mark 6:6 (New King James Version)

In all of the New Testament there are only two verses that reference Jesus marveling at something. In Mark 6:6 He marvels at unbelief and in Luke 7:9 He marvels at great faith. Unbelief and faith are polar opposites and yet Jesus responds to both in the same way…. He marvels. Quama/zw is the Greek word for marvel and it also means to wonder or be amazed. In other words, a person’s response to Jesus can evoke amazement in Him over ones faith or unbelief. It was true in Bible times and it is true in our times.

Each day I am given ample opportunities to respond in faith or unbelief toward God and my response has the potential to amaze Him. The question is not whether or not God is amazed but at what is He amazed. As I ponder that, a slew of questions begin formulating in my mind, as to how I will respond. Will it be with great faith or unbelief? When I see weaknesses in myself? When I am faced with a test or trial? When people are unavailable? When I am placed in a new situation? When life falls apart? When the future looks uncertain? When medical diagnoses are grim? When I am outside my comfort zone? When personal choices lead to painful consequences? When I am unable to control what I most want to control? When I don’t get my way? When others get what I want? When I do not see change in myself? When I sin? When life gets hard?

When I am faced with those or any other concerns the question becomes, “Which is greater, God or my issue?” In all honesty, is God still God? Is He still loving, in control, and watching over me? Is God able to do what He says He can do? Is He trustworthy?

I have spent the past couple of weeks in introspection and tonight I am determining that if God is going to marvel at anything in my life, I want it to be my faith rather than my unbelief. As a matter of fact, if I am going to marvel at anything in my life I want it to be my faith as well.


Father, the disciples once asked for their faith to be increased. I ask the same. May my faith increase to the point of causing You to marvel. May I get to the place of marveling over You and all You do. Amen.

Getting into God's Word and letting God's Word get into me one truth at a time.