Jesus is astonished !

"[Jesus] could do no miracle there, except that he laid hands on a small number of sick and healed them ; and he was astonished at their unbelief." Mark 6. 5

"When he heard [the centurion], Jesus was astonished and said to those who followed him : Truly, I say to you : I have not found such great faith even in Israel." Matthew 8. 10

On two occasions, the gospels tell us that the Lord was astonished. As Son of God, he was of course omniscient and could not be surprised by any reaction. But as a man, he expressed his shock at the inconsistency of the answers he received.

The first episode is in Nazareth. This city of Galilee had grown the only perfect child that ever lived on the earth. Then his people had observed his humble life as a "carpenter" (Mark 6: 3). Jesus also taught in their synagogue. But his compatriots were so incredulous listeners that the Lord was astonished at the strangeness of their conduct. The behavior of Jesus, which they had had before their eyes, fully accredited his words and should not have left them insensitive. This shows that good conduct is not enough to touch the heart, although it is of course fundamental that there be consistency between our actions and our words.

The second episode takes place at Capernaüm on the shores of Lake Tiberias. A military leader calls on Jesus to heal one of his slaves to whom he is very attached. This attitude, probably rare enough at this time, already shows the qualities of heart of this Roman (Luke 7. 2). Aware of the greatness of the Lord, he feels unworthy to welcome him home. He still knows that tradition forbids a pious Jew from entering a stranger's house. He therefore proposes to Jesus to heal his slave at a distance, by a word. This human respect on the part of an officer of the occupation army, so often brutal, and this entire faith in the divine power of Jesus found in a stranger, are so abnormal that they seize our Lord who relieves them publicly.

Surprised, too, we may argue :

- the unbelief of people who seem to be in a situation outwardly very favorable to receive the gospel, but who continue to refuse it ;

- the faith of others who were in apparently unfriendly circumstances to believe in God.

These two stories encourage us to proclaim the gospel to all, without distinction.

Source (Pleasing the Lord)