"Jesus was amazed at him"

Monday musical meditations on God's good news

An opening prayer:

Rock of ages, cleft for me, Let me hide myself in thee;

Let the water and the blood From thy riven side which flowed

Be of sin the double cure: Cleanse me from its guilt and power.

Not the labors of my hands Can fulfill thy law’s demands.

Could my zeal no respite know, Could my tears forever flow,

All for sin could not atone; Thou must save, and thou alone.

Nothing in my hand I bring, Simply to thy cross I cling;

Naked, come to thee for dress, Helpless, look to thee for grace.

Foul, I to the fountain fly— wash me, Savior, or I die.

While I draw this fleeting breath, When mine eyelids close in death,

When I soar to worlds unknown, See thee on thy judgment throne,

Rock of Ages, cleft for me, Let me hide myself in thee! Amen.

When Jesus had finished saying all this in the hearing of the people, he entered Capernaum. ² There a centurion’s servant, whom his master valued highly, was sick and about to die. ³ The centurion heard of Jesus and sent some elders of the Jews to him, asking him to come and heal his servant.
⁴ When they came to Jesus, they pleaded earnestly with him, “This man deserves to have you do this, ⁵ because he loves our nation and has built our synagogue.” ⁶ So Jesus went with them.
He was not far from the house when the centurion sent friends to say to him: “Lord, don’t trouble yourself, for I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. ⁷ That is why I did not even consider myself worthy to come to you. But say the word, and my servant will be healed. ⁸ For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”
⁹ When Jesus heard this, he was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd following him, he said, “I tell you, I have not found such great faith even in Israel.” ¹⁰ Then the men who had been sent returned to the house and found the servant well.

helpful notes on Luke 7:1–3

helpful notes on Luke 7:4–5

helpful notes on Luke 7:6–10

Jesus is amazed! At the faith his Spirit gave!
What amazes you most about Jesus in his humble walking in this world? Now, in his exaltation?

That God spreads the good news of the kingdom of the Son he loves in Central African Republic

BWV 25 (YouTube, "There Is Nothing Healthy in My Body")
This cantata starts with Psalm 38:3.
There David says, "There is no soundness in my body because of your indignation; there is no health in my bones because of my sin."
The centurion in Luke 7 comes to Jesus for a similar reason, on behalf of his servant.
"O, Jesus, Master," we echo. "I flee to you."
And as in the last section of the cantata, we long to join the angels' choir forever.