My favorite verse from January 2020.

I want to tell you about my favorite verse from January 2020. 

Every once in a while, the more you read the Bible, you come back to a verse that just sticks out more than your last time reading. Matthew 8:8-10 did just that to me last month.

The problem is, all too often I tend to rush through my reading of Scripture.

I forget that when Jesus was speaking, He had a tone of voice, people were around Him listening, it was a certain time of day, maybe they were hungry, and all types of other normal human things.

Does Jesus ever seem like a robot in your mind? Maybe you’ve never thought of that before but just take a minute to think, do you ever really think of Jesus of being a person like you? A person who stubs there toe, has preferences, and laughs.

Jesus was God and a human person. The reality of this will never be fully understood on this side of eternity, but we have these moments where His divinity and humanity collide into miraculous moments. 

Look at my favorite verse from January 2020 

8 But the officer said, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come into my home. Just say the word from where you are, and my servant will be healed. 9 I know this because I am under the authority of my superior officers, and I have authority over my soldiers. I only need to say, ‘Go,’ and they go, or ‘Come,’ and they come. And if I say to my slaves, ‘Do this,’ they do it.”

10 When Jesus heard this, he was amazed. Turning to those who were following him, he said, “I tell you the truth, I haven’t seen faith like this in all Israel!

Matthew 8:8-10

One sentence stood out to me more than the others and immediately I was transported to first-century Israel to be with Jesus. My imagination soared back in time to be in this moment with Christ.

A Roman centurion, an enemy of God’s people, asks for help. 

Huge moment. 

This is why this verse is my favorite verse from January 2020. The guts of this guy to ask Jesus, a Jewish rabbi to help him is a little weird, but really it points to where this man was at; he was desperate. But that’s not what stands out, that’s not the part the blew my mind. It was this:

“10 When Jesus heard this, he was amazed…”

Amazed? 

The definition of that word is to wonder, wonder at, marvel. Jesus, the Son of God caught up in the surprise of wonder. 

Can you see it? Eyes wide, jaw dropped, maybe a nervous laugh. Jesus was amazed! This had to be an incredible moment for Him of encouragement, only Jesus knew that His life, death, and resurrection would be for everyone, not just the Jews.

What did it? What was it that amazed Christ? 

It was faith.

In my notes section of my Bible, I wrote, Lord help me have enough faith to amaze you, let me give you something to marvel at, may I seek you with the desperation of the officer, and may I see your miraculous work.

I’m still not over it, seeing the Prince of Heaven amazed. I think if I could be with Jesus at only a few moments of His life, I might pick this one.

My favorite verse from January 2020 centers on what happens when we have faith, God-sized faith, to see Jesus do what He can do with a simple word.

Lord, lead me into a life of faith. Guard me against a life that doesn’t trust you as a healer, resurrector, world changer, and king. I choose to follow you wherever you may lead.

Lord I’ve been amazed by You, I want you to be amazed by me. 

Yup, that verse is by far my favorite verse from January 2020.