How can God be amazed? Luke 7:9

How Can God be Amazed? Luke 7:9

We read in Luke 7 that there is a centurion who owns a sick slave. The centurion sent people to Jesus to ask for his help (Luke 7:1-3). The Jews who came to the Lord seem to be quite fond of the centurion for Luke writes: “When they came to Jesus, they earnestly implored Him, saying, “He is worthy for You to grant this to him; for he loves our nation and it was he who built us our synagogue,” (Luke 7:4-5 NASB1995).

When Jesus got close to the home, some of the Roman's friends requested for him to not enter the home. The reason is he believes he is not worthy to have a person such as Jesus in his home. From parents, friends, and bosses, we all invite them to our home; however, the centurion believed Jesus is above all these people, so much so, that he would not feel it right for him to enter his home (Luke 7:6-8).

We then get our verse in question: “Now when Jesus heard this, He marveled at him, and turned and said to the crowd that was following Him, “I say to you, not even in Israel have I found such great faith,” (Luke 7:9 NASB1995). The centurion had great faith in Jesus, unlike a doctor who must go to their patient and assess them, he knew Jesus would be able to heal his servant from afar, and just as he assumed, it came to be (Luke 7:10).

Yet, how is Jesus able to be surprised as Luke 7:9 states? There are two possible interpretations of the text. It could be used as if to say God was impressed as some translations render it (see the CEB), this is to say, Jesus was praising the centurion. Impressed as in he was trying to imply this was marvelous. This may be a stretch of the passage, but it is possible.

Another perspective, the one I think is far more likely, is the concept of Kenosis which means to empty. When we read passages such as Philippians 2, we find: “who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross,” (Philippians 2:6-8 NASB1995).

Jesus came down as man, and some believe Jesus may have impaired some of his knowledge as to live truly as a man. Jesus did not cease to be God; rather, he limited himself as Paul seems to note.

Works Cited:

“Kenosis.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/kenosis. Accessed 3 Feb. 2024.

Muller, Jac J., and Müller, Jacobus Johannes. The Epistles of Paul to the Philippians and to Philemon. United Kingdom, Marshall, Morgan & Scott, 1955.