They Marveled (and a Woodpecker)
I’ve on occasion been introduced as the ‘One Word Teacher.’ This comes from when I used to teach an adult Bible study class because I would often teach an entire lesson based on just one word. In the spirit of that habit I’d like to discuss one word today…Marveled.
Throughout the Bible, variations of the word marvel such as marveled, marvels, marveling, and marvelous can be found over 60 times. A little more than half of which is in the New Testament.
Marvel means to be filled with wonder, to be amazed, to admire, or to be in awe of. So, I can fully appreciate the disciples and the people marveling at Jesus because of the things he was doing. There was, however, one time when Jesus himself marveled. When a centurion came to Jesus and asked him to heal his servant who was paralyzed, the centurion said to Jesus that he knew Jesus needed only to say that his servant be healed, and it would be done. “When Jesus heard this, he marveled and said to those who followed him, “Truly, I tell you, with no one in Israel have I found such faith.” - Matthew 8:10
Jesus who healed the blind and the sick, who could raise Lazarus from the dead, who was God himself, marveled at the faith of the centurion. I’m marveling at the fact that Jesus bestowed such honor on the centurion because of his faith.
That’s a great story, but what does it have to do with me, today?
The answer to that question could be another book but let me just ask a couple of questions. Do we still marvel at the things God does such as the many stories of ‘unexplainable’ healings, as the media usually refers to them? Do we marvel at the answer to a prayer? With regard to our prayers, would our words cause Jesus to marvel at our faith? Would we marvel at our own faith as we pray?
Marveling comes from seeing and hearing about the wonders of Jesus. “For the Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing. And greater works than these will he show him, so that you may marvel.” - John 5:20. Jesus did the things he did and continues to do miraculous things so that you and I will marvel, be in awe of him. That level of admiration shouldn’t change what we pray for, but it will radically alter the depth of our prayers as we think about with whom we are speaking.
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BONUS - The Woodpecker
The Bible says all things were created through Jesus.
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. - Colossians 1: 1518
So, if you find yourself lacking a bit in your level of marveling think about creation. Take for example the woodpecker.
A woodpecker typically executes 12,000 hits per day.
It moves its head at a speed of 20 pecks per second
The G-Force at impact is equivalent to 1,200 G’s. To put that into perspective, a roller coaster has a max of 4 G’s, and a fighter pilot experiences up to 10 G’s
A Marvelous Design
To protect the woodpecker’s brain from that level of G-force and to enhance its ability to do what it does, the woodpecker was designed with some amazing features.
Strong, elastic beak which absorbs some of the shock
Off-set beak, lower portion is slightly longer which distributes impact away from the brain
Brain is highly packed and is longer up and down instead of front to back which provides more surface to distribute the shock
Front skull has soft, spongy pockets to help absorb the shock
Its tongue is up to 3 times the length of its bill and wraps around the skull
Nostrils have feathers over them to deflect chips of wood
Tail acts like a tripod for stability
Incredibly strong neck muscles
Are you beginning to marvel yet about just how amazing creation is? If so, think about sharing the story of the woodpecker with someone who doesn’t yet know Jesus. And don’t forget to also tell them about the love, grace, and mercy found in a relationship with Christ Jesus.
Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples! - Psalm 96:3
