A Roman Centurion, or officer commanding a hundred men, came to Jesus with a request for healing for a sick servant. Jesus graciously offers to go to physically lay hands on the sick man. But the Centurion has a surprising answer: Matthew 8: 8 But the centurion replied to Him, “Lord, I am not worthy to have You come under my roof, but only say the word, and my servant will be healed. 9 For I also am a man subject to authority [of a higher rank], with soldiers subject to me; and I say to one, ‘Go!’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come!’ and he comes, and to my slave, ‘Do this!’ and he does it.” 10 When Jesus heard this, He was amazed and said to those who were following Him, “I tell you truthfully, I have not found such great faith [as this] with anyone in Israel. [1]
Jesus is amazed and comments on the great faith of the Centurion. He, as a Gentile, has greater faith in Jesus than the Jews. He has a steadfast faith. It is resolutely or dutifully firm and unwavering. How can this Roman officer be so sure of his faith? He is very sure of the authority of Jesus. He is a military man and must submit to the authority of the officers over him. He also has authority over one hundred soldiers under his command. This Roman officer can deduce what the Jewish leadership could not: Jesus had the authority because He was the Messiah.
Jesus goes onto comment in Matthew 8: 11 I say to you that many Gentiles will come from east and west, and will sit down to feast at the table, and enjoy God’s promises with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven because they accepted Me as Savior, 12 while the sons and heirs of the kingdom, the descendants of Abraham who will not recognize Me as Messiah, will be thrown out into the outer darkness; in that place which is farthest removed from the kingdom.
The Jews had assumed that their heritage was the way to enter God’s kingdom and receive His promises. Jesus now reveals that it is by faith, by accepting Him as Savior, that anyone, even Gentiles can receive the promises of God. We, too, have access to the promises of God by believing in Jesus as our Savior. Our faith, like that of the Centurion, can be based on the authority of Jesus.
Hebrews 11:1 Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see.[2] The Roman Officer stepped out in faith by seeking Jesus to heal his servant and trusted that a simple command by Jesus would be enough. The centurion had hope because he knew the authority of Jesus.
Where in your life is the Lord calling you to trust in His authority? How can your faith grow as you realize that you can trust in the authority of Jesus our Savior?
To hear more about the healing of the Centurion’s servant, listen here: https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/hope-for-healing
[1] Amplified Bible (AMP) Copyright © 2015 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, CA 90631.
[2] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation (Heb 11:1). Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.