Centurion Faith

Matthew 8:5-13 When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help.  “Lord,” he said, “my servant lies at home paralyzed and in terrible suffering.”

Jesus said to him, “I will go and heal him.”

The centurion replied, “Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed.  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.”

When Jesus heard this, he was astonished and said to those following him, “I tell you the truth, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith.  I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.  But the subjects of the kingdom will be thrown outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go! It will be done just as you believed it would.” And his servant was healed at that very hour.

What made the Centurion’s faith so great? 

The level of trust he showed toward Jesus.  All Jesus had to do was say the word.

The subtleties here are important…

The Centurion had choices in seeking help for his servant, but he chose to go to Jesus.

We have lots of choices in what we do, but we should go to Jesus first.  We should pray and listen to what the Lord wants us to do.

You may be able to do a lot about the circumstances around you, but if you act without trusting Jesus you’ve left faith and are walking in the flesh.

The Centurion knew he was powerless and went to Jesus.  What power do you have apart from Jesus Christ?  None.

I pray that our Heavenly Father give you insight and wisdom concerning this teaching, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.  Amen.