5 When He entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him, pleading with Him, 6 “Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, in terrible agony!” 7 “I will come and heal him,” He told him. 8 “Lord,” the centurion replied, “I am not worthy to have You come under my roof. But only say the word, and my servant will be cured. 9 For I too am a man under authority, having soldiers under my command. I say to this one, ‘Go!’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come!’ and he comes; and to my slave, ‘Do this!’ and he does it.”
10 Hearing this, Jesus was amazed and said to those following Him, “I assure you: I have not found anyone in Israel with so great a faith! 11 I tell you that many will come from east and west, and recline at the table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. 12 But the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” 13 Then Jesus told the centurion, “Go. As you have believed, let it be done for you.” And his servant was cured in that very moment. (Matthew 8:5-13; see also Luke 7:1-13)
A centurion; a soldier of Rome is recorded in Scripture because he plays a prominent role in the second miracle Jesus did in the Gospels. How did this happen?
It was not his standing as a leader or his place in the great Roman army that impressed Jesus. It was not the strength of his body or his commanding presence. It was not the pleading of some Jewish leaders in Capernaum (see Luke’s account) that moved Jesus’ heart. Jesus granted the centurion’s request because…
JESUS WAS IMPRESSED BY HIS FAITH!
He understood if Jesus just spoke the word, his servant would be healed. That’s faith!
He knew Jesus did not have to appear in person. Being a soldier he understood the chain of command. If he received orders, he obeyed. If he gave orders, those under his authority obeyed.
Are you making the connection? This centurion looked at Jesus and recognized – somehow he knew – Jesus was a man of real influence and power, even over painful, death-causing paralysis.
Matthew records that Jesus was “amazed,” and He made an incredible statement. To paraphrase: “This Roman today has demonstrated more faith than anyone else I’ve met in all of Israel!” And this amazing faith moved Jesus to respond.
“Go. As you have believed, let it be done for you.”
If Jesus were listening to us today as we talked about our situation, or as we prayed to the Father, what would He hear? Groaning? Complaining? Wistfully hoping God moves, but not really expecting much? If Jesus were measuring our faith, how would we compare to this Roman? Do we believe?
REMEMBER: Jesus answered the man’s request because of the depth of the man’s faith.
If your faith is like that of the centurion, then live confidently knowing Jesus will answer your prayer. It will be done for you… “as you have believed.”
Jesus does miracles where He finds great faith.
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