The Man Who Amazed Jesus
by Dr. Paul Chappell
“The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am
not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word
only, and my servant shall be healed. For I am a man under authority,
having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and
to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he
doeth it. When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that
followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no,
not in Israel.”
Matthew 8:8–10
We often talk of faith as an abstract belief, but Bible faith is never seen in the mind. Instead it is demonstrated in the actions taken by those who have it. So it was in the life of a Roman centurion who came to Jesus to ask that his servant be healed.
It is easy for us to brush by the cultural details of this story, but they are relevant to understanding the significance of the passage: Roman centurions in the day of Jesus did not attain their position by popularity or connections. A general might owe his job to a rich relative and live above the fray of battle, but the centurions, each of whom commanded one hundred trained soldiers, were in the thick of the fighting. They were hardened men who possessed the power of life and death over those under their command. But what they did understand was authority—the relation between command and obedience.
That is what amazed Jesus. The centurion’s faith was expressed in his belief that a word from Jesus would be obeyed without Him ever seeing the servant. He believed that nothing, neither disease nor distance, could stop what Jesus said from happening. That is the faith God is looking for—a belief in His Word that is expressed in our actions relying on what He promised.
Matthew 8:8–10
We often talk of faith as an abstract belief, but Bible faith is never seen in the mind. Instead it is demonstrated in the actions taken by those who have it. So it was in the life of a Roman centurion who came to Jesus to ask that his servant be healed.
It is easy for us to brush by the cultural details of this story, but they are relevant to understanding the significance of the passage: Roman centurions in the day of Jesus did not attain their position by popularity or connections. A general might owe his job to a rich relative and live above the fray of battle, but the centurions, each of whom commanded one hundred trained soldiers, were in the thick of the fighting. They were hardened men who possessed the power of life and death over those under their command. But what they did understand was authority—the relation between command and obedience.
That is what amazed Jesus. The centurion’s faith was expressed in his belief that a word from Jesus would be obeyed without Him ever seeing the servant. He believed that nothing, neither disease nor distance, could stop what Jesus said from happening. That is the faith God is looking for—a belief in His Word that is expressed in our actions relying on what He promised.
Today’s Growth Principle:
If our faith is to be pleasing to God, then it must be an active, obedient faith.
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