When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help. “Lord,” he said, “my servant lies at home paralyzed, suffering terribly.” Jesus said to him, “Shall I come 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 amazed and said to those following him, “Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith. Matthew 8:5-10
What impressed Jesus so much about the centurion?
A soldier understands authority.
What did a soldier understand here that many people missed?
“Great faith” can at times seem like something very difficult to grasp and understand. What does it mean to have this kind of faith? And why do we so often find ourselves falling short?
Because we don’t truly believe and understand the authority of God.
I used to wonder about why the centurion spoke about his officers under him and over him, wondering if that was why he thought himself unworthy, but I now understand why he mentioned them.
A soldier understands authority.
The soldier that the centurion was understood authority.
When an officer gives an order he never has to question if its going to be followed, it IS followed because HE gave it. That is the nature of authority, an expectation of obedience. The Centurion understood this, and he also understood just what and who were under Christ’s authority.
But not everyone did.
He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!” Mark 4:39-41
Let me ask you something, did Christ have to drum up some sort of power for the wind to obey Him? Some sort of hocus pocus? No, He didn’t. The wind and waves obeyed Him because He had authority over them. It was His right that they submit, as simple as that.
Do we believe God has that kind of authority in us? In our every day lives? Do we truly believe that He can work in our lives simply because He has all authority to do so? Have we submitted to His authority? Do we question His Word?
Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Matthew 28:18
Christ has every power and authority over our lives.
There should be no question in our hearts and minds as to if He will do what He says He will do. But so often we question. I wonder, is faith something we drum up like so much hocus pocus, or is it simply our choosing not to question? A recognition and trust in the authority of God? A submission to His will simply because it IS His will?
Can we learn from the Centurion?
~Joy Aletheia Stevens
Photo Credit: by The National Guard (CC BY 2.0)
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