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. Matthew 8: 5-8, NIV.
Dear God, “just say the word,” and when we are through with this study, our lives will never be the same again. For this we pray in the blessed name of Jesus. Amen.
Someone just gave me a beautiful decorative wall plaque that reads as follows: “Faith is not believing that God can, it is knowing that He will.” Emphasis provided. I have given a lot of thought to this statement. When I read the passage where our Scripture is found I thought about it in the light of that message. So let us go to the gospel story where our text for today was taken from, and let us compare what the centurion did, with the statement on the plaque.
This is an unusual story. This Roman centurion obviously appreciated his servant very much, that he would go and beseech the Savior to heal him. As he himself admits, ” ‘ 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’ ” (9). He is an important man and he knows it. It is not quite clear in my mind, if what the centurion is saying is: “Even though I am under someone else’s authority, I am also a man with authority, that I can say to one of my servants, ‘do this or do that,’ and he obeys me.” Or, if he is saying, “I am a man with authority like you. I say to my servant ‘do this or that,’ and he does it.” I believe he is saying the former. If he is, then he is ascribing to Jesus even greater authority. He is saying to Jesus, “I am under a higher authority, but You are the highest authority!” Therefore, Jesus’ surprise at his great demonstration of faith!
What is sad, to some degree, is that “such great faith,” was not found in Israel! “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” (10). It would appear that many who do not make any outward profession of faith in the Savior, seem to believe, not only that God is able, but that He is willing to give us the things that we ask Him for! And that is, I believe, the propelling factor in faith – to believe that God is not only able, but willing to answer our prayers! Another thought that comes to my mind as I ponder these things is: Could it be that the authority we ascribe to the Savior is based on the title we give to Him? In our minds, is He One under authority? Or, Is He the highest authority?
When Jesus wrapped His divinity in humanity and came to earth to walk as we walked that He might become our Faithful High Priest, He submitted His will to the will of His Father, and did His works through the Father. But when He returned to heaven, He went back to resume the position He had “in the beginning!” Therefore, He could say the following while praying: “I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began (John 17: 4, 5)!
Is it any wonder that when He gave His disciples the great commission, He said to them: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28: 18-20).
Now that you have been reminded of this – that Jesus is both able and willing; the next time you talk to Him in prayer, just remember, all He has to do, to answer your prayer and mine, is to “[S]ay the word!” And He is willing to do it for you and me!
NOTE: Some minor editing has been done to this devotional since it was first published.