FAITH IN THE AUTHORITY OF JESUS
Matthew 8:10 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.
One day while Jesus was at Capernaum, a Roman centurion came to him asking for help. The centurion’s servant was paralyzed and suffering terribly, and he was wanting Jesus to heal him. In some ways this whole situation is very unusual, because the Romans hated the Jews and the Jews hated Rome. This centurion certainly represented Rome. He could command 100 men and over time be promoted to as many as 1,000. He held a great deal of influence and power in the Roman military. For him to go to a small village like Capernaum to see a Jewish carpenter turned Rabai was remarkable. In Luke 7:1-10, Luke notes that the centurion loved Israel, and even built a synagogue for them. We don’t know if this was to pacify the local Jews and help prevent uprisings or not, but it is undeniable that he must have had a good heart to care so much about his servant. Most people of position including Jews would just let the slave die and just go buy another one.This must have impressed Jesus.
First the centurion shows Jesus honor by elevating him above himself. He tells Jesus that he doesn’t deserve to have Jesus under his roof. In the eyes of Rome, Jesus didn’t deserve to be in the centurion’s house. Also the centurion showed respect for the Jewish custom of Jews not entering a Gentile's home or building. They felt it would make them unclean. The next thing the centurion did that had to impress Jesus was his belief that Jesus had spiritual authority that time and distance did not affect. When he said that Jesus could heal his servant from Capernaum, Jesus responded by saying that he hadn’t seen such great faith in all of Israel. The Jews saw Jesus’ power as coming from his body, but the centurion saw it as coming from his authority.
Even today we can see in the Christian faith the failings of the Jewish thinkings in regards to Jesus. Christians will tend to put their faith in anointing with oil, water, prayer shawls, prayer chains, pastors and people with gifts of healing, reading scripture, and some even look to touching the bones of dead saints or crosses. They want to put their faith in things, because it is easier than just trusting Jesus. Things can be controlled, and things can be blamed. If someone isn’t healed it is easier to blame the thing whatever it may be, than to blame Jesus. In their thinking if Jesus doesn’t care to help them now, then how can they have confidence that he will save them from hell later.
What made the centurion's faith so remarkable was he recognized that Jesus abilities came from his authority in the spiritual realm. Every Christian needs to remind themselves of this when ever they go to Jesus in prayer. It is not the amount of faith we can muster up, but rather who we have faith in, and of his divine authority. It should never be about our confidence in anything but Jesus’ authority or divinity. Jesus is God and always will be! He will never lose his power, because he will never lose his authority. And he will never lose his authority, because he will never lose his power. We can and should trust in Jesus and never anything else. To look to anything else, we show distrust in Jesus, should never expect anything from him.
LIke the Roman centurion we always need to honor Jesus, and put our faith in his authority. Jesus is God! This is what got him nailed to the cross. We can’t let anything compromise this very important belief! If we do our faith will simply be wishful thinking, and there is nothing sound in that. Only Jesus is our solid rock that we can stand on and be secure!
Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you that in your authority we can stand with confidence just like the Roman centurion. Please help us to never look to anything but you for all our needs. We love you Jesus, and ask this in your holy name.
