Can great faith seem to be just matter of fact? Maybe so. That’s how the faith of this military officer appears to be.
The centurion’s beloved servant is ill to the point of death. He relays word to Jesus asking for help. But as Jesus nears his home the centurion sends word:
Lord, don't trouble yourself, for I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. That is why I did not even consider myself worthy to come to you. But say the word, and my servant will be healed.
No face to face meeting. Just simply stated faith that Jesus can heal his servant with merely a word!
How can this centurion be so matter of fact about this? He explains:
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."
Here we have the picture of a man who doesn’t even interrupt the routine of his busy day. Business as usual!
For him, it’s simply a matter of fact! If Jesus is the Son of God He can do anything!
We quickly agree. But being this certain and confident when you’re in a difficult circumstance… When your loved one is about to die…
No. This man understands something better than most. He calmly trusts. Because He knows Jesus can exercise absolute authority over everything going on around him!
When Jesus heard this, he was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd following him, he said, "I tell you, I have not found such great faith even in Israel." Then the men who had been sent returned to the house and found the servant well.
Perhaps the greatest faith is simply a matter of fact!
Do we really understand authority? Do we understand a government that is dictatorship? Has Democracy hurt our ability to undestand this? What do we know about a Kingship? When a Roman gov't official said to do something - it was done. Orders were followed, period.
ReplyDeleteThis Centurion understood authority.
He also understood that Jesus had been given all authority - over life and death - over sickness and diseases.
It's not enough to simply understand authority, but to understand who has the authority, and submit to Him!
The Centurion had great faith, and asked Jesus via message.
What do we need to ask Jesus about with faith?
Ask, and believe! (Mt 21:22)