The Centurion’s Faith in Action

“That is why I did not even consider myself worthy to come to you. But say the word, and my servant will be healed.”

Luke 7:7

Yesterday, we began a conversation about the faith of a Roman Centurion, an unusual one at that. We examined his lifestyle of faith characterised by how much he cared about his servant when he had no reason to, he loved the jews and worshipped their God, he even built a synagogue for them. At a time when the Jews hated Romans, this man was an exception, they loved him so much that they were willing to take his case before Jesus. When they came to Jesus, they pleaded earnestly with him, “This man deserves to have you do this, 5 because he loves our nation and has built our synagogue.”

This man’s lifestyle of faith moved Jesus, So Jesus went with them. And while he was getting close to the Centurion’s house, he sent friends to say to him: “Lord, don’t trouble yourself, for I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. 7 That is why I did not even consider myself worthy to come to you. But say the word, and my servant will be healed. 8 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 at him, and turning to the crowd following him, he said, “I tell you, I have not found such great faith even in Israel.” Indeed, it was a great faith. This man believed that the word of Jesus is so powerful that its effectiveness cannot be limited by distance or time. 

How could he have such great faith? Well, if you look closely, you will realise that this man first understood the power of words and the influence of authority. He knew this first through natural things and then believed that a similar order must exist spiritually. He said “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.”  His understanding is simple, ‘if i a mere mortal can issue commands and they are obeyed not because i’m there but because my words commands obedience, how much more Jesus the powerful saviour’ Then the men who had been sent returned to the house and found the servant well.

The servant became well not because Jesus did anything but because the man’s faith in Jesus was limitless, he believed and he saw the glory of God. How about you, do you believe?

PRAYER