What a Difference Jesus Makes in Our Lives - Part 662

The Centurion is a perfect example of an individual experiencing the wonder of faith in his life. Here he was -- a man of considerable status and authority in the Roman army -- who commanded many under him -- concerned about a young servant who was in ill health. Somewhere in his travels, the Centurion had heard the good news gospel about Jesus. 


Note also that the Centurion was a Gentile. Still, the Centurion recognized that Jesus had the power and authority to heal the man of his illness. He may have also had an inkling that Jesus was the same prophesied Christ of the Old Testament.  If this was the case (admittedly, an assumption at best) the Centurion might have recognized that Jesus was (and is still) able to deliver each and every one of us from our "destructions." (Psalm 107:20)  

For those who may not be aware, there are two scriptural references in the Bible about the Centurion -- Matthew 8 and Luke 7. Both authors differ somewhat in the telling of the events. However, what is certain is that when the Centurion beseeched Jesus saying, "Lord, my servant lies at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented"  he was not asking Jesus to heal the servant. He was merely informing Jesus of the illness that tormented him grievously. 

How did Jesus respond? With an abundance of love. Jesus stated that He would come heal the servant. You see Jesus has a way of coming through when we give our hearts completely to Him. When we believe by faith that Jesus is the absolute -- the King of kings and Lord of lords -- our lives change for the better. 

But like so many of us, the Centurion in his humility said, "Lord I am not worthy that thou should come under my roof. [Instead, Lord just] speak the Word only and my servant shall be healed. For I am a man under authority having soldiers under me; and I say to this man, "Go" and he goes, and to another "Come" and he comes and to my servant "Do this" and he doeth it." 

The Centurion understood authority.  But the Centurion also recognized that even with all the authority and status/social standing and material wealth in the world, there was no one within his worldly circles that could heal the young servant. At some point, this material world in which we so willingly participate would pass away, and that, at the end of the day, all that matters is our spiritual status.

Although the Centurion was in the world, and had obviously been successful in his endeavours -- at least from a worldly perspective, the Centurion's heart was focused on the spiritual. Even as a Gentile, his heart was focusing on the Kingdom of God. And thus, because of the Centurion's faith, Jesus said, "Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel." (Matthew 8:5-10) Not one among all the Jews had faith like the Centurion. 

The same good news gospel message that the Centurion realized then is equally pertinent for you and I today. That is,

"Lift up your eyes to the heavens, look at the earth beneath; the heavens will vanish like smoke, the earth will wear out like a garment and its inhabitants die like flies. But My salvation will last forever. My righteousness will never fail." (Isaiah 51:6) 

“Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him” (1 John 5:14-15). Trust in Jesus today. Let His love -- His peace -- His abundant grace set you free from the enslavement of this world. Stand in the offering plate.

It is no wonder that when Jesus heard the Centurion's response, Jesus marveled. Imagine the scene. Our Lord God -- soon to become our Saviour -- marveling in awe at the breadth and depth of the Centurion's faith. Indeed, Jesus looked beyond the Centurion's physical appearance and reputable status within society -- all the things that this world desires -- and looked into the Centurion's heart.