In my personal Bible study this past week, the Lord brought to my attention the story of the centurion of great faith recorded in Luke 7:1-10.
When Jesus had finished saying all this in the hearing of the people, he entered Capernaum. 2 There a centurion’s servant, whom his master valued highly, was sick and about to die. 3 The centurion heard of Jesus and sent some elders of the Jews to him, asking him to come and heal his servant. 4 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.” 6 So Jesus went with them. He was not far from the house when the centurion 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.” 9 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.” 10 Then the men who had been sent returned to the house and found the servant well. (NIV, 1984)
The centurion never met Jesus and never had a conversation with him.
Jesus says something astounding about the Roman soldier in verse 9. Look at it again.
“I have not found such great faith, even in Israel.”
Jesus is amazed.
The God-man is amazed by this Romans’ faith.
Interesting picture isn’t it?
What “wowed” Jesus?
I believe it was the recognition of authority that the centurion had of Jesus.
He knew Jesus was in authority over sickness. Word had most certainly spread to him of Jesus’ teachings and healings and maybe the centurion had even been in the crowd one day while Jesus was teaching and healing. Whatever the case, the centurion knew that Jesus had autority over sickness; and thus he knew Jesus’ authority was enough to heal his beloved servant.
Jesus had, in fact, been given all authority from the Father. Matthew 28:18 says,
Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” (NIV, 1984)
Yet, the only person to recognize and submit to that authority at this point in Jesus’ ministry was a gentile.
A Roman centurion.
The interesting thing to me is where this knoweldge lead the centurion.
The recognition of Jesus’ authority lead him to a break-through faith.
Faith that believes without seeing and faith that submits to the lordship of Christ.
The centurion recognized Christ’s lordship in his simple words, “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.” (verse 6b-7)
His faith was a response to Jesus’ authority.
I am in need of a break-through type faith.
Maybe you are as well?
I believe the first step to this kind of faith — the kind of faith that “wows” Jesus — is to recognize His lordship and authority in your life and over your situation.
All authority is given Him.
I believe that, will you stand with me, trusting that His Word is true, no matter the situation you are facing today and that He has authority over it.
The authority is His!
Breaking through by His power,
Kim♥
P.S. Next week I’ll continue looking at the importance of the Lordship of Christ in your life. It matters for your marriage!
