There is a common belief in Jesus but then there is faith that amazes Jesus. One of the great stories of the bible is of the Centurion. Most people need to “see it to believe it”. Even then they can be skeptical. But the Centurion, who might of not even been a follower of Christ, knew the authority and power in a word. He respected Jesus and His reputation.
Jesus entered Capernaum. There wasa centurions servant, whom His master valued highly, was sick and about to die. The centurion heard of Jesus and sent some elders of the Jews to Him, asking Him to come and heal His servant. When they came to Jesus, they pleaded earnestly with Him, This man deserves to have you do this, because he loves our nation and has built our synagogue. So Jesus went with them.”
Jesus wasn’t compelled by the man’s love for Him or His servitude but because He simply asked.
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. That is why I did not even consider myself worthy to come to you. But say the word, and my servant will be healed. 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 they never even met and still, He had great faith and believed in the power of God. He believed that just one word from Jesus would change everything. And you know what my friends, it will.
Faith that moves God
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.”
The reason Jesus was so amazed is that He usually had to show up and even His followers needed to be convinced at times. Yet this man probably wasn’t even a convert nor did he need Jesus to show up. He simply knew the power of authority in the kingdom.
What can you believe Jesus for in your life right now? Will you believe simply for who He is? or do you need Him to show up? Let’s stretch our faith and be confident in who He is.
Leave a Reply