“When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help. 6 “Lord,” he said, “my servant lies at home paralyzed, suffering terribly.” 7 Jesus said to him, “Shall I come and heal him?” 8 The centurion replied, “Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. 9 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.” 10 When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him, “Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith. 11 I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. 12 But the subjects of the kingdom will be thrown outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” 13 Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go! Let it be done just as you believed it would.” And his servant was healed at that moment.” Matthew 8.5-13
At that moment. Jesus doesn’t waste time or words. In this miracle, a Roman centurion comes to Jesus. Now centurions were Romans leaders who governed up to eighty men. They were commanders of the Roman army, well-seasoned men who were veterans in battle and in life.
This man comes to Jesus asking him for his help. He says, “Lord, my servant lies a home paralyzed, suffering terribly.” Now Jesus at this point could have responded in several ways but he says, “ShallI come and heal him?” That’s a statement if I ever heard one! “Shall I come and heal him?” Jesus was showing compassion and full confidence in his ability to heal the paralyzed servant. Pretty incredible.
The centurion refuses but gives a lengthy explanation about authority. This is his world. He lives as a man under authority and thus commands many men under him, soldiers and servants alike. He says to Jesus, “Just say the word and my servant will be healed.”
This is incredible, is it not? The faith of this gentile Roman solder, according to Jesus, is the greatest faith he has seen displayed in Israel (v.10). Not only must of this be insulting for the Jews to hear, but it’s followed up by Jesus about others coming to receive the blessing of God (from the east and the west, presumably Gentiles), while “the subjects of the kingdom” (the Jews) “will be thrown outside.”
Many things are happening at this point far larger than the healing of one paralyzed man. But this is our focus — the miracle and how this pagan Roman believed in Jesus without hesitation.
Do you believe Jesus’ power is still available? Do you ask Jesus for healing, believing in his name, assuming it will be done? Why not take a cue from the Centurion and trust in Christ this very moment?
“O Lord God, thank you for loving me. Thank you for allowing me to find hope and strength in your name. I praise you Lord for fighting my battles, saving my life, healing my hurts. I thank you for being a God who readily saves and forgives. Come now, Holy Spirit, fall upon your people with power. For you are good and your love endures forever.” Amen