Title: Faith Like This
Contents What did you say? After he finished delivering all the words to the people, he went to Capernaum. There was a centurion in Capernaum in Galilee. At that time, the centurion was an officer with 100 men. At that time, the centurion was in a position of considerable social influence, as it was an age of imperialism where power ruled the world.
This centurion had a servant he loved. But the servant died of a serious illness. This centurion had heard that Jesus had come to Capernaum. The centurion did not delay and asked some of the elders of the Jews. He asked Jesus to go to Jesus on his behalf and ask him to heal his beloved servant, who was sick and dying. The elders came to Jesus at the centurion's request. These elders did not come to Jesus reluctantly at the centurion's request. They really came to Jesus with a heart for the centurion.
And the elders earnestly asked Jesus to heal the centurion's beloved servant (verse 4). “It is fitting for this man to do this work. He loves our people and has built a synagogue.” Clearly we can understand why the elders gladly and eagerly seek on behalf of the centurion.
At the request of the elders, Jesus went with them. It was when I got close to the centurion's house. Then the centurion sent his close friends to Jesus. The friends did exactly what the centurion had told them (verse 6). “Lord, do not work hard. I am not worthy to have you come into my house. Therefore I knew that I was not worthy to come to you. Just say the word and heal my servant. I am also a person under the control of others, and there are soldiers under me. If you say to one go, you go, if you say to another, you come, and if you say to my servant, do this, you do.”
It became clear why this centurion had sent his friends. The centurion did not think he was worthy to meet Jesus in person. And he could not afford to have Jesus come into his house. At that time, Jews were not allowed to enter the houses of Gentiles. The centurion was well aware of this. Ordinary Jews do not enter the houses of Gentiles, so how could a person like Jesus be able to enter the house of a Gentile like himself? Therefore, it was said that he could not afford to have Jesus come into his house. Please don't come into the house and just talk to me instead.
When Jesus heard this, he marveled at the centurion. It is said that he expressed surprise about the centurion. And he spoke to the crowds following Jesus (verse 9). “I tell you, I have never found such a great faith in Israel.”
The word of the Lord surprises us. First of all, there were twelve disciples around Jesus. And there were godly women who helped the Lord by faith (Luke 8:2-3). “And some women from whom demons had been cast out and healed, Mary called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had come out, and Joanna the wife of Kusa, a steward of Herod, and Susanna and other women, with their possessions, served them. .” And there were many believers who followed the Lord. However, he had not yet met a person as trustworthy as a centurion. From this point of view, the centurion's faith was the greatest faith.
He was not a centurion who simply believed in Jesus and had the faith to be saved. The centurion had that faith and said, ‘Jesus can do these things. Therefore, when I ask, it will be done as long as he listens.’ This is what I thought. He not only confessed with faith obtained by grace, but also used that faith concretely. In that sense, he was a man of such faith. It is said that in the Bible used by Mr. Moody, the word T.P. was written countless times. It means that it has been tested and proven to be true.
The centurion was just such a person. Jesus did just as the centurion had said. He did not enter the centurion's house. In Matthew 8:13, the Lord spoke according to the centurion's request. "go. Let it be as you have believed.” And with that poem, the centurion's servant, who was dying, was healed. We put our faith into practice, and it came to pass.