Authority

And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him, And saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented. And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him. The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but 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 goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it. When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven. But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour.

Matthew 8:5-13

Now when he had ended all his sayings in the audience of the people, he entered into Capernaum. And a certain centurion’s servant, who was dear unto him, was sick, and ready to die. And when he heard of Jesus, he sent unto him the elders of the Jews, beseeching him that he would come and heal his servant. And when they came to Jesus, they besought him instantly, saying, That he was worthy for whom he should do this: For he loveth our nation, and he hath built us a synagogue. Then Jesus went with them. And when he was now not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to him, saying unto him, Lord, trouble not thyself: for I am not worthy that thou shouldest enter under my roof: Wherefore neither thought I myself worthy to come unto thee: but say in a word, and my servant shall be healed. For I also am a man set under authority, having under me soldiers, and I say unto one, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it. When Jesus heard these things, he marvelled at him, and turned him about, and said unto the people that followed him, I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. And they that were sent, returning to the house, found the servant whole that had been sick.

Luke 7:1-10

Upon entering Capernaum, Jesus encounters a Roman Centurion who had a servant who was very ill. When Jesus hears of the situation, He states that it was His will to come and heal the servant. As we have already seen, the fact that Jesus wanted to heal the servant guaranteed that the servant would be healed! But let us look closely at the centurion’s response.

He was a person that understood authority. When he told people to do things, it got done! He understands that Jesus has the authority and power to heal. Therefore, he states that all Jesus has to do is speak and it will be done! No one will have to intercede and nothing else needs to happen other than Jesus expressing His will and stating, “be healed.”

Jesus responds to the centurion stating that He was amazed at such a demonstration of faith from someone outside of Israel. All those that had the law to teach them about the coming of the Messiah in power, ignored or explained away Jesus. But this man saw Jesus with a pure eye of faith.

Further, look at how Jesus responds, “as thou hast believed, so be it done.” The centurion’s belief is not what healed the servant. Jesus did that alone. But the extent of the healing and the manner in which it was done were of the same nature as the centurion’s words. Jesus healed the man from a great distance with just speaking the word.

Also, the healing was a powerful and quick one. The centurion believed that nothing else was needed and that Jesus could do it instantly. At the very moment Jesus spoke, the servant was fully healed!

Oh that God’s people would learn to trust like this centurion! Our will is insignificant, and further, our power is puny!

We should reconcile our minds to the facts of the finished work of Jesus Christ. Just like the servant is healed by Jesus’ will and word, we are saved by the will and power of God plus nothing!