Jesus, I Believe You, Just Say the Word!

Being as good as our word is something that we should aspire to become. When it comes to our word being out bond, unfortunately our word does not carry much weight. Trusting in man’s word is often difficult because man has failed us many times.

That’s why we have attorneys, contracts, legal things that are binding… loan applications.

It’s one thing when we look at man’s word but trusting in God’s word is so much better because God’s word will never fail.

IN this short series I will be looking at different instances where Jesus was amazed. To think that Jesus, coming down from heaven, seeing the glory of HIS Father’s majesty, and then HE came to earth and was amazed at certain people, mere humans. Why was Jesus amazed and what caused HIS sheer amazement?

We will be in Matthew 8:5-13 but this account is also in Luke 7:1-10. In both of these scriptures we see the account of a Roman centurion whose extraordinary faith astonishes Jesus. This centurion had a great understanding of authority both in his military role and in the spiritual realm, expresses a belief in Jesus. He knew that Jesus had the ability and the authority to heal without physically being present. He said to Jesus, “Just Say the Word”

Matthew 8:5–13 NLT

5 When Jesus returned to Capernaum, a Roman officer came and pleaded with him, 6 “Lord, my young servant lies in bed, paralyzed and in terrible pain.” 7 Jesus said, “I will come and heal him.” 8 But the officer said, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come into my home. Just say the word from where you are, and my servant will be healed. 9 I know this because I am under the authority of my superior officers, and I have authority over my soldiers. I only need to say, ‘Go,’ and they go, or ‘Come,’ and they come. And if I say to my slaves, ‘Do this,’ they do it.” 10 When Jesus heard this, he was amazed. Turning to those who were following him, he said, “I tell you the truth, I haven’t seen faith like this in all Israel! 11 And I tell you this, that many Gentiles will come from all over the world—from east and west—and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob at the feast in the Kingdom of Heaven. 12 But many Israelites—those for whom the Kingdom was prepared—will be thrown into outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” 13 Then Jesus said to the Roman officer, “Go back home. Because you believed, it has happened.” And the young servant was healed that same hour.

PRAY

This Roman soldier had great faith. His faith contrasts sharply with the unbelief of many around Jesus, demonstrating that even the most unexpected individuals can possess profound faith.

We see here that what moves God’s heart as believers is our faith. Faith not based on circumstances or appearances. Jesus’ reaction of amazement toward this Roman soldier should be an encouragement for us as believers to trust in God’s power. Especially in seemingly impossible situations but also recognizing that our faith can impact others significantly. We must evaluate where we place our trust and to seek a deeper understanding and relationship with Jesus, regardless of our background or circumstances.

Faith is not about location or our ability to see; it is about trusting in Jesus’ ability and authority.

Jesus is always amazed by genuine faith. It doesn’t matter what the source might be, amazing faith can lead to miraculous outcomes.

Jesus’ authority and divinity as the Son of God transcends cultural boundaries. The centurion’s faith highlights Jesus as not only a Jewish teacher but as the Savior for all humanity, inviting both Jews and Gentiles into a relationship with God.

The BIG Idea is this… True faith in Jesus transcends traditional boundaries and expectations, leading to genuine connection and miraculous outcomes.

What is a centurion?

A centurion is a career military officer in the Roman army who had control over one hundred soldiers.

Often theses centurions were sons of Roman senators or powerful figures. The Jews hated Roman soldiers for their oppression, control, and ridicule and considered them “unclean” because they were despised Gentiles.

In Luke’s account the centurion sent messengers who were respected Jewish leaders to talk to Jesus.

In Matthew’s account the centurion himself goes and talks to Jesus.

In those days, dealing with a person’s messengers was considered the same as dealing with the one who had sent them.

Matthew emphasized the man’s race and faith. This Roman centurion was apparently different from many other Roman soldiers who despised the Jews.

Luke also explains that the Jewish elders reported to Jesus that “this man deserves to have you do this [healing], because he loves our nation and has built our synagogue”

This centurion had apparently heard about Jesus’ healing powers. He knew that Jesus had the power to heal.

This centurion made an appeal on behalf of his servant who had become paralyzed, was in pain (terrible distress), and was near death. The centurion, a military authority, addressed Jesus as Lord. This Roman officer showed respect for Jesus’ authority in this area of healing.

When we look at this Roman soldier’s faith and how he expressed such honor and respect toward Jesus we can see what amazes Jesus.

This man recognized some important things about Jesus by his request for his servant.

1. Authority and Astonishment

Matthew 8:5–8 NLT

5 When Jesus returned to Capernaum, a Roman officer came and pleaded with him, 6 “Lord, my young servant lies in bed, paralyzed and in terrible pain.” 7 Jesus said, “I will come and heal him.” 8 But the officer said, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come into my home. Just say the word from where you are, and my servant will be healed.

The centurion had an awareness of spiritual authority through his understanding of military authority. Jesus' amazement lies in the centurion's acute recognition of His divine power. Understanding Jesus’ authority is the key to having true faith in Jesus and true faith often comes from unexpected places and people.

This man said, “Just say the word and my servant WILL be healed.”

Faith goes beyond all cultural and religious backgrounds and relies solely on a greater understanding of Jesus’ authority.

Do we recognize that Christ has supreme power and authority over everything?

Colossians 1:15–17 NLT

15 Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation, 16 for through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see— such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created through him and for him. 17 He existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together.

This man understood Jesus’ authority before Paul understood Jesus’ authority and this understanding was something that amazed Jesus.

Jesus has ultimate power over everything… more then the president of the united states, more then any disease or sickness, more then any fear or doubt, more then any political or cultural stronghold…

Most Christians would say that Jesus has all authority and power over everything, but so often fear and doubt turn into unbelief.

This Roman soldier was 100% confident in Jesus’ authority and ability.

When we that same confidence that Jesus has the power over 100%… literally everything in this world that effects us directly or indirectly then we have an opportunity to amaze Jesus just like this man did.

This man had…

2. Unseen yet Unwavering Faith

Matthew 8:9–10 NLT

9 I know this because I am under the authority of my superior officers, and I have authority over my soldiers. I only need to say, ‘Go,’ and they go, or ‘Come,’ and they come. And if I say to my slaves, ‘Do this,’ they do it.” 10 When Jesus heard this, he was amazed. Turning to those who were following him, he said, “I tell you the truth, I haven’t seen faith like this in all Israel!

Because the centurion had a clear understanding of authority, he knew that all Jesus needed to do was to say the word and it would be done. It was Jesus' words that had the power to heal his servant.

His faith was great because it was free from the need of Jesus' physical presence.

All it takes it a word from Jesus and things will change.

In Mark 4, when the disciples were with Jesus in the boat in the middle of the lake when a fierce storm came. Everyone but Jesus was freaking out because they thought they were going to die.

Jesus was asleep so the disciples had to wake HIM up.

Mark 4:39–41 NLT

39 When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Silence! Be still!” Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm. 40 Then he asked them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?” 41 The disciples were absolutely terrified. “Who is this man?” they asked each other. “Even the wind and waves obey him!”

The disciples were with Jesus and yet they were still full of fear because of the storm.

How often do we respond like the disciples, “Teacher, don’t you care that we’re going to drown?”

Having that unseen yet unwavering faith that this Roman centurion had is a faith that will amaze Jesus.

He said, Jesus, you don’t have to go to my house, all you have to do is say the word and it’ll be done… my servant will be healed.

What is faith?

Hebrews 11:1 KJV 1900

1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

We may not see the outcome or understand the process but when we see that Jesus is still with us even though HE is physically unseen everything will be just fine.

Embrace a deeper, unseen faith that relies on Jesus' word as the centurion did.

Trust God’s Word, fill your mind with God’s Word instead of doubt and fear. God’s Word is greater then out desperate circumstances.

That’s how we can have an unseen yet unwavering faith.

Jesus then uses this as a teachable moment for the crowd who was following Jesus.

Jesus presented this man’s faith as a…

3. Kingdom Boundless Belief

Matthew 8:11–12 NLT

11 And I tell you this, that many Gentiles will come from all over the world—from east and west—and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob at the feast in the Kingdom of Heaven. 12 But many Israelites—those for whom the Kingdom was prepared—will be thrown into outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

Jesus is saying some pretty radical and unpopular things to HIS Jewish followers.

Jesus is saying that Gentiles would also take their places at the feast with the patriarchs of the Jewish nation—Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

According to Biblical Jewish culture that if a Jew would sit at a table with a Gentile, the Jew would become defiled. Yet Jesus pictured the patriarchs themselves sitting down with Gentiles at the great feast.

This is why Jesus’ teachings caused such a stir among the religious leaders of the day!

Jesus also explained that while many Jews believed that their lineage in the Jewish race assured their reservations at the banquet, the truth is that unbelieving subjects of the kingdom (referring to Jews) would find themselves thrown outside, into the darkness. and not at the banquet.

The “darkness” is a place where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth—a common biblical description of hell.

The point is that the central focus of God’s kingdom is so much bigger then the Jewish race.

Isaiah 56:6–8 NLT

6 “I will also bless the foreigners who commit themselves to the Lord, who serve him and love his name, who worship him and do not desecrate the Sabbath day of rest, and who hold fast to my covenant. 7 I will bring them to my holy mountain of Jerusalem and will fill them with joy in my house of prayer. I will accept their burnt offerings and sacrifices, because my Temple will be called a house of prayer for all nations. 8 For the Sovereign Lord, who brings back the outcasts of Israel, says: I will bring others, too, besides my people Israel.”

Malachi 1:11 NLT

11 But my name is honored by people of other nations from morning till night. All around the world they offer sweet incense and pure offerings in honor of my name. For my name is great among the nations,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.

Those who are entrenched in their religious traditions, they could not accept Jesus’ message of inclusion.

We are all responsible for our own faith and each of us has to choose to accept or reject the gospel.

No one can become part of God’s kingdom based on heritage or connections. Having a Christian family is a wonderful blessing, but it won’t guarantee our eternal life. Each person must make a decision to believe in and follow Christ.

We must be careful not to become so set in our religious habits that we expect God to work only in specific ways. Don’t limit God by your mindset or your lack of faith.

The centurion’s faith acts as a bridge, leading to a wider inclusion in the kingdom of God, which amazes Jesus.

God's kingdom is open to all who believe, challenging any biases that we might have about who can possess true faith.

Jesus was amazed by his faith and honored this man’s faith.

Matthew 8:13 NLT

13 Then Jesus said to the Roman officer, “Go back home. Because you believed, it has happened.” And the young servant was healed that same hour.

Take Away:

Are there other things in our life that has more authority then Jesus?

Do we believe God’s Word has the final answer?

Are any biases or religious traditions that hinder our faith in Jesus?