Just Say A Word!

Just say a word. How many know that life and death is in the power of the tongue? Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof. – vs 21

Here is today’s text we see the true power in speaking a word. In the account of this miracle in Jesus not only marvels at the centrurion’s faith but says to him “Go; let it be done for you as you have believed.” And the servant was healed at that very moment.

Jesus said about the Centurion in v9, “I have not found such great faith even in Israel." The Centurion not only had faith, he had faith greater than anyone amongst God’s people, in Israel!

Did Jesus say this about the Centurion because Jesus healed the centurion’s servant?

Did Jesus say the Centurion had great faith before or after Jesus healed the servant??

We note in v10 that Jesus stated that the Centurion had great faith BEFORE the servant was healed!

Why did Jesus say the Centurion had great faith?

The answer is in v7; The Centurion believed that all Jesus had to do is say the Word! In other words, the Centurion had great faith because all he needed to know was what Jesus’ will was! In the Centurion’s mind, whatever Jesus’ will was, that was it and he would live with it!

God expects his children be people of extraordinary faith. He wants us to look at our circumstances through the eyes of faith. The Bible says faith can move mountains. How is your faith now? Faith can bring changes in our situation. 1Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. Our faith is not based on our present situation but it looks forward to the future. Do you have this faith? How can you exercise this faith? In our text today I am speaking of a Roman centurion who had a great faith. Jesus told about him, “I tell you I have not found such great faith even in Israel.” In our devotion today we are going to see how we can achieve such faith? What is the speciality of this Roman solider that Jesus was amazed at his faith?

The faith of the centurion.

1. Faith crosses all barriers. ( Its doesn’t discriminate)

1When Jesus had finished saying all this in the hearing of the people, he entered Capernaum. 2There a centurion’s servant, whom his master valued highly, was sick and about to die.

When we look at the background we find Jesus just completed his teaching, ‘The sermon on the mount.’ He entered Capernaum. There was a Roman centurion in Capernaum. A centurion is a Roman official who is in charge of 50-100 soldiers. He has the rank of a present army captain. He was an employee of the Roman government. He was the person responsible to maintain law and order. The Bible says he had a servant who was ill, he was about to die. The centurion sent his representatives to Jesus asking him to come and heal his servant. Listen, the centurion was a very busy man. He had many servants to replace the sick servant but he took his time out to care for a servant. A servant always has low status, less money, and less value in society. People always like to associate with the other people of the same status or of a superior status. This centurion took time to care for a servant. Secondly, the centurion asks a Jew, Jesus for help. Remember at this time the Romans are ruling the Jews. They never ask for help, it is below their dignity. The centurion crossed all social, racial, and ethnic barriers to appeal for help. In other words the centurion was not self-centered. He cared about his servant and he is taking a risk of doing a service to a servant.

Our faith must be like the centurion’s faith, it must cross all barriers. When we are in Christ we are a new creation. Then there is no separation for language, religion, caste, culture, or status. We are all one and God wants us to see everyone equal like the centurion. Jesus was amazed with this centurion’s selfless act in asking for help.

2. Faith makes us active in God’s work.

2. Faith makes us active in God’s work.

The centurion heard of Jesus and sent some elders of the Jews to him, asking him to come and heal his servant. 4When they came to Jesus, they pleaded earnestly with him, "This man deserves to have you do this, 5because he loves our nation and has built our synagogue."

We must understand that the Jewish people hated the Romans as the Romans ruled them, more so the soldiers as they tortured them. When we look into this context we can find the Jewish elders approaching Jesus on behalf of the centurion. Definitely this centurion must have been different than other Romans. The centurion built a synagogue with his own money. Listen, only the Jews could go to the Temple in Jerusalem but anyone could go into a synagogue. In the time of Jesus the major way God spread the good news was though the teaching in the synagogues. The centurion knew if a synagogue could be built many could come to the saving grace of Jesus. He knew God was using the synagogue to spread the good news and he voluntarily built a synagogue, in other words he voluntarily participated in God’s work. The centurion was God-centered.

If you have faith you will participate in God’s work. Your faith will have you looking for opportunity to serve. God will honour your faith.

3. Faith makes us humble.

6So Jesus went with them. 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. 7That is why I did not even consider myself worthy to come to you. But say the word, and my servant will be healed.

The centurion was a man of great humility. He understood who Jesus is and he also understood who he is. He knew he had worldly power but he knew Jesus had heavenly power. He knew he had the power to arrest and punish anyone but he knew Jesus had the power to liberate and heal anyone. He knew wordily speaking Jesus was under his authority but he knew spiritually he was under Jesus’ authority. He counted heavenly power greater and surrendered everything to Jesus. In other words he humbled himself. The Bible says he felt unworthy to meet Jesus and he also felt unworthy to have Jesus come into his house.

When we come to God we must come to him with humility. We must put aside our education, status, financial power etc., and surrender to the divine and spiritual authority in our life, God. We must understand that we are unworthy to stand in front of him but by His blood.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.