HEARTS AND MIRACLES (7)

“Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof. But only SPEAK a WORD, and my servant will be healed” – Matthew 8:8b                               

Out of the abundance of FAITH-filled HEARTS, Believers can speak MIRACLES into manifestation: “Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof. But only SPEAK a WORD, and my servant will be HEALED” (Mt.8:8b). These were Words of Faith that flowed from the HEART and through the MOUTH of a Centurion who travelled over five miles to seek help from Jesus on behalf of his sick servant. In many of Jesus' miraculous healings, the afflicted person spoke to Jesus directly. Here, the person being healed could not speak to Jesus. Rather, Jesus healed him through the faith of an advocate. The parallel text to Matthew’s account is Luke 7:1-10.

We can examine this text in four parts: the Centurion’s Request, Authority, Faith and Reward.

His Request (vv.5-7): Capernaum was the centre of many of Jesus’ activities and miracles. The centurion was an officer in the Roman army commanding a hundred men; most likely a Gentile. As Jesus entered Capernaum, the officer came on behalf of his servant who lied at home paralyzed and in severe suffering (v.6). Interestingly, the passage emphasized not so much on the actual disease healed as the circumstances surrounding it. We never actually meet the servant in the story. The entire incident focused on Jesus’ interaction with the centurion, who himself didn’t even make a direct request. He simply told Jesus about his servant, and Jesus said: “I will come and heal him” (v.7). If Jesus was willing to enter a Gentile’s home and help someone who was part of an occupying army that was oppressing God’s people, He must be willing, eager, and able to help whoever comes! We also can come to Jesus for help, for ourselves and for others.

His Authority (vv.8-9): The centurion knew his place and Christ’s place. So also should we!  The man came humbly asking for help. When Jesus offered to come and heal his servant, he didn’t consider himself deserving: “Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof” (v.8a). He did not appeal to his own goodness, credentials, or authority. He simply threw himself upon Christ’s Mercy. The poor in spirit are those who know and confess their need for God (Mt.5:3). We don’t have a claim on God to help us. Jesus is not here to do our will. We are here to do God’s will. The centurion was also a man of authority; confident in Christ. He didn’t ask Jesus to pray for his servant to get better, but simply to command the healing: “Only speak a Word” (v.8b). Only those under authority have the right to exercise authority. He knew what it was like to command and be commanded and put all his hope in Jesus’s power and authority!

His Faith (vv.10-12): “I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel” (v.10b). Faith pleases God (Mk.6:6; Heb.11:6). Jesus was amazed with this demonstration of Faith. The centurion knew he did not have to be in direct physical presence with the Lord for Him to do a miracle. Jesus’ power was beyond His physical proximity and could heal from a distance. Moreover, Jesus pointed out that someone who grew up in a pagan culture had more faith than the learned Pharisees who grew up under rigorous Judaism. Jesus is astonished by faith in those who shouldn’t have it (Gentiles) and by the lack of faith in those who should (Mk.6:6). Also, Faith alone saves! (Eph.2:8-9). Jesus pronounced that many Gentiles will be saved by faith while many subjects of the Kingdom will be outside for lack of faith!

His Reward: “Go your way; and as you have believed, so let it be done for you” And his servant was healed that same hour” (v.13). God rewards Faith (Heb.11:6b). The centurion’s faith secured healing for the servant! God works in response to Faith that’s born in the heart and spoken with the mouth. And, there is no such thing as distance barrier with God – the Omnipresent One (Mt.15:21-28; Eph.2:13).