Faith of the Centurion- Trusting in Jesus
Matthew 8:5-13
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Matthew 8: 5-13
“(5)And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him, (6) And saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented. (7) And Jesus said unto him, I will come and heal him. (8) 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. (9) 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. (10) 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. (11) 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. (13) 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. ”
Trusting God not because we understand our circumstances, but because we know WHO is in authority over them.
Faith of the Centurion
Faith of the Centurion
The same crowd that heard the Sermon on the Mount had witnessed Jesus healing the leper by touching him. Now the crowd witnesses Jesus healing a man who isn’t even present because of the faith of his master. The faith of the centurion is first seen in knowing exactly who to turn to, Jesus. He also recognized Jesus’ authority was not limited by distance. Although Jesus offered to go to his home, the centurion humbly believed it was unnecessary because Christ’s word alone was enough.
The centurion told Jesus, “Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed.” (verse 8). Jesus saw the faith of the Roman centurion, and this was an opportunity to share with all those around Him what the example of true faith looks like.
Roman soldiers were occupying the land at the time, and the tensions between them and Israel were not ideal. The Jewish people lived under Roman rule, requiring them to pay heavy taxes, among other burdens. Israel was known to be God’s people, yet Jesus came to redeem all men, Jews and Gentiles. Romans were considered Gentiles; they were not known for worshipping God.
The faith of this one centurion, who had the responsibility of so many men and also cared for those within his household, is remarkable. He understood the aspects of rank and authority; the position he held didn’t form him to be arrogant and power-hungry, but he had compassion for those whom he was responsible for. He humbled himself, laid aside any pride, and sought Jesus on behalf of his servant. When Jesus offered to accompany him to his home, the centurion responded that Jesus only needed to speak the word. Jesus saw the condition of this man’s heart; he saw a faith that completely trusted His authority and power. The centurion knew that there is power in Jesus’ words.
Examples of Faith
The faith of this man brought about a teaching opportunity for Jesus to explain to the crowd, saying in verse 10, “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.” This must have been astonishing to hear Jesus say that a Roman soldier had more faith than all of Israel. Jesus came to save all of humanity, not just the Jews. Throughout Israel’s history, God’s people often followed Him faithfully for a season. Yet, over time, they would become comfortable, drift into sin, and turn their backs on God. We see this pattern throughout the Bible, and if we are honest with ourselves, we see the same tendency today.
Purifying and Strengthening Faith
We should continue to have a daily relationship with God, through both the good and bad times. God is our Heavenly Father; He wants what is best for us, but He also wants us to be refined and purified through His grace. We may look at a circumstance that we don’t like and quickly conclude that we have angered God, causing Him to allow this horrible thing to happen to us. This is where we get it wrong. God opens and closes doors; He has us endure and experience certain challenges in our lives that help refine us and strengthen our faith. During trials, we can witness spiritual growth pains that deepen our reliance on Him.
My friend, not all bad things that happen are punishments from God; that is one of Satan’s lies, meant to lead us to believe God no longer loves us. But the truth is that God does love us, just like a loving earthly father. He wants the best for us, and yes, sometimes He allows hardships in our lives. However, when we draw closer to Him through prayer and by spending time in His Word, He will allow us to see our circumstances from His perspective. Often, you may be surprised by what He reveals.
"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:" Ephesians 2:8 KJV
Valuable Lessons of Faith
There have been circumstances in my life that were out of my control. One example was losing our home, when all we had left was the few things that fit inside our vehicle. That low point led me to the end of myself, and that is where I found myself completely depending on God. I knew everything that was in my own capability was not enough. God would be the One to help guide us where we needed to go. I didn’t see it all then, but God is so amazing because He gave me peace when we found the home He intended for us to live in, a home we have now lived in for more than twenty years. Although I had a great family, we moved often and were unable to experience this type of childhood for myself; God graciously provided one for my husband, me, and our children. We certainly weren’t perfect, but God used two broken people to provide a better opportunity for our children in a God-centered home.
God has blessed us in so many ways; He is still constantly refining us through every season of life. One lesson I have learned is this: Without God, I can make a mess of things and go down the wrong paths, but with God, He guides me each step of the way. It may be challenging at times, but He shows me what I cannot see for myself.
Faith Health Exam
How is your faith today? Are you relying on your own capabilities, knowledge, and understanding of your circumstances? As odd as it may seem, take even that difficult bill you have a hard time paying to God. He will help you with it, whether through an unexpected blessing, by providing wisdom, or by the gracious gift of a friend or stranger. That illness you're battling, take it to God. Sometimes He will lead you to the right person or the right treatment. God is the Great Physician, and He can work in ways we cannot see. Trust Him with every need, knowing that He is always faithful, whether He heals immediately, gradually, or strengthens you through patience and trials. Your faith in what God is often what heals you.
There is a lesson in all circumstances, bad or good. Ask God to show you His perspective; you may be amazed at how, when you set aside your own understanding, God can lift you above the noise and show you what He sees. Seek God in all things; He will never steer you wrong. He is our loving Heavenly Father who wants the best for us, and sometimes that refining of our faith comes with challenges. Let us remember to turn to God in both good times and the difficult ones, allowing Him to guide us in all aspects and decisions of our lives.
Before you go, let’s say a prayer together…
Heavenly Father,
Thank You for this day, for this devotion that focuses our attention on faith, knowing that our relationship with You is a daily walk, not just a 911 call when things are not going right in our lives. I ask that You help us to examine our faith in every circumstance, help us to walk with You so we know Who to run to when we need Your divine intervention. Father, I ask that You continue to guide us each day, show us ways we can invite You into our daily lives, show us times to set aside that we have with You. The centurion’s faith is what made his servant healed; the first man of leper was a man that seeked healing for himself, and the centurion sought healing for his servant; help us to have faith for ourselves and others. Reveal to us points of weakness in our lives and guide us in Your ways You would have us to go. Thank You for this day. I ask that You bless each one that has joined me in this devotion, that we may apply it to our lives, living by faith and not by sight or by our own understanding; help us to see Your perspective. Forgive us of our sins; reveal sins to us that we have grown to accept as normal; refine us so that we may help others. We ask this in Jesus’ holy name, Amen.
Quick Note:
Some Bible studies may take longer than others, as I am often led to explain certain verses in greater detail. I want you to know that these blog posts are written straight from my heart - they are not created by AI, so if you pay close attention, you may find my little nuggets of imperfections! What you read here are my own thoughts and reflections, guided by where God leads me.
I am not a professional; I’m simply a southern wife and mother of five with a deep desire to share the truth of our loving Heavenly Father. He loves you, and He longs to have a relationship with you. We are not called to be perfect, but we are called to be led by Him.
God has placed so much on my heart to share, and my prayer is that these words bless and encourage you. I’m not here for recognition or fame - only to spread the message of God’s love to you, my new friend, and to many others.
