A Soldier's Faith: Matthew 8:5-13

When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help.

A centurion—a Roman officer commanding a hundred soldiers. One of the oppressors. One of the boots on Jewish necks. Yet he came to a Jewish rabbi, seeking help.

"Lord, my servant lies at home paralyzed, suffering terribly."

The soldier cared about a servant. In a world where slaves were property, this Roman valued his servant enough to seek healing from a foreign teacher.

Jesus said to him, "Shall I come and heal him?"

The offer was immediate. No hesitation about entering a Gentile's house, no concern about ritual defilement. Jesus was ready to go.

The centurion replied, "Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed."

I do not deserve. The soldier who commanded men felt unworthy to host this rabbi. His humility was stunning.

But just say the word. Here was the faith that would astonish Jesus. The centurion understood authority.

"For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, 'Go,' and he goes; and that one, 'Come,' and he comes. I say to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it."

The logic was military and precise. I understand chains of command. I give orders; they are obeyed. You, Jesus, have authority over sickness. Speak the command, and disease must obey.

When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him, "Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith."

Amazed. The word is strong—Jesus marveled. This Gentile soldier understood what Israel's religious leaders missed. Authority resided in the word of Jesus.

Not found anyone in Israel. The insiders had less faith than the outsider. The chosen people were outpaced by a pagan.

"I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven."

The kingdom was expanding. Gentiles streaming in from every direction, sitting at table with the patriarchs. The boundaries were blowing open.

"But the subjects of the kingdom will be thrown outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."

The warning was sobering. Birthright was not guarantee. Those who assumed their place might find themselves excluded, while outsiders took their seats.

Then Jesus said to the centurion, "Go! Let it be done just as you believed it would."

Go. The centurion had asked Jesus not to come. Jesus honored that faith—the word alone was enough.

And his servant was healed at that moment.

At that moment. Distance was no obstacle. A word in Capernaum healed a body somewhere else in town. Authority traveled.

A Roman soldier had taught Israel about faith. And Jesus—amazed at a Gentile's trust—had declared that the kingdom would gather from everywhere.