Yesterday, I read Matthew 8 as part of my yearly Bible reading plan. It is a chapter that always amazes me. Matthew outlines Jesus’ authority over sickness and death, His authority over the natural world, and His authority over the spirit world. That chapter also contains one of my favorite events in the life of Jesus—the healing of the Centurion’s servant. [vs 5-13]
A Roman Centurion approached Jesus. That itself is amazing. Then the Centurion asks Jesus for a favor (even more amazing.) His servant is “lying at home paralyzed, in terrible agony.”
Jesus agrees to come, but the Centurion rejects that offer with an amazing reply. “’Lord,’ the centurion replied, ‘I am not worthy to have You come under my roof. But only say the word, and my servant will be cured.’”
And goes on to further explain, “For I too am a man under authority, having soldiers under my command. I say to this one, ‘Go!’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come!’ and he comes ….”
Jesus will heal the Centurion’s servant with just a Word and will point out the Centurion’s great faith to all witnessing this event.
What I have usually heard taught is that the Centurion’s faith was birth in the Centurion’s realization of his own authority – that he could order those under him to obey and they would.
But I think the Centurion also knew about authority because he too was “a man under authority,” a phrase we often skip over.
He had risen to his position because of his obedience to those above him. He knew BOTH the privilege OF and the responsibility TO authority.
