Psalm 119.1-16

Leveticus.11.44,45

Galatians.5.5-15

Matthew.8.5-13

  The first Gentile Jesus encountered in his ministry was a Roman centurion (Matthew 8:5; Luke 7:2). Besides him, the Bible records many other centurions. The one who led the crucifixion of Jesus and finally confessed that Jesus is the Son of God (Matthew 27:54; Mark 15:39; Luke 23:47), the centurion Cornelius who lived as a godly person and finally became a believer of Jesus through Peter (Acts 10), and the centurion Julius who brought Paul to Rome (Acts 27) :1-3,6,11,31,43) et al. Similarly, when Paul’s sister’s son informed him of the plot of the Jews against Paul, it was a centurion who helped the young man to inform the centurion (Acts 23:17). A centurion was the commander of a hundred soldiers, the smallest division in the Roman army. There are ten centurions under one centurion (Acts 23:17-19). Discipline of the soldiers and inspection of weapons were the duties of the centurion. It was said that the six thousand footmen would be Legion. That is, there were six centurions in a legion. Executions were carried out under the supervision of the centurion (Matthew 27:54; Mark 15:39, 44-45; Luke 23:47). According to the order of the centurion, Paul was secretly taken from Jerusalem to Caesarea under the leadership of two centurions (Acts 23:23-35). He was a centurion who was imprisoned by order of Felix and instructed to treat Paul with kindness (Acts 24:23). We meet many such centurions in the New Testament. During Jesus’ ministry, a centurion once came to Jesus begging for the healing of his servant (Matthew 8:5-13; Luke 7:1-10). Jesus praised the centurion’s faith in this incident as he said: “Not even in Israel was such faith found” (Matthew 8:10; Luke 7:9). This chapter tries to analyze this belief of the centurion.

1. Loving faith

Slaves and servants did not receive human rights and values ​​among the Romans at that time. Back then, slaves were treated like animals. Slaves had no legal rights then. The only difference between an animal and a slave was that slaves had the ability to speak. But Luke records this incident as his beloved servant. The Greek word for “pias” is used. This word is usually used when talking about one’s own children.  That is how much love the centurion pleads with Jesus for his servant. This is the faith that spreads through love (Gal 5:6,14). This faith with love towards others is the reason why it is called ‘so great faith’.

2. Belief in the holiness of Jesus

When Jesus said, “I will come and heal him”, the centurion’s attitude was, “I am not worthy that you should come to my house” (Matthew 8:7,8). The centurion is a Gentile and Jesus is a Jew. A Jew does not go into a Gentile’s house. It was unclean to the Jew (Acts 10:25-28). In the Mishnah writings of the Jews, it was written that “the dwellings of the Gentiles are unclean”. But he was ready to come to the centurion’s house and heal him. At the same time, the centurion sincerely admitted that “I am not worthy” without making it a matter of status, shame and pride. It was a confession of Jesus’ holiness. Scholarly opinion is that the centurion did not see this as a racial problem. After all, the centurion concluded that Jesus was holy and I was unclean. It is an approach that believes that all the blessings we receive are by grace and that God is holy, just as the leper came to his knees. It is the ultimate nature of God (1 Peter 1:16; Leviticus 11:44). Don’t forget that God is loving but also holy (Isaiah 6:1-3). Therefore, you should understand that everything you get is due to His grace.

3. Faith in the Word

The centurion’s belief was, “If you say just one word, my child will be healed” (Matthew 8:8). He believed the word of Jesus. This Word created the whole world (Genesis 1:3). This word calmed the wind and the sea. It was this word that parted the Red Sea. It was this word that brought out the dead Lazarus. As mentioned in previous chapters, this Word is the foundation of faith (Romans 10:17). Faith in the Word of God is true Christianity. This Word will cleanse us (Psalm 119:11; Eph 5:26), heal us (107:20) and set us free completely (John 8:31-32). The centurion believed it.

4. Belief in authority

“I am also a man under authority. I have soldiers under me. When I say to one, Go, I go; And when he says to another: Come, he comes; He answered and said to my servant: If you say do this, he does. After hearing that, Jesus was surprised and said to those who followed him: “Truly I say to you, I have not seen such great faith except in Israel” (Matthew 8:9,10). When Jesus says I will come to his house and heal him, suddenly the centurion talks about authority. He says, I am an authority while under the authority of another authority. I know what power is. If you say a word, my child will be healed. Because you have power over all diseases. You have the power to heal the sick, cast out demons, and raise the dead (Matthew 28:18; Mark 3:13-15; 1:26,27). The Messiah has all authority in heaven and on earth. Thus the centurion believed in the authority of Jesus.

5. Belief in the Messiah

Jesus was generally thought to be the teacher (rabbi), king, redeemer (deliverer) of the Jews. But many did not believe that Jesus was the Messiah or Christ, the Son of God. When Peter made this confession, Jesus responded, “God has revealed it to you” (Matthew 16:17). The centurion understood that Jesus was not the only savior of the Jews. Although the Jewish Israelites did not accept Jesus as the Messiah, it can be assumed that the centurion believed. Perhaps that is why it is praised as “great faith, not even in Israel” (Matthew 8:10-12). It is also noteworthy that another time a Canaanite woman (Mark says a young Syrophoenician woman) came to Jesus and received a similar miracle for her daughter (Matthew 15:21-28; Mark 7:24-30). It is explained in the next chapter. All this shows faith in the Messiahship of Jesus. Jesus praised the centurion’s faith. Because without faith it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6). Our faith is what strengthens and propels our Christian life forward.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, We are grateful for the powerful example of the centurion’s faith as revealed in Your Word. His unwavering belief in Jesus’ authority and his humble trust inspire us to seek a deeper, more profound faith in You. Lord, we ask for Your grace to cultivate such great faith in our own lives. Help us to trust in Your power and Your promises, even when we cannot see the way forward. May we approach You with humility and confidence, knowing that You are able to do all things. Strengthen our hearts, increase our faith, and guide us to live out that faith in every aspect of our lives. May we always remember the centurion’s example and strive to follow his footsteps in trusting You completely. In Jesus’ name, we pray.

Amen.