March 26, 2023: Just Speak The Word

"Jesus was astonished... and said to those who were following him, "He has greater faith than anyone I've encountered in Israel!" (Matthew 8:10, TPT)

Like the Canaanite woman who came to Jesus, this Centurion is also an outsider, a gentile, and an enemy of Israel. Many people fit this description today, and they let it disqualify them from receiving from God. Not this man; he was bold!

Jesus was astonished at this gentile. And He marveled at him. He was astonished that this man seemed to transcend human possibilities. The man possessed incredible faith! What made his faith so great?

First, we see the man comes to Jesus and calls Him Lord. Hebrew 11:6 declares, "Those who come to Him must know that He exists and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him." Jesus saw this quality in the Centurion.

Secondly, the man comes boldly to Jesus because he understands authority. This amazes Jesus because the people He was sent to should have had this understanding of authority but did not. Now a gentile, an outsider, recognizes the authority that Jesus carries and makes his request to Him. "Speak the word, and my servant will be healed.  You do not have to come to my house. Just speak the word." 

Third, the man understood who he was. The 'lesser' asking the 'greater' to heal his servant. This is covenant language. The very covenant that Jesus had come to earth to establish. Lord, may we become people of great faith!