When the Lord Jesus was on earth, the Roman nation ruled Israel and kept soldiers in many towns to enforce the laws. A captain over one hundred of those soldiers was called a centurion. One of these men lived in a city where Jesus did so many miracles. He was a kind man who had done much for the Jewish inhabitants, and seems to have heard of Jesus from them. So when one of his servants was very sick, and dying, he sent men to ask Jesus to come to heal him.
Jesus started toward the centurion’s house, but before He reached it, men came with a message from the centurion, saying, “Lord, trouble not Thyself, for I am not worthy that Thou shouldest enter under my roof ... neither thought I myself worthy to come unto Thee; but say in a word, and my servant shall be healed.”
It seems the centurion had never seen Jesus, but, because of the wonderful things He had done, he knew Jesus was the Lord from Heaven, and had all power and authority, and he felt himself unworthy for His holy presence. Yet he must have longed to see Jesus, and soon came himself to Him. For we read that Jesus said to him, “Go thy way, and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee” (Matthew 8:1313And 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. (Matthew 8:13)).
That Roman officer was not mistaken as to the power and authority of the word of the Lord Jesus; “in the selfsame hour” the servant was healed.
It pleased the Lord Jesus that this man, who had not always known the promises of the Holy One to come, (as the people of the land had), believed He was the Lord. Jesus said He had “not found so great faith” in Israel.
The centurion must later have known of the death of Jesus and learned that it was by His death that those who trust Him are made worthy to be in His presence.
What of the sick servant so suddenly made well? It is not told about him, yet we would think he surely must have wanted to see Jesus.
True Faith
You often hear the word “faith” spoken of, but perhaps you do not understand what it means. This story of the centurion explains it, as Jesus said he had great faith: he had not seen Jesus, yet he believed Him to be the Lord, because of the things Jesus had done which no other could do.
So you see this captain’s faith was not in anything he himself had done or could do, although he held a trusted position; his faith was all in what Jesus had done.
We now have all heard of Jesus’ mighty deeds and of His words, and how, in spite of His power, He allowed men to nail Him on a cross, that He should die for our sins. If we believe Him as our Lord and Saviour, and all our trust is in Him, that is faith.
Jesus once told the people that they should believe Him for the works which He did, (John 10:3838But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him. (John 10:38)), and He also said these words, “Blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed” (John 20:2929Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed. (John 20:29)).
Further Meditation
1. What made the centurian’s faith in the Lord extra special?
2. Have you ever had someone doubt what you said to them? What makes it special when they believe what you have to say?
3. You might find the simple and encouraging leaflet The Work of Faith by J. N. Darby a help to you as you study the subject of faith in the Scriptures.