Say the Word

When Jesus entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him, pleading with Him, "Lord my servant is lying at home paralysed, in terrible agony!"
"I will come and heal him", Jesus told Him.
"Lord," the centurion replied, "I am not worthy to have you come under me roof, but only say the word and my servant will be cured. For I too am a man under authority......
Then Jesus told the centurion, "Go, as you have believed, let it be done for you. And his servant was cured that very moment. Matthew 8:5-13

How unusual for a centurion to bother with the welfare of a servant, here was a man of compassion. He would have heard about Christ, being in the area when Jesus stayed. Perhaps he heard Jesus speaking on the mountain. He would have had to experience see Jesus to know that He was a man 'under authority'.

A man or woman who understands authority understands how it works. The word of a leader carried much weight. If he said 'go' you went. if he said 'stay' you stayed or suffered the consequences.

The centurion also recognised Jesus as Lord. He called him 'Lord'. He, a gentile, had no problem recognising Jesus was who he said he was.

The centurion knew the weight of that authority, he did not need Jesus to physically go to his servant, he knew the word was enough.

This man is instrumental in showing how we gentiles were welcome to receive Christ. Jesus went on to say that we would sit with Abraham, Issac and Jacob, yet many of the natural relatives would not because of their unbelief.

I am looking forward to meeting this man in eternity.

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