But the centurion replied, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof, but only say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I too am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes, and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” – Matthew 8:8-9
In the time of Jesus, Rome ruled all of Judea. Capernaum (located on the northwest shore of the Sea of Galilee), was a city chosen by Jesus to be his home after being driven out of Nazareth. It was also the location for one of The Lord’s most illustrative miracles when it comes to faith.
Matthew tells us of a Roman enforcer of law who has a deep need. To the surprise of those around him, the soldier without prompt, recognizes Jesus as a healer, but his thoughts travel beyond what he had seen Jesus perform. The words of the centurion, “For I too am a man under authority, with soldiers under me” sounds strange within his request but it holds significant weight. At the time of Roman occupation, all centurion commanders were placed in a specific region for the reason of keeping order. The centurion led a centuria, a small number of troops (around 100) that existed within a larger number of troops, nearly 6,000, called a legion. In the hierarchy of Roman military, the centurion reported to a first-ranking centurion who in turn reported to a legate, a modern-day equivalent of a general-officer. From there, each level of rank reported to their superior (up to the emperor), making them accountable for every action or in-action they took while on duty.
Like himself, the centurion did not see Jesus as a stand-alone individual, but instead a person who was held accountable to someone, just as he was. Astonishingly, the centurion acknowledged Jesus not only as healer, but as divine. In turn Jesus states in verses 10 through 12:
“Truly, I tell you, with no one in Israel have I found such faith. I tell you; many will come from east and west and recline at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven, while the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
Jesus presented to the Jews a gentile centurion who had little knowledge of Jewish law yet recognized him for not only his ability to heal, but doing so under the authority of someone greater than himself.
The level of faith Jesus recognized the centurion having, is the same level of faith he requires for us to possess as well. The consequence (vv. 11-12) Jesus speaks of for the Jews unbelief stands for both Jews and Gentiles. His warning states that all who choose not to believe with their entire mind, body and soul, will be separated from God for eternity.
If you have not made that decision today, I encourage you to seek God and have him reveal to you the need you have for Jesus to enter your heart, mind and spirit.
