A Centurion's Faith
Great Faith's Blessing is Reserved for those who Exercise Great Faith
Luke tells us, in 7:9, "I say to you, not even in Israel have I found such great faith." God chose, called, and saved Abraham, and from him came the nation of Israel, the Covenants, the Law, prophets, promises, and the Messiah Jesus Christ. We are further told in the passage before us that Jesus turned to the crowd of Jews and said, "Not even in Israel have I found such great faith." If the chosen people of Israel did not have great faith, who did? Why was there so little faith in Israel? Hundreds may have believed in Jesus, who rid a nation of disease, while the multitudes called for His death.
Let us first consider why a Roman Centurion, a leader of a hundred, in the occupied province of Israel, would naturally despise Roman captures and certainly not feel about one as this centurion did, as we are told in verse 1, "And a centurion's slave, who was highly regarded by him, was sick and about to die." What might it have been that turned an occupying soldier to high regard a Jew and believe in his Messiah?
Great Faith's Blessing Receives the Divine Perspective
In Psalm 46:4-6, David voiced the divine perspective given to him. "There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, The holy dwelling places of the Most High (Hebrew El Elyon, Possessor of Heaven and Earth, Everywhere present). God is in the midst of her, she will not be moved; God will help her when morning dawns. The nations made an uproar, the kingdoms tottered; He raised His voice, and the earth melted" Psalm 46. The man who carefully considers the power of God as David did, humbles himself and can exercise great faith, but the foolish laugh at the thought.
Consider the Centurion's approach to Christ. "When he heard about Jesus, he sent some Jewish elders asking Him to come and save the life of his slave. When they came to Jesus, they earnestly implored Him, saying, "He is worthy for You to grant this to him; for he loves our nation, and it was he who built us our synagogue." The Centurion did not go to Christ but sent those he probably thought more worthy as they were Jewish and elders. Nevertheless, the elders thought the Centurion worthy. Why? The first reason is good, 'for he loves our nation.' Love is always good, even for those perceived as God's people when they are not. Remember, this is the nation that is about to call for Jesus Christ to be crucified. How do you think that the Father thought about their ingratitude? Remember also, only the remnant is saved!
The second reason the elders thought him worthy is predictable but not so good. 'And it was he who built us our synagogue.' Religious leaders love their buildings. Remember God's response to David about building His house. "When your days are complete, and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your descendant after you, who will come forth from you, and I will establish his kingdom. "He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever" 2 Samuel 7:12-13. God does not speak about a building of brick and mortar, but as Peter tells us in his 2nd letter, 2:5, "You also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ."
Great Faith's Blessing Gives Homage to Whom it is Due
We are told, "The centurion sent friends." These people were not slaves but friends. As Jesus tells us, a friend is trusted more than a slave. "No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing, but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you." This first reveals the sincerity of this Roman; he did not want what he said to be altered and misunderstood; he respected Jesus too much. What was said? "Lord, do not trouble Yourself further, for I am not worthy for You to come under my roof;" The centurion could command a hundred to do the bidding of Rome, but he could not save the life of his slave. He understood authority by experience and faith in the God of Israel.
The centurion explained to Jesus his understanding of his authority and, by extension, Christ's authority. "for this reason, I did not even consider myself worthy to come to You, but [just] say the word and my servant will be healed. "For I also am a man placed under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to this one, 'Go!' and he goes, and to another, 'Come!' and he comes, and to my slave, 'Do this!' and he does it." If Israel had faith as this centurion, they would have been saved. However, they could only recognize Christ's authority if they were born again. In Israel, as in the Church, nothing has changed.
Christ's Response to Great Faith's Blessing
"Now, when Jesus heard this, He marveled at him and turned and said to the crowd that was following Him, "I say to you, not even in Israel have I found such great (so much) faith" (Emphasis added). When those who had been sent returned to the house, they found the slave in good health."
The word marveled is used 44 times in the Gospels; in Greek, the word is thaumázō and means to wonder, marvel, to be amazed, astonished, and awestruck. Many people were amazed during Christ's life, but He is said to have been amazed twice, once by the people's unbelief who were from His hometown. There, we understand Christ's humanity as he feels the rejection from those who should have loved him most but instead rejected God's plan for their salvation.
"For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin." (Hebrews 4:15)
When we consider the Great Faith Blessing the Roman soldier bestowed, who amazed Jesus Christ and perhaps encouraged God in His humanity, I wonder how we cause Him to feel when we do not exercise a similar faith.
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