The Great Faith Of The Centurion.

THE GREAT FAITH OF THE CENTURION.

Matthew 8:5-11.

(Matthew 8:5). Matthew’s Gospel has much about it that highlights the fact that Jesus is the Jewish Messiah. Yet the second healing of the New Testament involved a Gentile. A Roman centurion, in an act of true submissive prayer, brought his situation to Jesus and laid it as His feet.

(Matthew 8:6). The centurion told Jesus of his servant’s torment. It is not for us to tell Jesus how and when He should act, but merely to lay out our problems before Him. This outsider stated his case, but made no demands.

(Matthew 8:7). Again Jesus expressed His willingness. He would come to the centurion’s home. Jesus would heal the servant.

(Matthew 8:8). The centurion recognised his own unworthiness, and submitted to Jesus’ authority. One word from Jesus would suffice.

(Matthew 8:9). This experienced soldier understood Jesus’ commission in light of his own.

(Matthew 8:10). Jesus marvelled at the man’s great faith. He marvelled, too, that he did not find such faith in Israel, which was the Church of the day. Sometimes those who are settled back on their lees, complacent in spirit, need to learn from those in the margins.

I wrote this verse in the front cover of my copy of George Muller’s biography. Like all believers, Mr Muller believed God for the saving of his own soul, and that of others. Brother George trusted Jesus for everything from his first sixpence to the building of the orphanage in Bristol, England, which bore his name.

(Matthew 8:11). East and west join Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven (cf. Revelation 7:9). The Gentiles are grafted in whilst, for the time being, Israel is broken from her root (cf. Romans 11:12-24).