Sermonette: April 27, 2020

“The Centurion’s Faith”

Over the course of his three years of ministry, Jesus interacts with many different people. Obviously, religious leaders, fishermen and his disciples; but also prostitutes, tax collectors and many other people. Some of them had faith in Jesus, some did not. But across the board, only once does he seem surprised by a person’s faith. That person was not a religious leader, or a faithful blue-color fisherman, or even a Jew, but a Roman soldier. A man whose name is not recorded, but rank of centurion is.

The story goes that the centurion approaches Jesus seeking healing for his paralyzed servant. This is not unique, nor is Jesus’ reply that he is willing to come and heal the centurion’s servant. What is unique is the centurion’s response.

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

Jesus is blown away by this response. The centurion understands authority and faith unlike anyone else Jesus has interacted with. The centurion, as a soldier, understands that if someone has authority, that authority is absolute. Commanders’ orders are the law and will be carried out. Therefore, the centurion reasons, if his faith is in Jesus’ ability to heal, then Jesus’ ability isn’t limited by distance. Jesus doesn’t need to come to the house, see the servant or touch the servant. Jesus can heal just fine at any distance. The only reason Jesus might have to go and see the servant, is to reassure the centurion’s weak faith. The centurion knows Jesus doesn’t need to get close to heal. He has absolute faith in Jesus’ absolute faith.

Do we? In this time, as we go through an unprecedented period in our nation, do we trust that Jesus will get us through? Perhaps the virus will go away. Perhaps it won’t. Perhaps we’ll be locked in for weeks. Perhaps months. Maybe this will divide our nation. Maybe it will unite us. It’s not our decision and Jesus is able to handle it however he wants. He’s not constrained in any way. Do we have enough faith to trust that Jesus will handle it how he wants to? Can stand aside like the centurion and watch Jesus work?

May we have the faith to pray to Jesus, and then let him work. May we trust that he’s heard us and he’s got it under control; even if it’s not the way we’d handle.