BLOG 13 – “SAYING” FAITH

Immediately following Jesus’ “Sermon on the Mount,” Luke records that Jesus entered the town of Capernaum (located along the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee). As Jesus entered the town, he was approached by some Jewish elders who had been sent by a Roman centurion (a commander of about 100 Roman soldiers) requesting that Jesus save the life of one of his slaves (Luke uses the Greek word doulos, meaning “slave”), who had become sick and was about to die. While the centurion undoubtedly had many slaves at his disposal, this one was highly regarded for his faithfulness, and the centurion was desperate to have him restored to health.

The elders informed Jesus that this particular centurion, although a gentile, was a “God-fearer” who loved the Jewish people to the point that he provided a substantial amount of funds to help build the synagogue in Capernaum. The elders pleaded with Jesus to come to the house because this particular centurion was worthy of having his slave healed. As Jesus headed toward the centurion’s house, the crowd was met by some influential friends who were also sent by the centurion to tell Jesus that he should not trouble Himself any longer because he was not worthy to have Jesus enter his home (the centurion was familiar with Jewish customs in which gentiles were considered to be “unclean heathens” and were not permitted to enter into their homes). In fact, these friends told Jesus that the centurion did not come because he considered himself unworthy to stand in His presence and make the request himself (again, the centurion knew that Jews did not generally associate with gentiles except for trade and other business transactions).

And so the message was passed on to Jesus, “Just say the word, and my servant will be healed.” It is interesting to note that the centurion considered his “slave” as more important that “his property,” and referred to him as his “servant” (Luke uses a different Greek word pais, meaning “servant,” but it can also mean “child” or “son”). Could it be that this “slave” was considered to be like a “son” to this influential centurion? I think so. The centurion also related to his friends to tell Jesus that, “I, too, am a man 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.” When Jesus heard this, he said to the multitude following Him, “I say to you, not even in Israel have I found such great faith.” Not even in Israel, where faith should have been running rampant and openly expressed, could Jesus find such faith as that expressed by the centurion. That’s why Jesus called it “great faith.”

Of course, the centurion’s faith still required action, that is, he first sent the Jewish elders to talk to Jesus, and then later, as Jesus was heading toward the centurion’s home, he send some of his friends to tell Jesus that he didn’t need to come because he believed that Jesus just had to say the word, and his servant would be healed. That’s why I call this “saying faith,” as opposed to “seeing faith.” Both are quite valid, that is, we believe and then we act. The four friends acted by lowering their friend through the roof, and the centurion acted by sending a group of friends to tell Jesus what he believed, that is, “Just say the word.” And Luke concludes this encounter by informing us that when the elders and friends returned to the house, they found the centurion’s slave (servant, son) “in good health.”

Jesus found “great faith” in the most unlikely person, a Roman centurion, a gentile whose background undoubtedly involved the worship of a multitude of Roman deities. But he had become a “God-fearer” as well as a “friend” of the Jews in the town of Capernaum. Maybe some of you are an unlikely candidate for “great faith.” You just might be, and if so, you are in good company. In our first encounter, the paralytic was placed before Jesus where he told him, face-to-face, to get up and walk. But Jesus never saw the centurion. There was no face-to-face encounter, but just a relayed message. Today, we don’t see Jesus in the flesh, but by faith we believe that He lives and hears our requests offered in faith, believing that He is able to do far above all that we can think or imagine. If you believe he is able and willing to respond to your request, go ahead and ask. He hears and will respond at just the right time. But He needs to hear from you. If you believe that He is listening, then just “say the word.” That what I call “saying faith.”

                                    Jesus’ encounter with the centurion’s friends is found in Luke 7:1-10