Reading: Luke 7:1-10

Now when he had ended all his sayings in the audience of the people, he entered into Capernaum. And a certain centurion’s servant, who was dear unto him, was sick, and ready to die. And when he heard of Jesus, he sent unto him the elders of the Jews, beseeching him that he would come and heal his servant. And when they came to Jesus, they besought him instantly, saying, That he was worthy for whom he should do this: For he loveth our nation, and he hath built us a synagogue. Then Jesus went with them. And when he was now not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to him, saying unto him, Lord, trouble not thyself: for I am not worthy that thou shouldest enter under my roof: Wherefore neither thought I myself worthy to come unto thee: but say in a word, and my servant shall be healed. For I also am a man set under authority, having under me soldiers, and I say unto one, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it. When Jesus heard these things, he marvelled at him, and turned him about, and said unto the people that followed him, I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. And they that were sent, returning to the house, found the servant whole that had been sick.

We see in this passage the faith of a Roman centurion who trusted in the true God. What was known at that time as a proselyte, that is, someone who had not been born a Jew but had come to believe in the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel. Such was his faith that he had been very generous in building a synagogue and was highly esteemed by the Jews.
A servant of the centurion was sick, and we see his righteousness in loving him so much as to ask for help from Jesus, of whom he has heard.
He says: if I, who am a soldier, know what it means to obey, and to be obeyed, I also know that you, who have greater authority than I have by simply commanding my servant to heal, can do it. For your authority comes from God, and not from men.
Jesus, the Son of Man, has authority over death and disease. It is his identity.
And that is what this centurion trusts and puts his faith in. In who Jesus is, in His power and authority. Wonderful faith, deserving of Jesus’ recognition.

MEDITATE: Let us long for a faith like this centurion’s, that rests fully and absolutely in who Jesus is.