What Does Great Faith Look LIke?

The Faith of the Centurion

7 When Jesus had finished saying all this to the people who were listening, he entered Capernaum. 2 There a centurion’s servant, whom his master valued highly, was sick and about to die. 3 The centurion heard of Jesus and sent some elders of the Jews to him, asking him to come and heal his servant. 4 When they came to Jesus, they pleaded earnestly with him, “This man deserves to have you do this, 5 because he loves our nation and has built our synagogue.” 6 So Jesus went with them.

He was not far from the house when the centurion sent friends to say to him: “Lord, don’t trouble yourself, for I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. 7 That is why I did not even consider myself worthy to come to you. But say the word, and my servant will be healed. 8 For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”

9 When Jesus heard this, he was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd following him, he said, “I tell you, I have not found such great faith even in Israel.” 10 Then the men who had been sent returned to the house and found the servant well.

Though Jesus came first to the lost sheep of Israel, one can see that in this story he responds to the faith of a Gentile.  A centurion was a Roman captain in charge of one hundred soldiers.  They were generally not very well thought of and often rightfully so. They could be mean and cruel.  But we know this Centurion is different.  First, he cares about his servant.  Under Roman law a master had a right to kill his slave. Second, he has been kind toward the Jewish leaders and they were willing to go to bat for him. 

When Jesus learns of this man and his desire to see him, he says that he has not even seen such faith in all of Israel.  What was it about this man's faith that Jesus was so impressed with?

1. He was humble.  When he heard Jesus was coming near his home he sent friends telling Jesus that he was not even worthy to have Jesus come under his roof. 

2. He trusted in Jesus' word.  He said to Jesus that he only need to say the word and his servant would be healed.    

3. He recognized his authority came from God.  Though he was a man who had the right to order people around him, he realized he was accountable to God for his power.  He recognized true authority in the persons of Jesus.  

The one prerequisite for Jesus was faith.  The faith of a child.  The faith of the widow.  Faith the size of a mustard seed.  Faith that could move mountains.  Why was so faith so important to Jesus?  Because it showed trust in Him.  All personal relationships are built on trust. The book of Hebrews says, "Without faith it is impossible to please God."  The centurion pleased God today.  Where is God calling you to step out in faith today?