As I read the Luke 7 account of the centurion sending for Jesus to heal his beloved servant boy, I was reminded again of just what the grace of God means and what Jesus has already done, in us and for us! Look at Luke 7:1-5 for some background:
1 After Jesus had finished all that He had to say in the hearing of the people [on the mountain], He entered Capernaum. 2 Now a centurion had a bond servant who was held in honor and highly valued by him, who was sick and at the point of death. 3 And when the centurion heard of Jesus, he sent some Jewish elders to Him, requesting Him to come and make his bond servant well. 4 And when they reached Jesus, they begged Him earnestly, saying, He is worthy that You should do this for him, 5 For he loves our nation and he built us our synagogue [at his own expense].
This had to be a kind and compassionate man, but that is NOT enough! Look at verses 6-8:
6 And Jesus went with them. But when He was not far from the house, the centurion sent [some] friends to Him, saying, Lord, do not trouble [Yourself], for I am not sufficiently worthy to have You come under my roof; 7 Neither did I consider myself worthy to come to You. But [just] speak a word, and my servant boy will be healed. 8 For I also am a man [daily] subject to authority, with soldiers under me. And I say to one, Go, and he goes; and to another, Come, and he comes; and to my bond servant, Do this, and he does it.
What exactly was the centurion saying? He was saying that the power to heal was the SERVANT of Jesus and it didn't make any difference whether Jesus was present in the exact spot, or whether He spoke from right where He was, the healing power of God would obey HIS authority and the boy would be healed! How did Jesus respond to this? Verses 9-10:
9 Now when Jesus heard this, He marveled at him, and He turned and said to the crowd that followed Him, I tell you, not even in [all] Israel have I found such great faith [as this]. 10 And when the messengers who had been sent returned to the house, they found the bond servant who had been ill quite well again.
Jesus SAID that it was the man's FAITH in the power and authority that Jesus had, that brought healing to the boy, and this centurion was a Roman and not even a Jew! What does this tell us? Look at Mark 11:23-24:
23 For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be removed, and be cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he says shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he says. 24 Therefore I say unto you, What things soever you desire, when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you shall have them. KJV
We MUST have the same confidence in OUR Words that this centurion had in the Word of Jesus! AMEN! How do we develop that confidence? By meditating His Word - day and night (Joshua 1:8)! Dare to speak the Word, believing, as this centurion did, that YOUR faith is a servant to YOU, when YOU speak the Word of God! AMEN!!! Then YOU can sing this song with boldness and give God the glory for all that HE has done! Here is Hillsong Chapel with "Lost Are Found":
Shalom in Him!
