“Just Say the Word”

Faith doesn’t mean obeying when we see, or understand. Faith means trusting enough, like the centurion, to say to Jesus, “Just say the word!”

Scripture:

Matthew, chapters 8-10

Matthew 8:5-13 (NLT):

When Jesus returned to Capernaum, a Roman officer came and pleaded with him, “Lord, my young servant lies in bed, paralyzed and in terrible pain.”  Jesus said, “I will come and heal him.”  But the officer said, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come into my home. Just say the word from where you are, and my servant will be healed. I know this because I am under the authority of my superior officers, and I have authority over my soldiers. I only need to say, ‘Go,’ and they god, or ‘Come,’ and they come. And if I say to my slaves, ‘Do this,’ they do it.”

When Jesus heard this, he was amazed. Turning to those who were following him, he said, ‘I tell you the truth, I haven’t see faith like this in all Israel! And I tell you this, that many Gentiles will come from all over the world – from east and west – and sit down with Abraham, Issac, and Jacob at the feast in the Kingdom of Heaven. But many Israelites – those for whom the Kingdom was prepared – will be thrown into outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

Then Jesus said to the Roman officer, “Go back home. Because you believed, it has happened.” And the young servant was healed that same hour.

Observations:

“Just Say the Word” – Power

Most of us have read this story before. The centurion – an outsider – comes to ask Jesus to heal his servant. Jesus agrees to come to the man’s house to heal his servant. The centurion tells Jesus he doesn’t need to do that; “just say the word” and the servant would be healed. Jesus marvels at his faith, and heals the servant.  But there are a few other details in the story that we need to recognize.

First, the fact that a Roman centurion would come to Jesus and plead with him is remarkable. A centurion – a soldier – would have been accustomed to ordering Jewish people around, not pleading with them for anything. Romans generally viewed Jews with a mixture of suspicion and skepticism. The Jews always seemed to be on the edge of a revolt against Roman power. That tendency toward rebellion was based in Jewish religion, which Romans neither understood nor accepted. The centurion not only was willing to come and plead with Jesus; he also said, “I am not worthy to have you come into my home.” That was an incredible act of humility!

I have no idea how much the centurion knew or understood about Jesus’ proclamation of the Kingdom. It’s clear, though, that he understood that Jesus had power to heal, and that understanding led him to believe that Jesus could and would heal his servant. Evidently he understood enough about Jesus’ message to believe that Jesus would do what he asked!

“Just Say the Word” – Authority

Second, notice the degree of the centurion’s faith. He didn’t just believe that Jesus could heal his servant; he believed that Jesus could do it by just “saying the word.” Many times we focus on the centurion’s explanation: he understood authority. His superiors gave him orders, and he followed them. He gave orders to his soldiers and his servants, and they obeyed.

The point, though, is not that the centurion understood authority; the point is that he believed that Jesus had authority. Many people in Jesus’ day believed that Jesus had power to heal, but that didn’t necessarily translate into authority. Jesus could have had power given to him by God, but no input into the decision whether to heal, or how. This centurion – this Gentile outsider – recognized that Jesus’ power came with authority. Jesus could heal his servant without ever setting foot in his home – “just say the word.”

“Just Say the Word” – Faith

In John’s Gospel, we read that “because of the miraculous signs Jesus did in Jerusalem at the Passover celebration, many began to trust in him” (John 2:23). John goes on, however, to make the point that Jesus didn’t trust them. He knew the difference between acknowledgment of power – “because of the miraculous signs” – and acknowledgment of authority. When it came time to obey… well, that was a different matter.

That’s the point Jesus makes at the end of our passage for today. “I haven’t seen faith like this in all Israel!” Many people had come to ask for healing, and had rejoiced at the miracles Jesus did. But they didn’t really believe in Jesus. “And I tell you this, that many Gentiles will come from all over the world – from east and west – and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob at the feast in the Kingdom of Heaven. But many Israelites – those for whom the Kingdom was prepared – will be thrown into outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

Application – “Just Say the Word”

I don’t think we understand just how shocking it was for Jesus to tell a Jewish audience that Gentiles would be “at the feast in the Kingdom of Heaven.” As shocking as that was, the idea that there would be Jews “on the outside looking in” was even more stunning. After all, they were “those for whom the Kingdom was prepared.” But the foundation of the Kingdom, the “entrance requirement,” as it were, is faith.  The centurion demonstrated great faith by asking Jesus to “just say the word.”

I think God wants us to stretch our faith, to learn to respond when God “just says the word.” When Jesus told the centurion to go back home, he did. He didn’t ask Jesus for a sign; didn’t insist that Jesus come with him; didn’t stay with Jesus and send word back to make sure his request had been granted. He went home – and the young servant was healed that same hour. How often do we exhibit that same faith?

Prayer:

Father, thank you for reminding us that when you “say the word,” it’s as good as done! And when you call us to trust and obey, strengthen our faith. Help us to go in the belief that you will do what you have promised. When you call us to act, remind us that you give us the ability to do what you call us to do. Help us to remember that when we’re called to speak, your Spirit is with us to give us the words (Matthew 10:19-20).

Thank you also for reminding us that your Kingdom is grounded in faith. We receive the forgiveness and life you offer through your grace by faith (Ephesians 2:8). Help us to recognize your work in all things for our good through faith (Romans 8:28). We believe; help our unbelief (Mark 9:24)!  Amen.