OCTOBER 22, 2026 – GREAT FAITH

READ: Luke 7:1-10: … I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel …

The preaching of Jesus, summarized in the preceding verses, has come to an end. A military officer in a position of authority decides to send the elders of the Jews to Jesus with the request that He heal one of his valued servants who is lying gravely ill and near death.

Humanly speaking, this servant can no longer be saved, but the centurion, an officer of the rank of captain, has placed his trust in Jesus. Apparently, he too has heard about the many healings Jesus has performed among the people, particularly in Capernaum.

Yet it remains remarkable that this man makes such a request. After all, he is a Gentile who works for the godless Roman king Herod. Nevertheless, the man is highly regarded by the Jewish population; indeed, he is praised for his love for the Jewish people and for building the synagogue in Capernaum. This probably indicates that he fears the Lord.

Jesus decides to follow the Jews to his house. According to Matt. 8:7, Jesus then says to the centurion, through the elders (vv.3-5): ‘I will come and heal him.’

But when Jesus approaches the centurion’s house, another delegation comes from the centurionto Jesus to say on his behalf: ‘Do not trouble Yourself to come under my roof, for I am not worthy; only a word from You is enough to heal my servant.’

He explains this further: because of the authority that those in higher positions have over those under them among soldiers, a single commanding word is sufficient to be obeyed.

What does this centurion mean by this, and why is Jesus so surprised by it? The centurion is speaking from faith. What he has not previously seen or heard—namely, that Jesus’ own presence is not even necessary to heal a sick person—he nevertheless believes! Only a word spoken by Jesus from a distance is sufficient. In this way the centurion effectively acknowledges that Jesus is God.

Jesus had not even seen such faith among His own people before. He expresses this to the crowd following Him, in order to set the faith of this centurion before them as an example.

Is believing without seeing Jesus more difficult than it was then?

Sing: Ps. 72:7