A Faith Made Deeper by Understanding

Read Matthew 8:1-13

      The Roman commander of a hundred soldiers (“centurion”) is commended by Jesus for the depth of his faith (8:10).  It is often suggested that the greatness of his faith lies in the fact that he believed Jesus could heal from afar with a word, and not have to be personally present to effect a healing. 

      But perhaps there is more to it than that.  The centurion says to Jesus, “I too am a man under authority,” when we might have expected him to say, “I too am a man with authority.”  The centurion knew that his soldiers obeyed him because his authority was derived from greater authorities above him.  The soldiers understood that to disobey their commander was ultimately to rebel against the Emperor’s authority, even against Rome itself.  

      The centurion’s statement can be seen as an acknowledgement that Jesus’ “authority” to heal is clearly derived from his heavenly Father; from God, who can heal whoever he wants, whenever he wants, wherever he wants.  How different from Israel’s religious leaders, who constantly are asking Jesus, “By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?” (Matthew 21:23, for example). 

      There is a faith in what Jesus can do, and there is an even greater faith in who Jesus is.  Lord, deepen our faith with “the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:8) better and better; more and more.