Matthew 8:5-10
5 When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help. 6 “Lord,” he said, “my servant lies at home paralyzed and in terrible suffering.”
8 The centurion replied, “Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. 9 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.”
10 When Jesus heard this, he was astonished and said to those following him, “I tell you the truth, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith.
Oh what humility we see from one that isn't even a child of GOD. One that, though in such great need of healing for a loved one, finds themselves so totally unworthy to have the MASTER enter their home. I can see him now, kneeling before JESUS, not looking HIM in the eyes, but holding onto HIS hands in a simple show of acknowledgment of HIS powers. This coming so early in JESUS' ministry too and from one that shouldn't even have known of HIM. Had he been on the mountainside, or maybe heard of the occurrences when John baptized HIM? It truly doesn't matter though, for in this event we see the fullness of humility that we should have before our LORD.
At other times throughout HIStory we have others meeting the LORD and always it is the same. They drop to their knees in total humility as to their unworthiness before HIM. Yet today, many treat JESUS as just another person they'd meet along the way. Slapping HIM a high five or giving HIM a pat on the back! Where, oh where, has the humility before our LORD gone? Though I speak(pray) to the LORD as a friend or brother, I'm always doing so in reverence, always holding HIM in highest regard. Never forgetting that which HE's done for me, one truly so unworthy.
The other point of interest here is this man's level of faith. Outstanding to say the least. Faith greater than those that should of known better through experience. Stronger than that of the ones that should of known the power of GOD better. We don't know how or why this man had this kind of faith, for it isn't mentioned. But knowing that GOD is sovereign and nothing happens by chance, it was his place and time to be used as an example by JESUS to teach the disciples a valuable lesson. Something else you may not of noticed, this man's humility and faith combined are the virtues that opened him up to being used by GOD. For without these, we are unusable by GOD!!!
Prayer request can be sent to: prayers@vineofchrist.org
GOD bless and good day,
Rev. Marshall Barth
Vine of CHRIST Ministries
