Matthew 8:5-13 (see also Luke 7:2-10)
This conversation took place when Jesus was in Capernaum, which was in the Roman province of Judaea. The centurion who requested His help was part of a garrison of Roman soldiers stationed in the town. As a rule there was no love lost between the Jews and the Romans. The Jews detested the Roman interlopers and the Romans saw the Jews as troublemakers. However, as Luke is at pains to point out, this man was different. He had a love of the Jewish people and a respect for their faith, to the point that he had funded the building of a local synagogue. That love and respect was returned by the Jewish elders who brought his message to Jesus and appealed earnestly on his behalf.
This centurion had a servant whom he valued greatly. It seems likely that the servant had suffered some kind of accident because when we hear about him he was paralysed, in great pain and near to death. The centurion had obviously heard about Jesus’ healing miracles and hoped that He might be willing to help. He was probably amazed to discover that, in spite of the fact that Gentiles were considered by the Jews to be unclean, Jesus was willing to come to his house. With great humility he sent word to say that a visit was not necessary. While most people sought to touch Jesus in order to be healed, the centurion recognised that it was enough for Him simply to speak a word.
The reason for the centurion’s faith was that, as a military man, he understood the principle of authority. He knew that the success of an army depended on its soldiers responding instantly to orders given by their commanding officers. He himself was under the authority of the Roman government and was expected to carry out the orders of his superiors without question. However, he was also a man to whom authority had been delegated and he expected total obedience from the hundred men under his command. This Roman officer recognised that Jesus had authority over sickness and disease. He knew that, if Jesus gave the word of command, all symptoms would have to leave his servant’s body because Jesus had dominion over them. No wonder Jesus commended him for his great faith.
Authority is an important spiritual principle. God is the ultimate authority and all authority comes from Him.
“…there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God” (Romans 13:1).
When God created human beings He gave them the authority to rule over the earth as his representatives (Genesis 1:26-28). Sadly, they surrendered that authority when they disobeyed God at the Fall. However, when Jesus, the perfect man, lived on the earth He operated under His Father’s authority, doing only what the Father said and saying what He gave Him to say (John 5:19, 8:28, 12:49). In turn, the Father delegated to His Son the authority to overcome Satan and all his works so we see Him in the gospels calming storms, delivering people from demons and healing their diseases.
When Jesus overcame Satan at the cross He took back the authority that the enemy had stolen from humankind and, before He ascended into heaven, He passed on that authority to the Church to enable us to continue His work (Matthew 28:18-20). As believers, we have been raised up to the heavenly places with Christ (Ephesians 2:6), which means that Satan is beneath our feet. The degree to which we submit to the Lord’s authority is the degree to which the powers of darkness will submit to us. Are you walking in your authority?
James 4:7 “Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.”
Prayer
Thank you Father that You created human beings to have authority in this world.
Thank You Jesus that You gave Yourself sacrificially to win back the authority that we threw away so carelessly.
Thank You Holy Spirit that You give us revelation of our authority in Christ and help us to walk in it.
Lord, I ask forgiveness for choosing to do things my way instead of submitting to Your authority. Help me to be obedient to You and to exercise the dominion You have given me over the powers of darkness.
Amen.
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