Posted by Matthew 8:13
“Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go! Let it be done just as you believed it would.” And his servant was healed at that moment.”
I don’t think anyone is surprised by the ability of Jesus to heal someone with just a word. His words have influence over the entire created order. What is surprising about this story of the centurion, is the fact that he was believing for someone else. He believed that there was power in the words Jesus spoke, to heal his own servant who was not present to hear Jesus for himself. Jesus was touched by the centurion’s humility as well as his faith for someone else to receive from God.
The case of the centurion is one of several recorded in the gospels, where people who weren’t present with Jesus, or it isn’t recorded that they had any faith, received what they needed from God. In other words, these people received their blessings through the faith of someone else acting on their behalf.
The centurion approached Jesus on behalf of his servant and waited in his Presence until he heard Jesus speak the words that healed his servant. What faith to wait on God’s Word to be spoken for someone else. Faith to believe that God will grant whatever we ask in prayer for others still comes from resting on His promises, and waiting for Him to speak.
Jesus knows Faith when He sees it
Another notable case is the story of Jesus forgiving the sins of a crippled man, and then healing him because his friends had the faith for it! The man’s friends carried him to Jesus, somehow gets him up to the roof of the house where Jesus was teaching, and takes the homeowner’s roof apart to lower him into the presence of Jesus. Luke records; “When Jesus saw their faith, he said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven””( Luke 5:20), Then again; “But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the paralyzed man, “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” Immediately he stood up in front of them, took what he had been lying on and went home praising God” (Luke 5:24-25).
In both cases Jesus blessed the people in need through the faith others were exercising on their behalf. Jesus “saw” the faith of the crippled man’s friends, and “marveled” at the faith of the centurion. In the case of the centurion, Jesus didn’t even bother to go to his house, even though He offered to. In the presence of genuine faith Jesus didn’t have to. He simply spoke the word the centurion was waiting to hear, and immediately the servant was healed.
It’s a Simple Faith that gets the job Done
You might be thinking that the centurion possessed a high level of faith, if you are, you’d be wrong. Jesus said “Let it be done just “as” you believed it would,” not “how much” you believed. The word translated “as” is “Hōs” which means; because, or on account of. So it wasn’t how much faith, but the simple fact that he had faith, that got his servant healed.
The centurion was confident that Jesus would heal his servant, plain and simple. No special faith was needed. You too can hear the voice of God who gave you promises to believe in, and approach Him using that same faith for someone else. God plays no favorites with people where faith in Him is concerned. The voice that calmed the storm and raised the dead is the same voice that will confirm to you that your request has been granted, for yourself or others.
So take time to fill your heart and mind with the promises found in God’s Word. Being familiar with God’s promises to all gives you the only confidence you’ll need to ask for those blessings for others. So, use the faith God gave you, Ask Him anything according to His Word for those in need, and wait in His Presence until He speaks granting your request. Exercise a simple faith in Jesus, Be confident in His compassion for all, and Be Encouraged. -JSP
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