Belief in Jesus’s Authority

Matthew 8:5-10

But the centurion replied, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof, but only say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I too am a man under authority…”

Today’s passage is a case study in the unexpected. Jesus has been teaching, healing and even performing miracles in the region of Galilee but His ministry is focused upon the Jews of Judea even though He has alluded to its implications to all peoples. His popularity involved not only His teachings clarifying the desire of God for change and relationship but many sought Him out for personal physical needs. But the seekers were almost exclusively Jews so it is surprising when a Roman military centurion makes an appeal to Him:

When he had entered Capernaum, a centurion came forward to him, appealing to him, “Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed at home, suffering terribly.” And he said to him, “I will come and heal him.” But the centurion replied, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof, but only say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I too am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes, and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” When Jesus heard this, he marveled and said to those who followed him, “Truly, I tell you, with no one in Israel have I found such faith.1 

The centurion has a need he cannot fulfill in his own abilities so he goes to someone he believes has the authority to do the exceptional. Roman centurions had the power of life and death over the populace but he had no authority over his servant’s suffering. He recognizes an authority in Jesus beyond the force authority he had. When Jesus indicates His intention to come with the centurion to heal the servant of his paralysis, the centurion verbalizes his understanding of authority being vested in one by a higher authority. In the centurion, his authority comes from the Roman legions but Jesus has the authority of the LORD. And, the centurion understands that Jesus’s authority coming from the LORD is not limited to His presence, hence the ‘only say the word’ and it will be done. Amazing understanding of God’s true nature from one representing a pagan government.

In John 4:46-50 we have a different situation again at Capernaum where an official’s son was ill and the man interceded on his son’s behalf:

So he came again to Cana in Galilee, where he had made the water wine. And at Capernaum there was an official whose son was ill. When this man heard that Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, he went to him and asked him to come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death. So Jesus said to him, “Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe.” The official said to him, “Sir, come down before my child dies.” Jesus said to him, “Go; your son will live.” The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and went on his way.2

The official presumed Jesus would come to his child to heal him but when Jesus spoke the words, the man believed it was done. And it was ‘at the very hour Jesus spoke’. Again, belief in the Authority of God in His servant Jesus.

Speaking of God’s Authority at work through Jesus, here’s another glimpse of a different character—imagine Jesus having His divine authority recognized by denying the recognizers be witnesses of this Authority lest they appear more authoritative than they are:

And immediately there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit. And he cried out, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God.” But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!” And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying out with a loud voice, came out of him. And they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.”
And he healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons. And he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him.” 3

This encounter with demons is repeated in Mark and Luke but similar occurrences happen several times when Jesus confronts demons. While they recognize His authority and submit to Him, He will not accept their testimony for they are witnesses in rebellion against Him even though forced to be obedient.

Do you believe Jesus has divine Authority? If so, have you given Him free reign in your life to be all who He is?

FOOTNOTES & LINKS:
 1 MATTHEW 8:5-10 (ESV) Blue Letter Bible
 2 JOHN 4:46-50 (ESV) Blue Letter Bible
 3 MARK 1:23-27, 34 (ESV) Blue Letter Bible
   LUKE 4:33-35, 41 (ESV) Blue Letter Bible
KEY TEXT: MATTHEW 8:5-10 (ESV)) – Blue Letter Bible
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