There is only one time in all of recorded Scripture that left Jesus stunned, shocked, and amazed. If there ever was a time that it ever be said Jesus was caught off guard, it was a single moment described in Matthew 8 and Luke 7: the healing of the servant of a Roman Centurion. It’s a famous passage and it is the only one at all in which Jesus was “astonished” at a human response. Jesus was amazed, wowed, and impressed. If the list of Hebrews 11 was extended to the entirety of Scripture, this centurion would be on the list of Hebrews 11 Hall of Faith. What impressed Jesus so much about this man?
This Roman officer had to have seen Jesus do things that were beyond human comprehension, and I think it was things he personally saw, not merely heard about. I would not be surprised if he witnessed the healing of the paralytic, heard some of the sermons, and saw how Jesus handled Himself with both people and enemies, holding an authority that was beyond any manmade authority. He realized that any time Jesus said something, it got done and it wasn’t just a show. Jesus spoke a word, and it was done. While there had to be some wrestling going on in his mind, this centurion finally came to a point where he believed Jesus could heal his servant, but he didn’t want Jesus to come to his home. He recognized Jesus was at a level of holiness above him that he could not comprehend, but also there was a general social rule held on both sides that Romans and Jews would not associate with each other. So, this officer knew Jesus could do the job but didn’t want him to come to his house for shame or public appearance or whatever. And so he went to Jesus.
This Roman officer knelt before Jesus and pleaded for Him to save his servant. Jesus gladly was willing to do that, especially when this Gentile, this Roman who would have only known of the Jewish God by being stationed there, made his request. The centurion held Jesus back from actually coming and told Jesus He didn’t even need to come in person. Jesus only needed to say the word. This officer understood authority and knew Jesus had it. All Jesus needed to do was say the word and it would get done. He didn’t know how, nor did he care how. Just as the orders issued to him were to get done, and the officers above him didn’t care how, as long as it got done. And when he issued orders, his concern was “get it done.” He saw this authority in Jesus. He didn’t understand the workings; he simply knew it would be done. This astonished Jesus. A Gentile, someone who did not have access to the works of God of the past or the hope of a coming Savior, understood how faith operated more than any Jew He had come across, and Jesus was blown away by this.
Jesus wasn’t this impressed with Peter claiming Him to be the Christ. Jesus knew it wasn’t Peter who figured it out. It was the Father revealing it. Throughout all of Jesus’ earthly ministry, His disciples were the least of those who ever understood the message, despite receiving so much direct instruction, living with Him, and seeing His actions. Jesus was used to seeing such total dullness and faithlessness, and it grieved Him. Yet here was a Roman embracing this faith – a Gentile, a man who was friendly towards the Jews, but definitely did not embrace their faith until that point. We don’t know why the Centurion helped out with the synagogue because it certainly wasn’t part of his job description. It may have been just to help keep the peace, and it also may have been orders, or to help the Romans with their job as occupiers. In either case, he knew of the true God from them, but he didn’t see much reason to believe He was the true God until Jesus came along. Everything about Jesus showed this Gentile that He was the real deal. He knew Jesus merely needed to say the word and the job would be done.
This amazed Jesus. He got it and showcased to the disciples that this was the kind of faith to go after. They are not to be presumptuous and declare that God will do something. But the faith that amazed Jesus is the kind that says, “God, if you give the word, it shall be done and I will plead with you until I get an answer.” Remember, Jesus is the Creator and when God spoke, the creation obeyed. Here, the Roman told Jesus to just speak, and it would be done.
When are we going to believe God’s promises? When will we set up our lives to submit to Christ to not only get our prayers answered, but to be an instrument to answer others’ prayers? Think about that. The centurion had soldiers ready to answer his orders that came from above him. Jesus not only has angels ready to obey Him, but He also has us, His bride, who is supposed to be ready to obey Him. How many prayers of others have gone “unanswered” because we didn’t listen or obey? God will still find someone who will if we don’t, but why let that delay someone’s blessing or cut us ours? If the faith of the centurion could amaze Jesus, how much more should we want to amaze our Father in heaven? Let us believe Him, truly believe Him.
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