At Your Word
“But the officer said, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come into my home. Just say the word from where you are, and my servant will be healed.” Matthew 8: 8
The centurion is a high ranking military officer who held unquestioned authority over his men. Yet there was something special about this particular officer. He loved his servant.
‘Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, dreadfully tormented.’ And Jesus said to him, ‘I will come and heal him’. Matthew 8:6–7
The soldier’s prayer was straightforward. He simply stated a fact: “My servant is lying at home paralyzed, dreadfully tormented.”
That was enough to set Jesus in motion. He turned and immediately began to walk in the direction of the centurion’s house. But the officer stopped him.
Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof. But only speak a word, and my servant will be healed. For I also am a man under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it. Matthew 8:8-9
The centurion understood the dynamics of authority. He was a man under authority and a man with authority. His superiors sent directives to him, and he obeyed. He gave commands, and his soldiers obeyed. They didn’t question his decisions.
The chain of command is especially strict in every military setting, so the centurion knew authority when he saw it. And he saw ultimate authority in Jesus Christ.
Just a word from Jesus was enough. It’s always enough for every situation. Provided that like the centurion, we take Jesus at His word.
What about you? Do you recognise the authority of Jesus and take him at his word?