Tuesday, June 11, 2013
“When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel” (Matthew 8:10 KJV).
Let us scrutinize the context in order to see some marvelous Bible truths associated with today’s Scripture, especially why Jesus said what He did.
Matthew 8:5-7 begins: “And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him, and saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented. And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him.”
Our Lord Jesus Christ’s earthly ministry is underway. He has entered the city of Capernaum, on the northwestern shore of the Sea of Galilee, in northern Israel. This Roman centurion (a commander of 100 soldiers) begs Jesus to heal his servant who is greatly suffering with paralysis. In fact, Luke 7:2 says this servant is “dear unto him” and “ready to die.” This centurion loves this dying servant, and he desires the Lord to heal him before he passes away. Jesus declares He will come and heal the dying servant.
Matthew 8:8,9 continue: “The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed. For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.”
These statements from the centurion prompt Jesus Christ’s response found in today’s Scripture: “When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.” Exactly what does Jesus Christ find so profound about the centurion’s comments?
Firstly, this centurion is a Gentile, a non-Jew, someone who does not belong to God’s nation, Israel. Yet, this Gentile man is more aware of the value of Jesus Christ and His earthly ministry than His own people are!
333 Words of Grace 