PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: Matthew 8:5-13
What do you sense the Lord saying to you in this passage?
“Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith.” (Matthew 8:10)
Jesus continues to show how the kingdom of God changes everything.
Under the Law of Moses, Israel was graciously chosen by God from all the nations.
They were given the Law to be a light, to be an example to the nations.
“Your commands are always with me and make me wiser than my enemies.” (Psalm 119:98)
Too often God’s graced people see themselves as better and wiser than others.
This centurion shows us that in God’s kingdom even ‘unbelievers’ can be saved.
All who are open to Jesus, and admit their need for Him, are graciously welcome.
Jesus goes on to observe that many non-Jews will be more receptive than the Jews.
Translated for today, some church-goers will not be saved, some non-church-goers will!
People we expect to be there will not be; people we do not expect will be!
As Jesus followers, we ought ought to know that we are saved by grace, not performance.
We ought to love non-Jesus followers, bless them and even learn from them.
They need Jesus too, and they also demonstrate faith, hope and love in their own way.
Jesus changes the way we see the ‘other’; they belong in God’s kingdom too!
PRAYER
Lord, how surprised I will be on the last day when I see people there I didn’t expect to be there! Remind me how surprising it is that I will be there too!
This centurion saw and believed – he had no doubt about Jesus healing power! How much did understand about Jesus divinity? Yet the key is that he had total faith in Jesus – even though he was on of the occupying heathens. So race, position – anything else doesn’t matter. Faith counts.
“My Faith looks up to Thee, Thou lamb of Calvary, Saviour Divine”.
Where do I go in the good times and/or the bad times? Here the Roman officer comes to Jesus. Who expected him to come to the foot of the cross? Yet he amazed the people by his faith expecting great things from the Lord. Living expectantly is what he did. And I need to do that too, for in Christ I can be more than a conqueror. I need to live believing in His power each day.
“Great is Thy faithfulness,” O God my Father,
There is no shadow of turning with Thee;
Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not
As Thou hast been Thou forever wilt be.
“Great is Thy faithfulness!” “Great is Thy faithfulness!”
Morning by morning new mercies I see;
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided—
“Great is Thy faithfulness,” Lord, unto me!
Lord Jesus help me to never forget but live out the faith that I am among your followers because of your amazing grace alone and not a slightest of my works. Grant me the strength o Holy Spirit to GO! that what I ask of Jesus wll be done just as I believed it would.