EXEMPLARY FAITH
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Opening Prayer
Lord, by grace, I approach you with humility and faith, this day and every day.
Read MATTHEW 8:1—13
For additional translations of the passage, use this link to Bible Gateway.
Matthew
Matthew 8
Jesus Heals a Man With Leprosy
1 When Jesus came down from the mountainside, large crowds followed him. 2 A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.”
3 Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” Immediately he was cleansed of his leprosy. 4 Then Jesus said to him, “See that you don’t tell anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.”
The Faith of the Centurion
5 When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help. 6 “Lord,” he said, “my servant lies at home paralyzed, suffering terribly.”
7 Jesus said to him, “Shall I come and heal him?”
8 The centurion replied, “Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. 9 For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”
10 When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him, “Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith. 11 I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. 12 But the subjects of the kingdom will be thrown outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
13 Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go! Let it be done just as you believed it would.” And his servant was healed at that moment.
Reflect
If asked, what would you tell someone about the meaning of Jesus’ lordship?
Today, we read of two healings. When a man with leprosy (vv. 1—4) approached him in humility and spoke in faith, Jesus readily responded with healing. As always, he was both willing and able to help all who turned to him. It was not yet his time for confrontation with the Jewish authorities, so he told the man to express his gratitude not in words but deed. He was not to speak of the miracle, but he should demonstrate his gratitude by making the appropriate thank-offering to God.
In the second healing (vv. 5—13), although it is a paralyzed servant who was healed, the focus is on his master. It was the centurion who came to Jesus, in humility and faith. The greatness of this man’s faith amazed even Jesus. The centurion had considered the nature of authority. He knew his considerable authority was that of Rome, but Jesus’ authority was that of God and therefore far greater. When he called Jesus ‘Lord’ (v 8), he was showing more than respect. He was submitting to Jesus as the superior authority, the rightful ruler of his life, the One who could meet all his needs. Jesus then foretold the spread of the gospel to gentiles like this centurion (vv. 11, 12).
Only a few years later, Christians would be horribly persecuted for calling Jesus ‘Lord.’ In many parts of the world, Christians are still persecuted for owning Jesus as their Lord. Nevertheless, that is what Jesus requires of all who follow him. He wants to see people accepting not only his help in their lives but also his rule over their lives. On this basis, Jesus responded to the centurion’s request with both praise and provision. Notice that Jesus did not need to see the sick man; his word alone was sufficient to heal.
Apply
Meditate on the need to own Jesus as Lord.
Closing prayer
Jesus, I lift up to you those I know who need your healing help. I ask that you restore them to health, and more, that they would know you as Savior and Lord.
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