Matthew 8 begins with Jesus performing various miracles, demonstrating His authority over sickness, nature, and demons. The healing of the centurion's servant is one of the notable events recounted in this chapter.
In this story, a centurion, a Roman military officer, approaches Jesus, expressing concern for his servant who is paralysed and suffering terribly. The centurion demonstrates remarkable faith in Jesus' ability to heal by stating that he believes Jesus can simply speak the word and his servant will be healed. He acknowledges Jesus' authority, comparing it to his own ability to give orders to soldiers who obey him.
Jesus commends the centurion's faith, declaring it to be greater than any He had found in Israel. He then grants the centurion's request, saying that his servant will be healed. True to Jesus' word, the servant is healed at that very moment.
This story highlights Jesus' power over sickness and his willingness to heal. It also emphasises the importance of faith, as the centurion's belief in Jesus' authority results in the miraculous healing of his servant.
When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help. ‘Lord,’ he said, ‘my servant lies at home paralysed, suffering terribly.’
Jesus said to him, ‘Shall I come and heal him?’
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. 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.’
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. (Matthew 8.5-10, NIV.)
Speak the word:
A centurion beseeched Jesus for his servant lying at home, sick of the palsy. He simply said, ‘I ALSO am a man under authority,’ – thus recognising Christ’s authority – ‘just speak the word!’ Once we accept the authority given us we can also become ‘men under authority’.
authority to heal:
The centurion said to Jesus, ‘I am not worthy that you should enter my house… but I am a man under authority, I say to my servant go and he goes.’ The centurion had AUTHORITY to COMMAND obedience! And he recognised this same authority in Jesus to command, when he said to Him, ‘Speak the word only and my servant will be healed.’ This is exactly what Jesus meant when, in Luke 9:1, He gave His disciples ‘power and authority over all demons and to heal diseases’.
The centurion recognised authority, and demonstrated such great FAITH in Jesus and in His authority, it was enough even to heal his servant with one word! This is the secret of power over sickness and evil – authority – and I believe that we have this same authority that Jesus had. Look at Matthew 10:1 where He gave His disciples authority to cast out unclean spirits and heal all manner of sickness and disease, and at verses 7-8 where He says to them, ‘Preach… Heal the sick… Raise the dead!’ If we want to heal the sick, we need boldness and authority to cast out the sickness!
first miracle:
One of the first people that I saw healed was when I was a very young pastor and evangelist in England. Shortly after finishing college, I left the church I had pastored as a student, in Dorking, Surrey, and I was called to take over a church in Harrogate, North England, and prepare for an evangelistic crusade. I was only twenty years old. Soon after arriving, Mr Corker, one of the men in the church, 73 years old, became ill. He refused to go to the doctor until it was too late – they had to rush him into hospital where they diagnosed terminal cancer. He was so sick, they took away most of his stomach, gave him a catheter to pass the water, and a colostomy – and sent him home to die.
One Sunday morning, I brought a group of people from the church with me to his home. I asked the others to join hands in a circle with me as I laid hands on him. I was only young and with not much knowledge about faith or healing in a practical way, but I commanded the sickness to go. I still remember how I prayed: it wasn't an instant miracle, but it's one of the most amazing stories of my life. For weeks after that, as I continued to visit him, I watched as day after day the catheter tubes would get blocked – only afterward I realised that I was seeing the cancer in small pieces come away from his body!
God restored all his body functions! He came out of bed; he came back in the church, completely healed at 73 years old.