Jesus Praises the Soldier
Matt 8:5 (passage below) records another amazing praise of Jesus for another imperfect human who crosses His path. As Jesus arrives in Capernaum in northern Israel, a non-Jewish man who is a soldier comes to Him asking him to heal his servant who is suffering. Jesus offers to come and heal the centurion’s servant. (Note: At no time does Jesus ever refuse to help or heal someone that comes to Him in the Gospels. That should encourage us to press in and ask Him for help.) Surprisingly, the man replies that Jesus does not need to expend the energy to come to his house and heal his servant but only to speak the word and his servant would be healed! Verse 10 says that Jesus was “amazed” at the man’s response (faith). Wow, what does it take to amaze the God-man? Jesus loves it when humans living in a crazy world choose to trust Him. Another translation says, “Jesus was astonished.”
Then, right on the heels of being astonished, Jesus announces a wonderful praise, “I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith.” That is amazing praise for someone the Jews considered “a gentile dog.” Jesus is giving high praises to possibly one of the least qualified people in the Jewish mindset – a Roman Soldier. He is part of that nation of Rome that was subjugating and oppressing the Jewish people. Regardless, Jesus praises the soldier based on His values, not the Jewish values. One of Jesus’ top values is human beings having faith in Him.
Jesus praises people based on Kingdom values. Additionally, He is not looking to only praise “perfect” people… because there are no such people. He is looking to praise regular people who are responding to Him!
Where are you responding to Him? Do you hear His praise?
“When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help. “Lord,” he said, “my servant lies at home paralyzed, 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.” Matt 8:5-10