Day 8: Jesus, You Give the Order

Jesus, You Give the Order
Ralph Seegobin

When discussing the topic of great men and women of faith, the Roman Captain of Capernaum from Matthew 8:5-13 is probably an afterthought. Perhaps he should be much more recognized as his great faith evoked this response from Jesus: "I've yet to come across this kind of simple trust in Israel..."


As we read this passage, we are introduced to the panicked Captain who immediately tells Jesus about his sick servant. Jesus says that He will come and heal the servant, to which the Captain replies, "Oh, no, I don't want to put you to all that trouble. Just give the order and my servant will be fine."


Wow, that is some faith! This Roman Captain - a man probably hated by Jews given both his citizenship and his position, a man likely not even a follower of Christ - believed in Christ's power so much that he was certain that Jesus didn't even need to be present with the servant in order for the servant to be healed. He was convinced that Christ's mere words had the power to heal!


Now, let's evaluate this Captain. As a military leader, he understood very well the concept of authority. In fact, the Captain himself explained: "I'm a man who takes orders and gives orders. I tell one soldier, 'Go', and he goes; to another, 'Come', and he comes; to my slave, 'Do this', and he does it." Naturally, the Captain recognized the authority that Jesus possessed - the authority over sickness and disease. It only made sense to him that just as he could give an order and have it carried out, that Jesus similarly could give an order that the servant be healed and it would be done. It was, as Jesus commented, a "simple trust". One would note that this simple faith is analogous to the childlike faith that Jesus behooves us to have in order to enter the kingdom of God.


The Captain's simple faith was rewarded when Jesus said, "Go. What you believed could happen has happened", and the passage ends by indicating that at that very moment the servant became well.


In sum, we make several observations:
1) The Captain urgently came to Jesus in a time of need
2) The Captain had faith that Jesus was the solution to his problem
3) Jesus was willing to follow the Captain and heal the servant
4) The Captain recognized Jesus' authority over sickness and believed that Jesus' mere words alone had the power to heal
5) Jesus is taken aback by the Captain's faith, compliments the Captain on his simple trust, and the servant is healed


May we take notice of these points and exhibit this kind of simple faith. When trouble arises, may we run urgently to Jesus with the simple trust that he has the authority to do the miraculous. We see from this passage that not only is Jesus obviously able to touch from afar, but he is willing to come with us to tackle our troubles alongside us. What a reassuring feeling. We also see that our faith can be so great that even Jesus is taken aback and offers compliments!


Hebrews 11:6 says that without faith it is impossible to please God. Clearly, the Roman Captain of Capernaum greatly pleased Jesus. May we not only please Jesus with our faith, but surprise Him by it!

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