Our scripture this morning is Matthew 8:8-10.
But the officer said, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come into my home. Just say the word from where you are, and my servant will be healed. I know this because I am under the authority of my superior officers, and I have authority over my soldiers. I only need to say, ‘Go,’ and they go, or ‘Come,’ and they come. And if I say to my slaves, ‘Do this,’ they do it.” When Jesus heard this, he was amazed. Turning to those who were following him, he said, “I tell you the truth, I haven’t seen faith like this in all Israel!“
In order to understand today’s passage you need to read Matthew 8:5-13. This story always chokes me up. Here is a Roman occupier, a Gentile, who comes to Jesus in faith asking healing not for himself, but for his servant. When Jesus says “I will come”, the centurion says “I am not worthy, just say the word.”
The centurion is there on behalf of his servant, an example of the love for others that Jesus taught. He has faith that Jesus can heal at a distance with a word. He acknowledges his unworthiness. What a great definition of Christianity, admitting we are unworthy, and demonstrating faith and love.
Jesus came for all of us, Jew and Gentile, and any other human created division with which we have labeled ourselves. In Isaiah 2:3 we hear “People from many nations will come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of Jacob’s God. There he will teach us his ways, and we will walk in his paths.” For the Lord’s teaching will go out from Zion; his word will go out from Jerusalem.“ God wants all His children to be saved, not just a select group. Jesus didn’t come because any of us are worthy, He came because of His love for us.
Heavenly Father, we are sorry for our lack of love and faith. Forgive us and bless to go in Your name to love the world as You first loved us. Amen.
