Matthew 8:5-12

This is such an amazing account for several reasons. First of all, it was a Roman soldier who was doing the asking. Jews had very little to do with Gentiles, and the fact that Jesus was willing to go to his home to heal his servant was quite revolutionary. Jews would not be caught dead in a Gentile house, for it would make them “unclean.” Even after walking with Jesus, it took the Apostle Peter some convincing to go to a Gentile centurion’s house. God had to show him in a vision—three times—that it was acceptable to do so, and He reprimanded him for calling unclean what He had made clean.

Secondly, the Roman soldier’s faith was extraordinary. He understood authority, and that understanding helped him access the Kingdom in ways the Jews had not yet experienced. He knew that all Jesus had to do was speak the word, and his servant would be healed.

Jesus marveled at this man’s faith and declared that many Gentiles would sit at the table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob at the feast in the Kingdom of Heaven. But for many of those for whom the Kingdom had been prepared—the Israelites—their places would be forfeited. This must have infuriated the Jews. He finished by commending the man for his faith and telling him:

“Then Jesus said to the Roman officer, ‘Go back home. Because you believed, it has happened.’ And the young servant was healed that same hour.”
—Matthew 8:13 (NLT)

Because he believed, it has happened—past tense!

May we operate in such faith!