FAITH in what?

I grew up in church, and one passage that has been a favorite for sermons on “FAITH THAT WORKS” is the story of the centurion and his request to Jesus to heal his servant. I’ve heard it explained from countless angles, but the core message has often boiled down to this: faith is about believing hard enough and long enough to get the outcome you want from God. That’s it.

A BURDEN TO BEAR

The burden then falls on us, the church members, to somehow replicate the centurion’s faith and expect the same miraculous results. But no matter how hard we tried or how much we convinced ourselves we believed, the promised outcome rarely, if ever, materialized.

This oversimplified and misinterpreted view misses the deeper meaning of the centurion’s story and what true faith actually looks like.

MATTHEW 8v5-13

Now when Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him, pleading with Him, saying, “Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, dreadfully tormented.” And Jesus said to him, “I will come and heal him.” The centurion answered and said, “Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof. But only speak a word, and my servant will be healed. For I also am a man under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” When Jesus heard it, He marveled, and said to those who followed, “Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel! And I say to you that many will come from east and west, and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. But the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go your way; and AS YOU HAVE BELIEVED, SO LET IT BE DONE FOR YOU.” And his servant was healed that same hour.

The Humility of True Faith

Faith is often misunderstood as believing in a guaranteed outcome — a conviction that if we just believe hard enough and for long enough, God will deliver what we desire/need. However, the story of the Roman centurion in Matthew 8:5-13 offers a profound lesson about the true nature of faith. This soldier’s interaction with Jesus reveals a faith rooted not in entitlement but in a deep understanding of Christ’s authority and sovereignty.

Faith in the Person, Not the Promise

When the centurion approached Jesus, his faith wasn’t based on the idea that healing his servant was guaranteed. He didn’t presume or demand a specific outcome. Instead, his faith rested in the Person of Jesus Christ, acknowledging His unparalleled worthiness and absolute authority.

The centurion believed that Jesus had the power to heal with just a word, even from a distance. His statement, “Just say the word, and my servant will be healed,” reflects a faith that trusted in Jesus’ capability rather than placing conditions or expectations on Him.

A Humble Request, Not a Demand

What stands out in this story is the humility with which the centurion approached Jesus. Though he recognized Jesus’ authority, he didn’t demand healing as though it were owed to him. Instead, he made a respectful request, leaving the outcome entirely in Jesus’ hands.

The centurion’s faith was not about leveraging a promise but about submitting to Jesus’ will. This highlights an important aspect of faith: it’s not about dictating terms to God but trusting in His wisdom and sovereignty, even if the answer isn’t what we hope for.

THE FOUNDATION OF OUR BELIEF

The centurion’s faith challenges us to examine the foundation of our own beliefs. Are we approaching God with humility, trusting in His authority, or are we clinging to faith as a tool to secure what we want?

True faith is not about claiming guarantees but about acknowledging who Jesus is—the Lord over all, whose plans are perfect even when we don’t fully understand them.

Faith That Trusts, Not Demands

The essence of the centurion’s faith was rooted in his recognition of Christ’s authority and his willingness to trust Him completely. His story reminds us that faith isn’t about what we can get from God; it’s about who God is.

The centurion’s faith example is this: True faith humbly submits, trusts in Christ’s character and authority, and leaves the outcome in His capable hands. In doing so, we align ourselves with the heart of faith that pleases God—one that honors God above all, no matter what we have to endure in the process (Hebrews 11:6).