Matthew 8:13

Sunday, 9 March 2025   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. Matthew 8:13   “And Jesus, He said to the centurion, ‘And you, withdraw! As you believed, it became to you.’ And his servant, he was cured in that hour” (CG).   In the previous verse, Jesus noted that the sons of the kingdom would be cast into outer darkness, where there will be lamentation and the gnash of the teeth. Having completed that thought, He now returns His words to the faithful centurion. As it next says, “And Jesus, He said to the centurion, ‘And you, withdraw!’”   He had asked for healing for his servant. However, he felt unworthy to have Jesus even come to his house, so he asked Him to speak the word knowing his servant would be healed. Therefore, Jesus now instructs him to withdraw. Because of his great faith, Jesus next says, “As you believed, it became to you.”   Jesus places the response to the healing on the faith of the centurion. This is not unique in the gospels. Another example which takes the opposite turn is found in Luke 9 –   “Now it happened on the next day, when they had come down from the mountain, that a great multitude met Him. 38 Suddenly a man from the multitude cried out, saying, ‘Teacher, I implore You, look on my son, for he is my only child. 39 And behold, a spirit seizes him, and he suddenly cries out; it convulses him so that he foams at the mouth; and it departs from him with great difficulty, bruising him. 40 So I implored Your disciples to cast it out, but they could not.’ 41 Then Jesus answered and said, ‘O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you and bear with you? Bring your son here.’ 42 And as he was still coming, the demon threw him down and convulsed him. Then Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, healed the child, and gave him back to his father.” Luke 9:37-42   Jesus’ words imply that the faith of the people was lacking, causing the healing to not take place. This is just the opposite of the centurion. He had faith that Jesus could perform and the response is spoken based on that. Understanding this, Matthew next records, “And his servant, he was cured in that hour.”   By the spoken word alone, just as the centurion had anticipated, the servant was restored. Thus, there is a validation in the narrative that Jesus has the authority over the very state of another human without even being in physical contact with him. And more, He was able to direct the healing to a particular person in the house, identifying him apart from anyone else.   Further, He was able to identify the exact cause of the affliction, isolate it, and cure it, all without ever having seen the person. These and certainly many other details provide us with the knowledge that Jesus’ spoken authority displays omniscience concerning the matter at hand. It also displays an omnipotent ability concerning it as well.   How else can it be explained that He could identify a place, a person, the exact cause of the affliction, the perfectly delivered remedy to it, and so forth? Jesus’ ability is perfectly in accord with the power of God because He is fully God. This is the lesson that we see in this account.   Life application: It needs to be remembered that the healings done by Jesus and the apostles served a particular purpose. They identified the power of God in Christ, validating His ministry and His authority, even after His departure. They helped establish the church until the word of God was completed and available to the church.   It should not be thought that miraculous healings do not occur today. We are told to pray. The very fact that we are demonstrates that the avenue for what we pray for is still open. However, the healing is to be in accord with the will of God.   If God responded favorably to every prayer for healing, there would be no need for faith. It would be an expectation. If that was the case, the purpose of salvation by grace through faith would no longer be valid. Further, it would make healing subject to our prayers. The entire thought is convoluted and inappropriate.   When God determines He will heal to provide a demonstration of His power, it is done so that we still have to have faith that it is so. Therefore, it is both presumptuous and sinful to claim healing in Jesus’ name. To do so usurps God’s authority and His right to withhold healing. Further, when the healing doesn’t come, people’s faith is harmed by that fact.   Be responsible in your thinking in regard to such things. God can heal. We must have faith that it is so. This is because the Bible says it is possible. But it is not a blanket approval for those in the church for it to come about.   Lord God, we thank You that because we live by faith, we are dependent on You from moment to moment. If we had sight at this time, our attitudes toward You would be vastly different than they are now. You have established the church in a manner that causes us to continue to live by faith. Thank You for the wisdom behind this. Someday, however, our faith will be sight. May that day be soon. Amen.