Moving Mountains Kind of Faith

Moving mountains kind of Faith

Matthew 8:5-13

This bible reading talks of a Centurion (a Roman officer) coming to Jesus with a request. He wants his servant to be healed. It doesn’t say, but I wonder what motives inspired the man to come to Jesus. Could he have cared for his servant so much and for his well being, or could it have been an ulterior motive on his mind? Perhaps it was because this one made the best soup and couldn’t if  ill. Or maybe he had the best rapport with the other household servants and could get things done. Or maybe this Roman officer just happened to be in the area where Jesus was speaking and after hearing The Lord speak; he remembered back home and his sick servant.

In any case, the Centurion came to Jesus and told him about the servant. This is the point of the story, Jesus said he would come, yet the man proclaimed that ‘all He need do is say the word and it would be done as He says'.

The Roman officer cites that his own soldiers do as they are commanded and implies that Jesus had an even greater authority that could heal his servant.

After hearing his reply, Jesus pointed out to the ones following Him that the faith of this Centurion He had not seen in all of Israel. Jesus goes on to say those of this kind of faith will come to the Heavenly table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The next thing He said confused me, at first, but after more research, I see that He is saying that those who merely act like they have faith will be kicked out. They will end up as with gnashing of teeth and weeping.

[As a sidebar note: I have always wondered why the weeping and gnashing of teeth does not encourage more compassion. I want to hug that person; make it all better. But take it as a warning. I have found that in the Bible, when they speak of this, it is to show the extreme despair that one is undergoing. At this point, there is no fixing it to make it all better]

Jesus then becomes the healer and confirmation of the Centurions faith. At that moment, the servant was healed.

That’s the kind of faith that I want to have. A faith that believes that Jesus can and will do what is required. He can move mountains, should He choose to.