Chain of Command
And when Jesus heard this, He marveled at him, and turned and said to the multitude that was following Him, “I say to you, not even in Israel have I found such great faith.” Luke 7:9 NASB
Not even in – The centurion exhibited something Yeshua didn’t find among His own people. Even He was surprised (the word is thaumazo – to wonder, to marvel). We think we understand His amazement. After all, this man was a Gentile, a Roman soldier. We think Yeshua’s wonder comes because He doesn’t expect Gentiles to embrace His teaching so quickly. We think He marvels that the man trusts Him. Because we believe that having faith is a matter of declaring correct beliefs, we see the astonishment in the declaration of the centurion, “Just say the word, and . . .” Then we conclude that we would have done the same thing since we know who Yeshua is. But this train of thought sends us in the wrong direction. A closer look at the comparison will put us straight.
“Not even in” is the Greek oude en. Oude must be set in opposition to mede, just as ou and me must be distinguished. Oude is the combination of ou (not) and de (and), but this is the stronger not, the not of “no exceptions,” as opposed to the conditional not (me), the not of “it might not be.” This means Yeshua is saying that He has never seen this kind of faith among His own. That’s an amazing statement considering all of His encounters with Israelites. If faith only means asserting the truth that Yeshua is Messiah, the Son of God, then there are certainly others who qualify. How about Peter? He is the first to declare Yeshua to be the Son of God. Doesn’t his “faith” equal that of the centurion?
Apparently not. This means we need to reconsider what “faith” means in this verse. It is the centurion’s great “faith” that creates the amazement. It can’t be his declaration since others make declarations that are even more significant. What is it that makes this centurion so unusual? The answer is his complete, unhesitating obedience. That’s the point of the centurion’s example of those under his command. He speaks. They do. No questions asked. The centurion’s distinctive characteristic is his immediate, unqualified acceptance of Yeshua’s authority and his instantaneous commitment to that authority. Faith isn’t his words. It’s his deeds.
What makes the centurion so unusual, so different from even the Jews Yeshua taught and healed? His unquestioning obedience. This is the essence of faith. To hear is to do. The great distinction of this soldier is that he knows what it means to carry out the word of an authority. When Yeshua marvels at his unquestioning obedience, He sets the bar for all of us. Do we instantly obey? Do we hear God’s word, and without doubt, without wavering, without stalling or reluctance, do exactly what God asks as soon as He asks? Perhaps if we weren’t so much like the disciples who spent three years wavering, delaying and hesitating, perhaps if we were a bit more like this soldier, we would respond with a faith so great Yeshua would remark, “Not even in Israel have I seen such as this?”
Topical Index: faith, not even in, oude en, obedience, Luke 7:9
What makes the centurion so unusual, so different from even the Jews Yeshua taught and healed? His unquestioning obedience. This is the essence of faith. To hear is to do. The great distinction of this soldier is that he knows what it means to carry out the word of an authority.
Hi Skip,
This is just a thought. I’m just thinking that maybe the centurion can see more clearly than the others.
On the one hand, he knows what it means to carry out the word of an authority.
And on the other, he can see who Jesus is and what he can do.
So there is no reason to hesitate.
Michael,
good morning – i would say that faith produced trust & therefore no hesitation… ♥
this is just one instance in the stories about men trusting Jesus for different reasons as we all do – in our own experience in living & how HE has built our faith by bringing to fruition what HE said HE would & the faith/trust we have in HIS word to completion… when HE comes through 4 us over & over we have no hesitation – we have faith that has & will produce trust; the authority issue in this story is because of the centurion’s own life experience that he could practically apply to this situation…
jan
not making light of Jesus’ authority at all – but just seeing how the centurion could relate it to his own life experience – his everyday practicality in his job of being a centurion… he could so relate & therefore did not hesitate – he knew that he knew that he knew that it was possible with JESUS…. ♥
Hi Jan,
Thanks for the reply, I understand and agree 🙂
At the same time I tend to think a lttle differently about “faith.”
In my mind, I put faith in the Bible and Jesus shows me how to act.
I feel like I know who Jesus is, but my understanding of the Bible just “scratches the surface.”
Michael,
John 1
The Word Became Flesh
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
6 There was a man sent from God whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. 8 He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.
9 The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.
14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
seems to me, you would have to know Jesus to some extent because HE is the Word come in the flesh – to know HIS will we have to know HIS Word(s) – Torah was before Jesus came as the Word & yes, our example when HE came – but knowing the Word is knowing Jesus too…
i believe we also need the Helper to discern & help us interpret the Word – the Holy Spirit gives revelation of the Word & without Him we may not understand…
what do you know of Him/Holy Spirit??? He is not spoken of much but He is a very important part of the relationship – after all Jesus said He had to go so He could come & be with us & help us & comfort us & teach us – He lives within us & reveals many mysteries to us – of course He stands out of the way & glorifies Jesus the Son – that is also His job…
jan
how well do you know Him/Holy Spirit???
“how well do you know Him/Holy Spirit???”
Hi Jan,
Well in the 50’s as a child my neighbors were mostly Irish Catholic
So I grew up with the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost
I still say the same Lord’s Prayer
But I tend to think of God as the Holy Spirit
And as much as I like the [moon]light metaphors of John/(JC)
My favorite passage on this topic comes from music
In the form of Leonard Cohen lyrics
well, maybe there’s a god above
but all i’ve ever learned from love
was how to shoot at somebody who outdrew you
it’s not a cry that you hear at night
it’s not somebody who’s seen the light
it’s a cold and it’s a broken hallelujah
hallelujah…
Yes, “it takes one to know one..” can be brought into this scene. “for I (too) am a man under authority”. Here is something for all of us to take home with us today..- It was an eye-opener when I first heard it..
Most everything the Son of G-d did while here on this green planet, He did as the “son of man..”- I’ll volunteer the question for you.. “Why?”
Yeshua “acted” under authority to demonstrate authority.. “Full authority”- “all authority” had not yet been given unto Him. He was tempted (as we are) yet He (the son of man) was without sin. Yes, the only “perfect” man ever to have lived, but how did He do it?
In order for us to be totally like Him (the son of man, the second Adam) we would have to be virgin-born. (I hope you are having an “aha” moment.) Other than that, this young Hebrew boy was the son of a carpenter and grew up swinging a hammer and playing on a swing (or other such toys..). “Is this not the carpenter’s son?” was the question- and the answer was (and is)- Yes, -it is!. Christ was (and is!) a man just like you, just like me..- only different. He was (and is) unique, for He is (not was) the son of man AND the Son of G-d. Confused yet?- but wait.. -there’s more!- (we’re here to help!) For not only was He the Son of G-d, He IS G-d the (now living, ever interceding) G-d the Son. He is Jesus (who is the) Christ (the Annointed) and He is now fully LORD, for G-d (the Father) has given unto HIM “the Name” which is above every name. “All power (authority) has been given unto me..” We (you and me, and as many as belong to the Shepherd, the ones twice-born) are (in the vernacular of the day..) p-owned. Lock, stock, barrel- we (who are His) belong (in totality) to the Good (ever good) Shepherd. We are His by right of creation and we are His by right of Calvary.
I may now say it (and know it..)- the LORD (ADONAI-my LORD) is “my” Shepherd, “I” shall not (ever) want. – But wait!.. there’s more!..- (always more..) Not only.. but also.. and.. and..- this is the never-ending story, for He that began a good work in you (salvation) will perform it (sanctification) unto the day of Jesus Christ.” – He started it, and what He starts- He finishes. We are going (only with His help) to make it across that finish line and hear Him say.. “well done..!”
Authority..- in order to be “over”, we must remain “under.” – for I (too) am a man under authority. What He says, we will do.. where He sends we will go..- never fear, only trust and obey. “Shema”- O, Israel..- the LORD our G-d is ONE. ONE LORD, ONE FAITH, ONE BAPTISM. How do we know this? “it is written..”
“As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is My word that goes out from My mouth: It will not return to Me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” (Isaiah 55.11) – “the words I speak unto you, they are breath and they are life..” “But He answered and said, “It is written: ‘A man does not live by bread only, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of G-d.’ “ (Matthew 4.4) “How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to Your word.” (Psalm 119.9) -His mother said to the servants, “Whatever He says to you, do it.” (John 2.5) I’ll say “yes LORD.” Amen.
Thank you – HaShem’s word for me today … exactly as I needed to hear it…
Apparently I’m missing something here, because I’m not seeing obedience on the part of the centurion.
I see faith (that Yeshua can heal his servant), I see acknowledgement that he is a man under authority (of Roman rule) and also had a position of authority over Roman soldiers; I see humility when he states, “I do not deserve to have you come under my roof; and I see more faith when he said, “say the word and my servant will be healed.” But, where is the obedience to Yeshua. Or is it the centurion’s obedience to the Roman authorities that impressed Yeshua
I need some help. I’m a little slow today.
When Yeshua approves the request, there is no hesitation, no added explanation, no query (like “how will I know?”). There is only acceptance of the FACT that it is done. Complete trust in the word spoken is the demonstration of utter “faith” – reliability.
Faith? Yeshua spoke these words: “Let it be so” (and it came to pass..) The centurion came to Him with a request. Yeshua has said, (to all and to any) “ask and you will receive, seek and you will find, knock and it shall be opened (revealed) unto you..”
The centurion said unto the Master, “just speak the word” and your servant will be healed..” G-d created this world by speaking.. He spoke this world (and all that is in it..) by speaking: “let there be..”- and the result?- “it was so”. G-d did not make this world, He created it- out of nothing, -just by speaking..
Don’t try this at home kids..- there is only ONE who creates.. However, we, being made in His image and in His likeness also have been given the authority (or power) of speech. We too, may heal (or hurt) with our words. Words of blessing or words of blasting. This excellent prayer should always guard our lips: “May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in Your sight O LORD, my Strength and my Redeemer.” Yes,- these words are our words also- for YHWH has given unto us His word(s). We (all) have been given a most excellent gift: -the Word(s) of G-d.
Do we read the Bible or does the Bible read us? What is the (sure, unshakable)foundation of our faith? Is our faith “based” upon anything? Anything at all? – or are we living a life of “wishful thinking?” and walking upon nothing but “thin air” (or thin ice for that matter..). Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word(s) of G-d. G-d speaks, we listen and obey. We do what He says to do.
Simon answered and said, “Master, we worked hard all night and caught nothing, but I will do as You say and let down the nets.” The result of Peter’s obedience to Yeshua’s spoken word? (Yeshua is G-d) The nets let down on the other side of the boat (a whole six feet- ten feet away..) were so full of fish it nearly broke the nets!- Abundance! (Luke 5.5)
Everything we do, say, or think should be (should be- but not always is) Bible-based. The will of G-d (we are interested in doing His will- right?) is fully revealed in G-d’s Book of Instructions. We have a Teacher- the disciples/talmudim/learners called Him Rabbi (Master-Teacher). Who is (now, today) our Teacher? our Rabbi?- He is. The LORD Yeshua Himself is our Teacher. How is this possible? (John 14.26)
He is not dead and gone, like so many other good teachers, but this Man, the G-d/Man, is far from dead. He is as far from dead as anyone could possibly be, for this Man is the same Man who conquered death, sin and the grave. (Remember?) Friends, we (all) serve a living Savior. Jesus is LORD. Yeshua is ADONAI (my LORD).
Then Yeshua said to the centurion, “Go! It will be done just as you believed it would.” And his servant was healed at that very hour. (Matthew 8:5-13 NIV) “Master, don’t trouble yourself, for I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. That is why I did not even consider myself worthy to come to you. But say the word, and my servant will be healed. (Luke 7.6) Notice the humility of the centurion -“I am not worthy to have You come under my roof.” This is how we we also must approach the King of kings- with much (intentional) humility. “Bow the knee”, but “bow the knee” to Christ and to Christ alone. Humility goes a long way with G-d for humility displays before the Father the life of the Son. Consider the manner of the Messiah’s birth- born in a barn. Consider His life, – He took a towel and girded Himself and washed the feet of the talmudim. Consider the humility of G-d becoming a man. The Creator incarnated as the creature. It is ridiculous. It is ludicrous- unless.. This, friends, was the plan of Elohim from the beginning. The cross was not an addition to Creation. The cross of Christ was from the beginning- from the time Elohim said: “Let it be so..”
And, behold, there came a leper (me) and worshipped Him, saying, ADONAI, if You will, You can make me clean. And Yeshua put forth His hand, and touched him, saying, I will; “be clean.” And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. How did Yeshua cleanse the leper? (whose name was Carl..) – by speaking: “be clean”. (Carl) -your sins are forgiven.
What does the word of G-d say about this (new) condition- this being clean before G-d my Maker? “Of David. A maskil. Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered.” I am that man. My new name is “blessed!” From darkness to light, from despair to hope, from confusion to clarity, from old to new, from shadow to sunlight, from concealed to revealed.. (is there more?) Yes, there is..- the best is “yet to be..”