Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go! As you have believed, so will it be done for you.” And his servant was healed at that very hour. (Matthew 8:13)
Jesus was astonished by someone’s faith in Him. In this case, a God-fearing Roman centurion asked Jesus to heal his sick servant. Jesus told the centurion that He’d go to his home to heal the man, but the soldier replied, “Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof. But only speak a word, and my servant will be healed.”(see Matthew 8:8)
Jesus had been among the Jewish people as he taught and healed. Some had believed, but many doubted. The leaders among His own race felt particularly threatened, and they later plotted to kill Him. But here was a Roman officer who believed that Jesus’s power was so immense that He didn’t even have to see or touch his servant to heal. His faith amazed Jesus.
What did the Roman see in Christ that others didn’t see? Why was his faith so strong? The centurion explained that he understood the nature of authority because he exercised it in the military world (see Matthew 8:9). His experience gave him insight into God’s authority, so the centurion felt sure that Jesus had the authority to heal his servant; or do anything else for the matter from a distance.
In each of our lives, God has given us experiences to help us to believe Him more fully. For some, it’s authority; its mercy, and kindness. All of us can look for patterns of past experiences that strengthen present faith.
Kisha Yesu akamwambia yule ofisa wa jeshi, "Nenda! Kama ulivyoamini, ndivyo itakavyotendeka kwako.' Na mtumishi wake akapona saa ileile. (Mathayo 8:13) Yesu alishangazwa na imani ya mtu fulani katika yeye. Katika kisa hiki, ofisa mmoja wa jeshi Mroma aliyemwogopa Mungu alimwomba Yesu amponye mtumishi wake mgonjwa. Yesu alimwambia ofisa huyo wa jeshi kwamba angeenda nyumbani kwake kumponya mtu huyo, lakini askari huyo akajibu, "Bwana, mimi si mwenye kustahili wewe kuingia chini ya paa langu. "Lakini sema neno tu, na mtumishi wangu atapona."" (Mathayo 8:8) Yesu alikuwa miongoni mwa Wayahudi alipokuwa akifundisha na kuponya." Baadhi ya watu waliamini, lakini wengi walitilia shaka. Viongozi wa jamii yake walijisikia wametishwa hasa, na baadaye wakapanga njama ya kumuua. Lakini hapa kulikuwa na afisa wa Kiroma ambaye aliamini kwamba nguvu za Yesu zilikuwa kubwa sana hivi kwamba Hakuwa hata na kuona au kugusa mtumishi wake kuponya. Imani yake ilimshangaza Yesu. Waroma waliona nini katika Kristo ambacho wengine hawakuona? Kwa nini imani yake ilikuwa yenye nguvu sana? "Mkubwa wa jeshi alieleza kwamba alielewa asili ya mamlaka kwa sababu aliifanya katika ulimwengu wa kijeshi (tazama Mathayo 8:9).""" Uzoefu wake ulimpa ufahamu wa mamlaka ya Mungu, kwa hiyo ofisa huyo wa jeshi alihisi uhakika kwamba Yesu alikuwa na mamlaka ya kumponya mtumishi wake; au kufanya jambo lingine lolote kwa jambo hilo kutoka mbali. Katika maisha yetu, Mungu ametupa uzoefu ili kutusaidia kumwamini zaidi. Kwa wengine, ni mamlaka; rehema yake, na fadhili. Kila mmoja wetu anaweza kutafuta mifano ya mambo aliyojionea wakati uliopita ambayo huimarisha imani yake ya sasa.