Jesus went to the city of Capernaum. When Jesus entered the city, an army officer came to him and begged for help. The officer said, "Lord, my servant is very sick at home in bed. He can't move his body and has much pain." Jesus said to the officer, "I will go and heal him." The officer answered, "Lord, I am not good enough for you to come into my house. All you need to do is command that my servant be healed, and he will be healed. I myself am a man under the authority (power) of other men. And I have soldiers under my authority. I tell one soldier, 'Go,' and he goes. I tell another soldier, 'Come,' and he comes. I say to my servant, 'Do this,' and my servant obeys me. {I know that you also have power like this.}"
— Matthew 8:5-9 NLT
Key Thought
Authority comes in all shapes and sizes. It can be earned, it can be given by title or position, it can be coveted, it can be seized, but only One truly has, will have, and has had ultimate authority.
Like so often today, it takes someone who has handled authority with character to truly recognize someone else with authority. The Centurion recognizes authority when he sees it. He is under the authority of superiors. He commands authority over those under his rule. In Jesus, he recognizes authority in a way that none other he has met possesses. He comes to Jesus, to have what no other can do, be done for a beloved servant.
This powerful man reminds us that it is not just the weak who see Jesus as Savior, but the strong and powerful as well. It is not just the Jew who searches for the Messiah, but the God-fearing Gentile, too!
Today's Prayer
Almighty, incomparable, and authoritative God, I trust in your truth, your will, and your power for everything. Open my heart to your guidance so that I might live as one under your authority and exercise the authority that I am given with integrity, care, and honor. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Related Scripture Readings
- Matthew 28:18-20
- Matthew 9:5-8
- 1 Timothy 2:5-6
About This Devotional
What Jesus Did! is a series of one-year devotional guides through each gospel, using one short scripture passage each day and following the Gospel in sequential order. Each devotional consists of a scripture passage and a reflection and a prayer which open up the day's scripture and show how it challenges you to live for Jesus.
What Jesus Did! is written by Phil Ware.
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
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