Only Say the Word

5 When he had entered Capernaum, a centurion came forward to him, appealing to him, 6 “Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed at home, suffering terribly.” 7 And he said to him, “I will come and heal him.” 8 But the centurion replied, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof, but only say the word, and my servant will be healed. 9 For I too am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes, and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” 10 When Jesus heard this, he marveled and said to those who followed him, “Truly, I tell you, with no one in Israel have I found such faith. 11 I tell you, many will come from east and west and recline at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven, 12 while the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” 13 And to the centurion Jesus said, “Go; let it be done for you as you have believed.” And the servant was healed at that very moment.
Matthew 8:5–13
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Only Say the Word
The centurion appealed to him. Jesus would have gone. He prayed to the Lord of life because he knew his promises and he clung to his Word. This is what faith does to you and me. It remembers the promises and it clings to God's Word and it insists that he do the things he promises. Not one of us is worthy to have the Lord come under our roof. We are not worthy that he should redeem us and save us. However, Jesus has said the Word. You have been healed. Your sins are forgiven by the blood of his cross. This is the Lord of Life that empties his life for the salvation of Gentile the world over. He dies so that you can live. He lives to live with you and to justify you before God. The Word of God did this. This Word is performative and it has accomplished your salvation for him.