Amazing Faith

Amazing Faith

When Jesus heard this, he was amazed. Turning to the crowd that was following him, he said, “I tell you, I haven’t seen faith like this in all Israel!” And when the officer’s friends returned to his house, they found the slave completely healed. Luke 7:9-10

Whenever I’ve seen a mother and child at the same time for treatment—whether it’s in the ER after an accident or in my office when they both have strep throat—the mother always wants her child to be taken care of first. If there’s only enough money for one prescription, the child always gets the medicine.

This innate desire to sacrifice ourselves for someone we love is exactly why airlines always tell us to do the opposite. You know the drill: Put on your own oxygen mask first, and then help your child. They know that, in a midair emergency, our God-given instinct to care for our children first could be harmful to both parent and child.

In today’s verse, the Roman officer follows his instincts, despite the fact that asking a Jewish rabbi for help could prove to be dangerous. By asking Jesus to heal the slave, the officer had to go outside of the Roman hierarchy. For a Gentile with a high-level military position, this action could have cost him his job—or worse.

When I read this story in the Bible, I see the same sacrificial instincts as a mother caring for her child. I realize that the officer is not a parent to the slave. However, his loving concern and intuition to do whatever was needed reminds me of a mother’s love.

Jesus was amazed at the man’s faith. In fact, it’s the only story in the Bible in which we’re told that Jesus was amazed by someone’s faith. And what’s so remarkable is that it wasn’t the faith of a Pharisee or another Jewish leader; it was the faith of a Roman military officer—an outsider to the Jewish faith.

For whom are you willing to sacrifice? Would Jesus be amazed at your faith in him?

While we were yet sinners, Jesus willingly sacrificed his life for us. The only proper response to his amazing grace is for us is to have an amazing faith in him.

TODAY’S RX

Have faith that Jesus needs only to speak a word in order for you to be healed.

Jesus, I desire to have faith that amazes you. When I come to the end of my life, I long to hear you say, “Well done.” Help me to live out your commands and have a sacrificial spirit to those I meet.