Understand Authority - Jesus And The Roman Officer

The officer said, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come into my home. Just say the word from where you are, and my servant will be healed.”

Matthew 8:8

As Christian Archibald Herter ran hard for a second term as governor of Massachusetts in the 1950s, he arrived late one afternoon to a church barbecue. Herter hadn’t eaten since breakfast and had worked up quite an appetite chasing votes. As he moved through the serving line, he held out his plate to the woman serving chicken. She put a single piece on his plate and turned to the next person in line.

“Excuse me,” the governor said, “do you mind if I have another piece of chicken?”

“Sorry,” the woman told him. “I’m supposed to give one piece of chicken to each person.”

Herter had a reputation as an unassuming man, but after another unsatisfying verbal exchange with this woman, he decided to use the power of his office.

“Do you know who I am?” Herter asked. “I am the governor of this state.”

“Do you know who I am?” the woman retorted. “I’m the lady in charge of the chicken. Move along, mister.”

Understanding authority and knowing who has it have important implications for many areas of life, including the spiritual. When you understand the authority of Christ over all things, you open yourself to receive his very best.

Jesus had an encounter with a Roman military officer. As a man under the authority of his superiors and with authority over his subordinates, he expected that when he gave an order, it was as good as done. This Roman understood some things about Jesus Christ that even the Lord’s own people didn’t get. He recognized that Jesus, as the Son of God, had absolute authority to carry out whatever he agreed to do.

What amazing things would Jesus do for us if we only asked him to do them and believed that he could! What sort of confidence do you have in Jesus’ authority? Would your life change if you had the confidence of this Roman officer?

Jesus Christ has absolute authority and power over everything in your life and the lives of your loved ones. How could you glorify him by asking him to use that authority and power on your behalf according to his will?