Marvelous Faith 

By Lisa Supp

“He marveled at him . . .”—Luke 7:9 (NKJV)

Oswald Chambers wrote, “We find faith by not only believing what Jesus says but, even more, by trusting Jesus Himself.” In Luke’s gospel, we meet a man who displayed such marvelous faith. 

A Roman centurion soldier entreated Jesus to heal his servant. The servant “was dear to him, was sick and ready to die. So when he heard about Jesus, he sent elders of the Jews to Him, pleading with Him to come and heal his servant” (Luke 7:2-3 NKJV). 

What’s that? Unlike others who had witnessed Jesus heal, this man had only heard of Jesus’ healings. Who was this man? 

Standing up for this man, the Jewish elders begged Jesus saying, “the one for whom [You] should do this [is] deserving, for he loves our nation, and has built us a synagogue” (Luke 7:4-5 NKJV). This man was probably Roman, certainly a Gentile, and he supported the Israel nation. 

So, Jesus traveled to the soldier’s house. But before He arrived, the centurion sent his friends to meet Jesus with this message: “Lord, do not trouble Yourself, for I am not worthy that You should enter under my roof. Therefore I did not even think myself worthy to come to You. But say the word, and my servant will be healed” (Luke 7:6-7 NKJV).  

Then the soldier conveyed words that ushered in the faith Jesus commended. He added, “I also am a man placed under authority, having 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” (Luke 7:8 NKJV). The centurion recognized Jesus was under the authority of God without ever meeting Him or witnessing His miracles. He likened his own authority to Jesus’ authority to simply give a word and it was done. 

It was this bold faith that caused Jesus to marvel and stirred Him to say to the crowd following Him, “I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!” (Luke 7:9 NKJV). 

The result? By the time the men who were sent by the soldier returned to the house, the servant was healed. 

This is the nature of marvelous faith. It isn’t beholden to what is seen, but often unseen or heard (Hebrews 11:1). The apostle Paul offers further insight by writing, “Faith then comes by hearing, and hearing from the word of God” (Romans 10:17 NKJV). 

Faith should cause us to simply trust Jesus and hope in Him to do the impossible. It should not beg for a sign but look at the signs of who Jesus is and believe. Logic insists, faith persists. Let us all seek Jesus with marvelous, persistent faith. 

DIG: What made the centurion’s faith so marvelous? 

DISCOVER: What does faith mean to you? Does faith have limits? Are you more logic-driven when it comes to your hope in Jesus and a closer relationship with Him? 

DO: Ask the Lord to work in your life to increase your faith. Then, be prepared! Because you, too, will also marvel at what faith looks and feels like.