Amazing Faith

Matthew 8

8 But 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. 9 I know this because I am under the authority of my superior officers, and I have authority over my soldiers. I only need to say, ‘Go,’ and they go, or ‘Come,’ and they come. And if I say to my slaves, ‘Do this,’ they do it.”
10 When Jesus heard this, he was amazed. Turning to those who were following him, he said, “I tell you the truth, I haven’t seen faith like this in all Israel! 11 And I tell you this, that many Gentiles will come from all over the world—from east and west—and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob at the feast in the Kingdom of Heaven. 12 But many Israelites—those for whom the Kingdom was prepared—will be thrown into outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
13 Then Jesus said to the Roman officer, “Go back home. Because you believed, it has happened.” And the young servant was healed that same hour.

It takes a lot to amaze Jesus. I mean, think about it. Jesus is God in the flesh. Jesus is the Word spoken that created the universe. Yet, this Roman Centurion amazed Jesus with his faith. Then Jesus flat out says that Gentiles will be part of God’s Kingdom and that Jews who reject Jesus will not. So why was there so much confusion in the early church about allowing Gentiles to become Christians, and why is there so much talk today about Jews being God’s children? It is because we refuse to listen to Jesus! We may hear Him, but we don’t listen! Jews who have rejected Jesus are NOT God’s Chosen People any more. The Jewish people served their role in God’s plan, because from them came Messiah, who is Jesus! God’s children today are those who hear (listen), believe, and obey the Gospel of Christ. It is time to have some amazing faith like the Roman Centurion. It’s time to listen and believe Jesus.