From the archives of Oral Roberts
I believe Matthew 8 is one of the greatest healing chapters in the Bible. It tells the story of the Roman centurion who came to Jesus and asked Him to heal his servant.
Jesus told the centurion, “I will come and heal him” (v. 7 NKJV). But the centurion answered, “Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof. But only speak a word, and my servant will be healed. For I also am a man under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to this one ‘Go,’ and he goes… and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it’” (vv.8–9).
The Roman soldier was telling Jesus that he recognized authority and was obedient to it. As a member of the Roman army, his master, Caesar, did not have to be present for his commands to be carried out, because the name of Caesar represented all the power and authority of the empire. And this power was delegated to the emperor’s soldiers. So when the centurion gave an order to the soldiers under him, they obeyed without question.
The centurion was saying to Jesus, “You have authority over my servant’s sickness. You don’t need to come to my house. Just say the word that my servant shall live, and I’ll believe it and go home, knowing that he is well.”
Jesus answered him simply, “Go your way; and as you have believed, so let it be done for you. And his servant was healed that same hour (v.13).
Jesus doesn’t have to be present in the flesh for a miracle to take place in your life. His name represents all the authority of God’s kingdom, and when you use it in faith, your miracle can happen!
