Mary’s Lent Diary (Day 24)

Jesus is back in Capernaum and, believe it or not, another important official stopped him and wanted his help!  A centurion, no less, boss of 100 soldiers…powerful, capable, in control – and yet he asked for Jesus’ help.  He needed Jesus’ help.

This time it was the man’s servant who was ill, not his son.  The servant was paralysed and was in so much pain that his boss had decided to personally get help.

And, unlike last time, when Jesus had not gone with the man, Jesus told the centurion that he would go and heal the servant who was ill.  Told the centurion that he would go and help….and the centurion said no.  What?!  Everyone strained to hear what else the man would say.  He said he did not deserve to have Jesus come to his house – a centurion actually said that to a carpenter from Nazareth (albeit a miracle performing carpenter!)!  And that Jesus should just say the word and his servant would be healed.

Jesus was stunned! 

Then Jesus said that he had not met anyone with greater faith than the centurion’s, not anywhere in Israel.  I am not sure how wise he is to say that kind of thing, what about the religious leaders?  They pride themselves on their piety.

Then Jesus started to talk about heaven and that people from all over the world will be there but that some people, who thought they belonged, would be thrown out…

While he was talking, the centurion stood there, waiting – and, in the end, Jesus told him to go.  His servant was well, just as the centurion had believed he would be.

Blue flowers on the background, ‘FAITH’ written in scrabble tiles in the foreground

 The centurion could do a lot.

He had an important job, a responsible job, he was the boss.

And still, he turned to Jesus.

He reached a point when, however capable and able he was, he couldn’t do everything.

The centurion showed humility, and he turned to Jesus.

What about us? Do we turn to Jesus for help?

In the midst of all the managing, and coping, and keeping going, do we recognise that we can’t do everything?

And that we’re not meant to?

Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.

James 4:10

Humility isn’t denying your strengths; it’s being honest about your weaknesses.
– Rick Warren

The apostle Paul, writing in 2 Corinthians 12, about a difficult aspect of his life - a thorn in the flesh - wrote:

Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

2 Corinthians 12:8,9a

His grace is enough.

When we are weak, He is strong (2 Corinthians 12:10).

The weaker we are, the more we know of His power in us.

God doesn’t expect us to be able to manage by ourselves.

He’s wants us to turn to Him for help.

He wants us to let Him share our load.

Is there something over which you’d like to hear His “My grace is sufficient for you” at the moment?

Listen for it. It will be there.

Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

Matthew 11:29

When Jesus commented on the centurion, he did not say, ‘this man has achieved a great career, status, respect, etc’.

Those things would have been true, but what did Jesus comment on?

The man’s faith.

He homed in on the man’s faith, not on what the man could do.

Specifically, on the man’s faith in a situation he couldn’t solve for himself.

Maybe you don’t feel that you can do much, or as much as you’d like to, or as much as you once did.

How’s your faith during what you can’t do?

Jesus spoke the truth, regardless.

He commended the centurion’s faith even though doing so might alienate the religious leaders even more.

How important is truth to you?

Lord Jesus,

May my faith be like the centurion’s.

When things are hard,

and I can’t sort them,

may my faith remain strong.

Help me, in my weakness, to turn to You.

Amen

Mary’s Memo Turn to Jesus