Faith Like the Centurion: What Real Trust in Jesus Looks Like

Written By View Church

Pastor Reed Sowell

When Jesus encountered the Roman centurion in Matthew 8, something unusual happened. A Gentile soldier—someone who by all accounts didn’t “belong” in the religious crowd—approached Jesus with a request that not only caught His attention, but amazed Him. Not because the man was powerful or persuasive, but because he had faith.

This kind of faith wasn’t theoretical. It wasn’t inherited from his culture or earned through spiritual performance. It was bold, honest, humble, and certain. And it moved the heart of Jesus.

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The Story in Context: Jesus and the Centurion

The event took place in Capernaum, a coastal town on the Sea of Galilee that had become Jesus’ ministry hub. After being rejected in His hometown of Nazareth, Jesus settled in Capernaum and performed many miracles there. It's in this setting that a Roman centurion—a military officer over 100 men—approaches Him with an urgent plea: his servant is paralyzed and suffering terribly.

What follows is a short but powerful exchange that reveals so much about the nature of true faith.

Here’s the moment recorded in Matthew 8:5–13 (NIV):

“Lord,” he said, “my servant lies at home paralyzed, suffering terribly.”
Jesus said to him, “Shall I come and heal him?”
The centurion replied, “Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed.”
…
When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him, “Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith.”
…
Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go! Let it be done just as you believed it would.”
And his servant was healed at that moment.

This moment wasn’t just about a healing—it was about faith that recognized who Jesus truly is.

Faith That Begins With Humility

The centurion held rank, influence, and social standing. He was the kind of man used to giving orders and having them carried out without question. And yet, in front of Jesus, he humbled himself.

He said, “Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof.” He recognized the cultural gap between himself—a Roman—and Jesus, a Jewish rabbi. He knew he wasn’t “worthy” in the religious sense, but he didn’t let that keep him from coming close.

There’s a lesson here for anyone who has ever felt like they’ve messed up too much, don’t know enough, or don’t belong in the presence of God.

Jesus isn’t waiting for perfection. He's looking for honesty.

Humility isn’t about disqualifying ourselves—it’s about acknowledging our deep need for Jesus. And from that posture, we can approach Him boldly.

Authority Recognized Before the Miracle

One of the most remarkable parts of the story is that the centurion didn’t wait for Jesus to prove Himself. He believed before the miracle.

He explained, “For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes… But just say the word, and my servant will be healed.”

He understood how authority worked—and he recognized that Jesus had it. His faith wasn’t conditional on the outcome; it was rooted in who Jesus is.

This is a challenge for anyone whose prayers sound like “God, if You do this, then I’ll believe.” The centurion flipped that. His prayer sounded more like, “Because I believe, I know You’ll move.”

And even more profound? He believed Jesus had power even from a distance.

Choose Faith Even When You’re Afraid

Let’s get real: being full of faith doesn’t mean you’re never scared. The centurion might have looked confident on the outside, but he was pleading for someone he loved who was suffering. That kind of desperation comes with emotion—likely fear, anxiety, and urgency.

Faith and fear can exist side by side. They don’t cancel each other out.

The question is: which one do you listen to?

  • You can be scared and still choose to believe.

  • You can feel unqualified and still cry out to God.

  • You can be unsure of what’s next and still anchor yourself in the promises of Jesus.

Faith isn’t always loud. Sometimes it’s simply showing up, asking Jesus to speak, and believing He can.

What Is Faith, Really?

Hebrews 11:1 gives us this definition:

“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.”

Not vague optimism. Not wishful thinking. Confidence. Assurance.

Here’s what that looks like today:

  • Confidence that God sees you and cares about what’s happening in your life.

  • Confidence that His Word is true, even when circumstances contradict it.

  • Confidence that even when you don’t see the answer right away, God is still working.

And when you combine that confidence with assurance—being fully convinced, even when it’s unseen—you’re operating in the kind of faith that moved Jesus.

Four Faith-Filled Takeaways From the Centurion

Let’s unpack four things this story teaches us about faith, and how we can begin to live it out ourselves.

1. Faith Leads to Humility

The centurion could have made demands. Instead, he made a request. He referred to Jesus as “Lord,” a title many Jewish leaders didn’t even use at the time.

This kind of humility is a key part of real faith.

It means:

  • Acknowledging that we can’t fix ourselves.

  • Admitting we don’t have all the answers.

  • Letting go of pride and status to come close to Jesus.

True faith isn’t proud or performative. It’s rooted in the realization that we need help—and only Jesus has the authority to provide it.

2. Faith Recognizes Authority

The centurion didn’t just believe Jesus was a healer. He believed Jesus had the authority to speak healing into existence.

His military background gave him a framework: when he gave orders, things happened. And if he, a mere man, could carry that kind of weight, how much more Jesus?

That’s why the centurion said, “Just say the word.”

Faith like that doesn’t require signs. It doesn’t wait for perfect circumstances. It simply trusts that Jesus’ word is enough.

Ask yourself: Are you waiting for the outcome before you believe? Or are you believing now, regardless of what you see?

3. Faith Sets You Apart

Jesus didn’t just respond to the centurion—He marveled at him.

“Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith.” (v. 10)

This moment redefined what belonging in God’s kingdom looked like. It wasn’t about being born into the right family or following all the right rules. It was about faith.

Jesus even said that many would come from “the east and the west” and take their place at the feast with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. That was a groundbreaking statement.

Faith—not lineage or background—is what grants access to the kingdom.

If your faith is in Jesus, you belong.

4. Faith Impacts Circumstance

Let’s be clear: faith isn’t a formula. It doesn’t guarantee a pain-free life or instant miracles.

But faith does move the heart of God.

The centurion’s servant was healed “at that moment.” Not because the centurion was perfect. Not because he prayed the longest or knew the most theology.

It was faith. That’s it.

Faith doesn’t make you superhuman. But it positions you to receive what Jesus already wants to give. It heightens your awareness of what God is doing. It opens your heart to transformation.

And sometimes—just sometimes—it changes everything in a single moment.

Let Faith Rise in Your Life

Everyone’s facing something. Whether it’s illness, uncertainty, grief, or just the weight of everyday stress, life will stretch your faith.

But what if that stretching isn’t a sign you’re failing, but a sign you’re growing?

What if the hard moments are exactly where faith has a chance to show up and do its best work?

Take these questions with you this week:

  • Where do I need to choose faith, even if I’m scared?

  • Have I been waiting for a miracle to believe—or am I believing now?

  • What barriers have I placed between me and Jesus that He never asked for?

Faith isn’t about feeling worthy. It’s about recognizing Jesus is.

So lean into Him. Speak honestly. Ask boldly. And believe with confidence and assurance that He’s listening.

Further Reading

Other Links

View Church https://viewchurch.co
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