Devotional: Faith of an Outsider: Matthew 8:5-13

“Now when Jesus heard this, He marveled and said to those who were following, ‘Truly I say to you, I have not found such great faith with anyone in Israel’” (Matt. 8:10, NASB).

Because of the virus pandemic, this year our church will not have a live on sight Watch Night Services. Instead members and other people are invited to participate in a Zoom services. Everything will be very much different from that of the past.

In Matthew’s gospel we have a story of a change in the relationship between God and the Gentiles. Historically, the Hebrew people; the descendants of Israel are God’s special chosen people. They alone have access to God’s special blessing upon His people. While outsiders are included from time to time in the Hebrew story, they do not share the same relationship with God that the Jews have. Jesus comes into the world and He comes to change the way that things have been in the past to a new and better way.

Jesus delivers His teaching on the mountain, commonly known as the “Sermon on the Mountain” (Matt. 5-7). Jesus comes down from the mountain and a large crowd, (Jews), follow Him. On His way to Capernaum He heals a man that is a leper. As Jesus continues His journey, He is approached by a Roman centurion, a Gentile; and outsider. He comes to Jesus and asks Jesus to heal his servant. Jesus tells the soldier that He will go with him and heal the man’s servant. The servant knows that he is not a Jew worthy of having Jesus come into his house. However, he believes that Jesus can heal his servant just by saying the word. Jesus can command that the sickness leave the servant’s body just as he has authority to command soldiers

Jesus is amazed. Jesus has not seen faith like this in all of Israel. After making comments to the crowd Jesus speaks to the centurion. “And Jesus said to the centurion, ‘Go; it shall be done for you as you have believed.’ And the servant was healed that very moment” (v. 13).

Things are really about to change in Israel and throughout the world. In Jesus, God is available to all people. The Jews up until now believe that they gain God’s favor by obeying the Law and following the worship rituals handed down by Moses. Here, we see Jesus responding to a Gentile that has no birthright as a Jew to participate in worship with the Jews. Jesus comes to break down the barriers that separate people from God and people from people. The only thing necessary is that one has faith in God. Outsiders, that is, people that are not Jews by birth have the same access to God if they too have faith.

Prayer: Our Father in heaven. We are not worthy of your blessing, but we come to You in faith seeking You for all that we need. Amen.