It Might Be a Trap

Scripture: And when Jesus entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him, entreating Him, and saying, “Lord, my servant is lying at home, sick with paralysis, terribly tormented.” Jesus said to him, “I will come and heal him.” The centurion answered and said, “Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof. But speak the word only, and my servant will be healed. For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to this man, ‘Go,’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes, and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go your way. And as you have believed, so let it be done for you.” And his servant was healed that very moment.  Matthew 8:5-9,13

Observation: The centurion's decision to not have Jesus come to his home had two possible reasons. Jesus interprets it as faith - and of course, Jesus knows that it is. However, given how regularly Jesus is tested by the Pharisees, this could have easily been a trap. The trap would have been ... 'you claim to heal people, but it must be a trick, so let's see if you can do it at a distance with a stranger you've never met.'

Of course this wasn't a trap, a trick or a test. Jesus' response indicates both his understanding of the great faith the centurion had in making this request, but also ties the healing to that faith, stating it will occur "as you have believed."

Application: There is an interesting parallel here, in that doubt and faith in Jesus can sometime appear similar. They can both involve asking or wondering if Jesus can do something amazing in our lives. The difference is that faith believes he can, while doubt is challenging him because it think he won't.

In my personal experience, though, there is one other scenario, and that involves ... hope. Hope from a non-believer takes the form out doubting in God, but asking for the miracle anyway in the hope that maybe they are wrong - God exists, Jesus is the Messiah - and their request may be answered. That was my experience.

This isn't a trap. This IS a situation where a non-believers is testing God, but not in a self-fulfilling manner where no faith is involved. There is hope, and God loves hope.

At Christmas lights this year, I want to look for non-believers who have hope. I want to seek people who don't believe in Jesus, however ... just maybe ... they have hope for something better ... and might be willing to ask for it. The 'something better' may be huge, like healing for our country, but it is more likely personal. Most real hopes are. I will look for that.

Prayer: Lord, in less than a week, they will start to come. Please bring 'em! May everyone at our church be ready in their bodies, their minds, but mostly in their hearts and souls. May be receive the crowds as you would receive them. May our leaders and staff stay strong. May volunteers speak your words. And may we all kindle and foster those with a mustard seed of hope as they seek a life I know only you can truly provide. Amen, and amen.