Article February 20, 1954 Issue

"THIS GOD-GIVEN AUTHORITY"

DONNA C. LAYTON

There was once a centurion of the Roman army who exercised strict authority over the men serving under him, expecting and obtaining from them instant obedience. His servants too were trained to obey. When one of his servants, who had endeared himself to him, was stricken with a serious illness, the centurion's heart was filled with compassion. He had heard about Jesus of Nazareth, and of his teaching and preaching "as one having authority," and of his healing all manner of disease and sickness among the people. So the centurion sought out the Master and told him of his servant, beseeching him to help the servant. With gentle assurance, Jesus answered him (Matt. 8:7), "I will come and heal him."

The centurion, quick to detect and accept the authority of the Master's statement, replied: "Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed. For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it."

Jesus, perceiving with what accuracy and perception the centurion acknowledged the power of the Word, marveled and said, "Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel." And the account goes on to relate that the centurion's servant was healed instantly in the selfsame hour.

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