Article February 9, 1998 Issue

Red tape? No way out?

God's authority clears the way.

By Lynde and Andrea McCormick

How one family prayed through a critical challenge with government regulations.

"Who's in charge here?" How often have you heard that question, plea, or demand? Jesus frequently encountered the question in one form or another. The religious and political authorities of his day often challenged his authority to heal. But Jesus understood that the only real authority is that of God and His Christ. This authority of Christ underlay his healing work. Human officials, whatever their rank, had no power to restrict that.

Jesus was once approached by a centurion in the Roman army whose servant was sick (see Matt. 8:5–13). Although in a position to exercise official authority over the Hebrews, including Jesus, the centurion, in seeking help for his servant, acknowledged Jesus' superior authority. Jesus offered to come right away. But at that point, the centurion said something extraordinary. He said that he wasn't worthy enough for Jesus to come to his house—that Jesus could heal his servant with a word. He recognized authority when he saw it, because he had it himself in his position as a military commander. He trusted Jesus to heal the servant without a personal visit.

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