In Matthew 5-7 Jesus presented a very powerful and authoritative sermon on discipleship. The people were amazed not only at the content of his message but the authority with which he spoke. In 8:5 he was confronted by a man who knew authority as well; a Roman centurion. The commander of 100 men in the army he understood the power of the one word command. In verse 9 the leader gave an example, “I say to this one, ‘Go’ and he goes.” Yet with all of this authority the centurion faced an enemy he could not defeat; a terminal disease in his servant. So this military leader came to a man whom he believed could do what no other man could; help his dear servant. Jesus heard his request and saw the faith in this pagan. So he used the centurion’s own word; in verse 13 Jesus said, “Go”. From there Jesus went to Peter’s house. Peter’s mother-in-law was sick in bed. Jesus spoke a word to heal her. Did you ever wonder what that word was? A couple of stories later Jesus encountered two demon-possessed men in a cemetery. Jesus commanded the spirits to leave the man with just one word. Any guesses on the word? “Go!” (vs 32) What could Jesus do in my life with just one word?
Stuart
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