A Greater Authority

DAILY READING

Matthew 8:5-13

FIELD NOTES

During this season of Advent, we have explored a few of the prophets and how their prophecies were fulfilled through Christ. Jesus healed many people to fulfill Isaiah’s prophecy (see Matthew 8:17), but the story of the centurion’s servant in Matthew offers a unique angle in Jesus’ healing ministry. The centurion requests healing not for himself, but for another. He is taking the need of his servant to Christ and, in doing so, makes it possible for his servant to receive Christ’s healing. It is interesting to note that this centurion, who commanded many soldiers and represented Rome’s control of the region, cannot accomplish what Christ can do…and his faith opened his eyes to this reality. A man of great authority must subordinate himself to Christ’s authority. 

Like the centurion, if we are going to seek Jesus’ healing either for ourselves, or on behalf of our loved ones in need, we must defer to an authority greater than ourselves. 

QUESTIONS FOR THE FIELD

• Are you willing to subordinate yourself to Christ’s authority? Is it more difficult to do so for yourself or to intercede on someone else’s behalf? 

FAMILY FIELD TALK

• Have you ever noticed someone that needed help? Did you know that even if you can’t help them yourself, you can ask someone to help them? This is what the centurion did – he asked Christ to help his servant because his servant could not ask Christ himself. 

PRAYER GUIDE

Lord, give me the faith of the centurion. Open my eyes to the needs of those around me, those who may not know how to come to you for help. Let me intercede for them, to give a voice to people who might not have one. Amen.