Authority-Matthew 8:5-13
Now when Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him, pleading with Him, saying, "Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, dreadfully tormented." And Jesus said to him, "I will come and heal him" (Matthew 8:6-7).
The centurion from this story recognized the "authority" of Jesus when he made his request to Jesus. What Jesus spoke happened. Those whom Jesus touched were healed. Those to whom Jesus spoke were moved. The centurion knew the importance of authority. As a man under authority, he was able to command others.
The centurion recognized that the authority of Jesus came from a greater authority-the authority of heaven. God was in Christ. The works that Jesus did were of God. Jesus represented God so thoroughly that He could say to Philip, "He who has seen Me has seen the Father" (John 14:9).
Jesus' words were the words of authority. He did not speak the word of man, but the words of God. His words carried the omniscience of God. His words were not merely philosophies about life or perspectives on life, they were life! Each word was God-breathed.
The authority of Jesus is available to us today through the Spirit of Christ. To be women of authority, we must be women under the authority of Christ. We must seek to speak His Word rather than our own. We must seek the supremacy of His will above our own. Haven't you ever thought to yourself, "If only this generation could see Jesus! He is the embodiment of what the world craves in the recesses of their soul"? Our world needs Jesus. Therefore, we must submit to His authority that we might present Him to this dying generation.
The centurion's insight and belief in the power of the Word of Christ was seen as "great faith" in the eyes of Jesus. Consequently, his servant was healed by his faith. Jesus further blessed the centurion with a public commendation the promise of heaven and a seat with the patriarchs in the kingdom of heaven.
