Your Word Suffices Me

Luke 8:7—“Say in a word, and my servant shall be healed.”

The centurion who cared for the religious welfare of the people, and built them a synagogue, had also a heart of compassion for the sick. It is well when public generosity is sustained by domestic kindness.

This servant was his boy, and perhaps his slave; but he was dear to him. A good master makes a good servant.

It is well when all ranks are united in sympathy: captain and page are here united in affection.

The master showed his affection by seeking help. Heart and hand should go together. Let us not love in word only.

It is well that the followers of Jesus should be ready to help all sick folk; and that healing should be still associated with prayer to Jesus.

Mark the growingly manifest faith of the centurion, and the growing manifestation of Jesus.

Centurion sends elders with request to “come and heal.” Jesus will come and heal.

Centurion comes himself asking for “a word.” Jesus gives the word, and the deed is done.

We see in this passage a miracle in the physical world, and are thereby taught what our Lord Jesus can do in the spiritual world.

Let us imitate the centurion in seeking to Jesus about others.

We learn from the narrative—

I. THE PERFECT READINESS OF CHRIST.

1. He did not debate with the elders of the Jews, and show the weakness of their plea,—“He was worthy”: Luke 7:4, 5.

2. He cheerfully granted their request, although it was needless for him to come. “Then Jesus went with them”: Luke 7:6.

3. He did not raise a question about the change which the centurion proposed, although he was already on the road. Luke 7:6.

4. He did not suspect the good man’s motive, as some might have done. He read his heart, and saw his true humility.

5. He did not demur to the comparison of himself to a petty officer Our Lord is never captious; but takes our meaning.

6. He promptly accepted the prayer and the faith of the centurion, gave the blessing, and gave it as desired.

   • Our Lord’s love to sinners, his forgetfulness of self, his willingness to please us, and his eagerness to fulfill his own mission, should encourage us in prayer to him for ourselves and others.

II. THE CONSCIOUS ABILITY OF CHRIST.

1. He is not puzzled with the case. It was singular for the servant to be at once paralyzed and tormented; but whatever the disease may be, the Lord says, “I will come and heal him.”

2. He is not put in doubt by the extreme danger of the servant. No, he will come to him, though he hears that he is stricken down, and is utterly prostrate.

3. He speaks of healing as a matter of course.

   • His coming will ensure the cure: “come and heal.”

4. He treats the method of procedure as of no consequence.

   • He will come or he will not come, but will “say in a word”; yet the result will be the same.

5. He wonders more at the centurion’s faith than at the cure.

   • Omnipotent grace moves with majestic ease.
   • We are worried and fretted, but the Lord is not.

Let us thus be encouraged to hope.

III. THE ABIDING METHOD OF CHRIST.

He is accustomed to heal by his Word through faith. Signs and wonders are temporary, and answer a purpose for an occasion; but both faith and the Word of the Lord are matters for all time.

Our Lord did not in the case before us put in a personal appearance, but spoke, and it was done; and this he does in our own day.

1. This is coming back to the original form of working in creation.

   • It is apparently a greater miracle than working by visible presence; at any rate, the means are less seen.

2. This method suits true humility. We do not demand signs and wonders; the Word is enough for us. Luke 7:7.

3. This pleases great faith; for the Word is faith’s chosen manifestation of God. It rejoices more in the Word than in all things visible. Psalm 119:162.

4. This is perfectly reasonable. Should not a word of command from God be enough? Mark the centurion’s reasoning. Matthew 8:9.

5. This is sure to succeed. Who can resist the divine fiat? In our own case, all we need is a word from the Lord.

6. This must be confidently relied on for others. Let us use the Word, and pray the Lord to make it his own word.

   • Henceforth, let us go forward in his name, relying upon his Word!

Insertions

Had the centurion’s roof been Heaven itself, it could not have been worthy to be come under of him whose word was almighty, and who was the Almighty Word of his Father. Such is Christ confessed to be by him that says, “only say the word.” None but a divine power is unlimited: neither has faith any other bounds than God himself. There needs no footing to remove mountains, or devils, but a word. Do but say the word, O Savior, my sin shall be remitted, my soul shall be healed, my body shall be raised from dust, and both soul and body shall be glorified.—Bishop Hall.

“I have been informed,” says Hervey, “that when the Elector of Hanover was declared by the Parliament of Great Britain successor to the vacant throne, several persons of distinction waited upon his Highness, to make timely application for valuable preferments. Several requests of this nature were granted, and confirmed by a kind of promissory note. One gentleman solicited the Mastership of the Rolls. Being indulged in his desire, he was offered the same confirmation which had been given to other successful petitioners; upon which he seemed to be overcome by grateful confusion and surprise, and begged that he might not put the royal donor to such unnecessary trouble, protesting that he looked upon His Highness’s word as the best ratification of his suit. With this compliment the Elector was not a little pleased. ‘This gentleman,’ he said, ‘treats me like a king; and, whoever is disappointed, he shall certainly be gratified.’ ”

Our Lord can cure either by coming or by speaking. Let us not dictate to him the way in which he shall bless us. If we were permitted a choice, we ought not to select that method which makes most show, but that in which there is least to be seen and heard, yet most to be admired. Comparatively, signs and wonders show less of him than his bare Word, which he has magnified above all his name. Marvels dazzle, but the Word enlightens. That faith which sees least sees most, and that which has no eyes at all for the visible has a thousand eyes for the invisible. Lord, come in your glory, and bless me, if such be your will; but if you will stay where you are, and bless me only through your will and Word, I will be as well content, and even more so if this method the more honors thee!—C. H. S.