Faith Journey 16 - Faith in the Bible ...

Wednesday, Feb 23, 2011. We have spoken about different types of faith, as thinking to be true, ideals and trust. Today we want to look into a fascinating biblical story, which deals with faith.

Biblical Faith …

5 When Jesus entered the city of Capernaum, a Roman centurion approached, 6 imploring him: “Lord, my boy is lying paralysed at home and in great pain.” 7 Jesus said to him “I will come and heal him.” 8 But the centurion replied: “Lord I am not good enough for you to come under my roof. Just give the command and my boy will be well. 9 For like you, I am a man under authority, and I have soldiers under my command. When I say to one of them “Come” he comes, when I say to another one “Go” he goes, and when I say to my slave “Do this” he obeys. 10 When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and told the people following him “In truth, I have not found any Israelite with this much trust in God. 11 I assure you that many people from nations in the east and the west will come and feast in God’s kingdom with your ancestors Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.1 12 But many who expected to be part of God’s kingdom will be sent away to the dark places outside, where they will weep and gnash their teeth (i.e. with bitter regret).” 13 Then Jesus said the centurion: “Go home, and what you have trusted God to do for you will happen.” And his boy got well at exactly that time. (Matth. 8, 5-13)

We just want to capture some of the aspects, which are part of the faith of this Roman soldier. We will find these moments again and again when we think about or live faith in Jesus Christ, as it is found in the bibel.

Aspects of Biblical Faith …

1. “When Jesus entered the city of Capernaum,” Christian faith starts with God, who comes to us! God comes to us in Christ Jesus!

2. “A Roman centurion approached him”. God has invited us, we are allowed to answer! Christian faith needs the answer of individual people. The centurion approached Jesus, he starts a relationship with him, he tells Jesus: “I need you!” It is an important step on the path into Christian faith to talk to God and start a relationship with him!

3. “Lord, my boy is lying paralysed at home and in great pain.” At the beginning of faith there is the insight, that we need God. Blessed are those, who realize how poor they are! The centurion is realistic, he knows the problem, he sees the pain, he opens his heart for his servant! And he then approaches Jesus with all of this!

4. “Jesus said to him “I will come and heal him.” But the centurion replied: “Lord I am not good enough for you to come under my roof. ” No one can become or stay a Christian, if he does not start to realize the holiness of the eternal God, who does not start to compare his own life with this and understands: there is no way to be as holy as God! The centurion understood Jesus! He realized how Jesus was: humble and with a calm heart! And he clearly talked about the truth: Lord I am not good enough for you! He speaks about the shortcoming of his whole existence!

5. “Just give the command and my boy will be well.” The centurion trusts the spoken word of Jesus Christ. Let us listen carefully! “Just give the command and my boy will be well.” He means: all things are possible for God. All things are possible for Jesus. Christian faith means to start to trust the spoken word of God, to let it speak to us. That also means to answer, to act, to trust, to act in trust, and then to experience the presence and possibilities of God in our own life.

We will continue this discussion tomorrow … ... more texts