Lent Challenge: Do we need anymore signs?

Jesus is a very powerful man. He has control of illness, life, events and so much more.

I am going through a challenge for Lent where I am going to read the whole New Testament over the time that Lent is going on. This is day two and I found something interesting in my reading. It had me asking a question.

Do we really need any more signs?

In Matthew chapters 8-12, Matthew is establishing Jesus' ministry as one of healing and preaching. There are many things seen in these chapters. Jesus heals many people of sicknesses, raises a girl from the dead, calms a storm, restores men possessed by demons, calls Matthew and so much more. It's insane how much Jesus does in these five chapters. I want to look at one instance in chapter 8 though. This is about the faith of a Centurion solider.

Jesus is entering a town called Capernaum for the first time and as soon as He is there, He is stopped by a centurion. Centurions are quite impressive fellows in my opinion. They're strong, smart, and they have cool armor. If you've never seen one, go look up some pictures of them.

For all that though, this centurion comes to Jesus to ask Him to heal his servant. This guy was most likely had compassion for his servant because he says: "my servant lies at home paralyzed, suffering terribly." He went to Jesus so he could end his servants suffering. This is only one thing to notice about this interaction though.

Jesus said to him, "Shall I come and heal him?"
The centurion replied, "Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, 'Go,' and he goes; and that one, 'Come,' and he comes. I say to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it."

This guy had faith in Jesus' authority. He knew Jesus had power and he knew that Jesus had authority to make things happen. Jesus has not even performed many miracles at this point and none in Capernaum, as He was entering it for the first time. It's never said this guy believes in Jesus, but it can be inferred that he might. It turns out Jesus is just as amazed by this guy's faith.

When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him, "Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith. I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. But the subjects of the kingdom will be thrown outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."

Jesus is saying here that this centurion has greater faith than many in Israel, which is comprised of the Jews, who are God's chosen people. When He says, "many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob," He is saying that many gentiles will come and take the places of the Jews that would have been there if not for their faith. In chapter 10, Jesus tells His disciples not to go to any towns of the gentiles when they're sent out. He is telling them this so that the Jews will hear of Him first. Jesus was to preach to God's people and then the apostles spoke to the gentiles (by the way I'm grateful that the gentiles got talked to.)  Even though He never sent his apostles to gentiles during His time on earth, they still got sent there later, which fulfills what He said after talking to the centurion. Remember that the centurion had faith so early on.

In chapter 12, which is at the end of the reading for today, some Pharisees are asking a sign from Jesus. At this point, there have been many signs, many healings and many things that would make me want to follow Jesus. The Pharisees; however, still are not convinced. After many signs, they ask for one more and Jesus seems to get a little upset.

Two different requests and two different responses. One out of faith and one out of doubt. One met with joy and the other met with what appears to be frustration.

I for one, don't want to ask Jesus to keep proving Himself when He's already done it, over and over again. I would much rather have faith in what He can do and is doing.

Personally, I would much rather be like the centurion, rather than like a Pharisee that keeps asking for signs.

I would definitely suggest joining in on this, for it has already done me some good.