For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it. [10] When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.
Matthew 8:9-10 KJV
Throughout the gospels, there are a few times when Jesus marveled at the faith structure of individuals. One of such cases was the centurion whose servant was healed. The man had simply told Jesus to speak a word of healing for his sick servant. Though a Roman, he seemed to have an insight and a spiritual understanding of the nature of Jesus’s operation and Jesus commended him for it. This man was a centurion, this meant he would have eighty to a hundred soldiers under him while reporting to a higher centurion or a tribune in the army. The Romans understood the power of delegated authority. A soldier coming in the name and with the word of the Emperor had all the powers of Rome backing him and could speak for the Emperor in matters concerning the region he was delegated to. This same centurion, should he rebel against Rome, not only loses all his backing but became a criminal.
The Kingdom of God operates in order as well. 1 Corinthians 11:3 says But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God. This statement does not connote equality or relevance, since Jesus and God are one and there is neither male nor female in Christ. It reveals the nature of delegated authority. Jesus was a man under authority. He made statements like “I can of my own self do nothing in John 5:30 and “the Father in me does the work” in John 14:10. This was because He understood that the Father is His Head and so He took on the role of His body.
Although being God, He stripped Himself completely and came to live on earth as a man fully obedient to the Father. Coming in the name and seal of the Father gave Him full access to all the power of God to ensure that His mission was accomplished. He came as the Son of God to do His Father’s business. As a Son, He also had a right to partake of any inheritance from this business as He remained under the Father. All the glory and praise would go to the Father, however, the glory of the Son, was His Father. 1 Corinthians 15:24-28 says after Jesus has accomplished the bidden of the Father, He would hand the Kingdom over to God and submit to His Father that God may be all in all.
In a similar way, Ephesians 1:19-23 shows that God has put all things, including the church under the feet of Jesus. Jesus being the head means, He controls all operations within the body and leads it as His Father commands. With Jesus as our head, we have the full authority to execute His commands on the earth. When we speak in the name of Jesus, we speak as God and all heaven and earth understand this authority. This was why Jesus said in Luke 10:19 that His Church has been given power over all the powers of darkness without fear of a backlash. Being His body, she has the full authority of God on earth. This headship of Jesus is her covering, protection, and source of power. Outside of Jesus’ headship, however, she is cast out and reserved for a fiery judgment like criminals, as John 15:6 says.
Final thoughts: A Roman tribune, though a servant of the emperor was always clothed with honor and dignity befitting a tribune of Rome. Their splendor was a reflection of the wealth and glory of the Emperor. Paul said in 1 Corinthians 11:7 that the woman is the glory of the man, speaking prophetically of Christ and His bride. Because His bride bears His name, He washes her and clothes her with honor worthy of His excellence. Our beauty and honor come by the relinquishing of our rights and agenda, that God may be all in all. In such a state of poverty in Spirit and meekness, we possess both the Kingdom of Heaven and inherit the earth.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, I humbly bow before you this day, declaring you as my Head and the Master over my life. Clothe me with Your Humility that frees me to be nothing and You, everything. Glorify me with Yourself that I may show Your glory to all creation. Amen.
Scripture Reading: John 15:1-16
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