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The centurion had a faith that was in God ’ s Word alone . He didn ’ t have to have Jesus come to his house and wave His hand over the sick servant . If Jesus would just give him a word , that was all he needed .
Contrast this centurion ’ s faith with the little faith of Thomas , who was one of Jesus ’ twelve disciples . The first time the risen Christ appeared to His disciples , Thomas wasn ’ t present . The other ten disciples told Thomas that Jesus was resurrected , but it was eight more days before Jesus appeared to His disciples with Thomas present .
“ But he said unto them , Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails , and put my finger into the print of the nails , and thrust my hand into his side , I will not believe .” ( John 20:25 )
Jesus walked up to Thomas and told him to put his finger into the print of the nails and thrust his hand into Jesus ’ side and to not be faithless but believing . Thomas fell on his knees and confessed Jesus as his Lord and God .
“ Jesus saith unto him , Thomas , because thou hast seen me , thou hast believed : blessed are they that have not seen , and yet have believed .” ( John 20:29 )
Jesus placed a greater blessing on those who believe without seeing than those who believe because they have seen . In other words , there is a greater anointing on believing the Word than believing signs and wonders . Don ’ t get me wrong . I believe in signs and wonders . Jesus used them like a bell to draw people unto Himself and so should we . But the ultimate , the more sure word of prophecy , is the written Word of God . There is a greater blessing on just believing God ’ s Word than there is on believing because of supernatural circumstances . Those who are looking for circumstances to confirm their faith will fail when the strong battles of unbelief come . We have to get our faith so rooted in God ’ s Word alone that we can withstand a hurricane .
The reason Jesus didn ’ t try to make John feel better with a few kind words , an emotional touch , was not because He didn ’ t care . He cared for John so much that He gave John His best — the written Word of God . That ’ s how Jesus dealt with own His temptations ( Matt . 4 ), and that was and still is God ’ s best way for us to deal with our temptations to not believe .
Maybe there ’ s a reason the Lord hasn ’ t used an emotional touch to deliver you from unbelief . Maybe it ’ s because He loves you so much that He ’ s trying to help you operate in the highest form of faith — faith that takes Him at His Word . If the least of the saints today are greater than John the Baptist was then ( Matt . 11:11 ), surely the Lord is wanting us to operate on at least the same level in which He dealt with John ’ s unbelief .
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