We read in Matt 8:5-13 the story of the centurion’s servant who was healed ‘by proxy’. In reply to Jesus’ offer to go to his house and heal his servant, the Roman officer said “only speak a word, and my servant will be healed.” Jesus marvelled at the centurion’s great faith.   “I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel.”  The centurion’s servant “was healed from that very hour”, the Bible declares.  This didn’t come about by a ‘house visit’ from the Healer, nor from a pronouncement by the Master but I believe by the centurion’s faith.

Others were applauded for their great faith too.  The Syrophoenician (Canaanite) woman who had a daughter who was severely demon-possessed (Matt 15:21-28). This woman was a Gentile, however when Jesus ignored her first plea, she simply persisted.  His first verbal response to her persistent attitude was “I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel”.  In other words my focus and purpose is primarily to the children of Israel – the Jewish people. This didn’t dissuade her in the least.  She came and worshipped Him (v25) and cried out “Lord help me.”   This woman was desperate to have her daughter rescued from the tormenting demon.  Nothing was going to stop her from appropriating freedom for her daughter.  Many of us would have been offended by His reply - not her!

As she pressed in once again to the Healer and Saviour, Jesus’ reply was “O woman, great is your faith. Let it be to you as you desire” (v28).  The Bible records her daughter was healed from that very hour.

A lady come to the Healing Rooms with one foot in a normal shoe and the other one in a ‘moon-boot’ which for the uninitiated is a large padded boot one wears for foot or ankle injuries.  Her foot had been injured and she came to seek healing from Jesus.

Such was her faith she brought her other normal shoe so she could put it on once her damaged foot was healed.  The team prayed for her, releasing the healing presence of Jesus.  When they’d finished praying, she removed the moon-boot and put on her normal shoe and walked out of the Healing Rooms with no pain whatsoever!  What great faith!  She could have just waited until she arrived home to swap shoes, but no she demonstrated ‘great faith’.  She had a confident expectation Jesus was going to heal her that day.

Let’s be people of great faith like the centurion, Canaanite woman and the lady with the moon-boot fully believing that when we press into the Healer He WILL meet us.