When Jesus spoke about great faith, He didn’t attribute it to a religious leader or someone performing an “amazingly religious” act. Instead, it was the actions of a Gentile—a Roman soldier—that inspired Jesus, leading Him to exclaim, “I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel” (Matthew 8:10). This soldier’s encounter with Jesus offers a powerful insight into how Jesus perceives us and how He desires to work with us.

When the soldier approached Jesus asking for help, Jesus offered to accompany him. Surprisingly, the soldier declined, instead urging Jesus to “only say the word.” This Roman centurion—a man accustomed to the absolute authority of the Roman chain of command—recognized Jesus’ authority. He believed Jesus didn’t need to be physically present; He simply needed to issue the command, and the servant would be healed.

Upon hearing this, Jesus offered His highest praise: a Gentile who would simply “take me at my word and believe it” for the healing of his servant. Great faith isn’t about our religious effort; it’s about absolute confidence in His authority.