Luke 7:9 Now when Jesus heard this, He marveled at him, and turned and said to the crowd that was following Him, “I say to you, not even in Israel have I found such great faith.” (NASB)
Jesus said these words about a person. Do you know who? Think for a second before you continue reading. The person Jesus was referring to one who had wealth and prestige in his community. Many officials in his city thought highly of him. Many people loved him, because he built something they needed. Many came on his behalf so that Jesus could do this man a favor. Imagine the surprise of many Jews when Jesus said these words. “I say to you, not even in Israel have I found such great faith.”
This Centurion, whose name we do not know, had more faith than any of the Jewish people and Israel. What Jesus was saying is that since the time of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham, there hasn’t been a man who has shown this great faith before! This is a reminder that God is always looking for people of faith. We shouldn’t focus on what people think of us, but rather, we should focus on, does God see me as a person of great faith?