He was familiar, therefore, with all the principles of obedience. Knowing from the healing of the nobleman's son, or from other reports concerning Jesus, that the realm of nature obeyed Jesus, he judged from his knowledge of earthly obedience that Jesus had those who could come and go for him, and who could carry his messages and enforce obedience to them. However, we should note that Jesus is never said to have marveled but twice. Those who think that Jesus gave or gives faith should note this fact. It would seem, however, irreconcilable with the character and affectionate nature of Christ, to bestow faith in such profusion upon this Gentile stranger, and withhold every spark of it from his near kinsmen and fellow-townsmen.
Faith is no miraculous gift.
The east and the west represent the extreme points of the compass in the directions in which the world was most thickly inhabited. Marriage feasts and other great feasts of the Jews were usually held in the evening. And the servant was healed in that hour. This document is from the Christian Classics Ethereal Library at Calvin College. Last updated on May 27, 1999.