I have had the privilege to work for many different organizations through the years. It has been my experience that not every employer is kind and caring toward their employees. While some were fair, not every boss had compassion for the welfare of their workers. When we think of military leaders, compassionate and generous may not be the top two adjectives that come to mind. Yet, in today's reading we will see how Jesus was impressed with a Gentile Roman Centurion's faith, more than anyone else in Israel.
Matthew and Luke are the two disciples who chose to record this miracle. You can read along in Matthew 8:5-13 and Luke 7:1-10. The miracle Jesus performs is for the servant of a Roman soldier. We do not ever know the servant's name, if he was a Jew or Gentile, or if he even knew Jesus at all. We learn a great deal about the unnamed Centurion, though, and it is his great faith that moves Jesus to grant this man's request.
Centurions were not just soldiers. These were leaders over 100 or some accounts say several hundred. This man of war knew how to submit to authority and how to exercise his authority over others. He understood the power of a command. Beyond his military experience, we read in Luke that this man was also generous. He loved his country and funded the building of a synagogue for the Jews to worship.
MATTHEW 8:5-6 And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto Him a centurion, beseeching Him, And saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented.
LUKE 7:1-5 Now when He had ended all His sayings in the audience of the people, He entered into Capernaum. And a certain centurion's servant, who was dear unto him, was sick, and ready to die. And when he heard of Jesus, he sent unto Him the elders of the Jews, beseeching Him that He would come and heal his servant. And when they came to Jesus, they besought Him instantly, saying, That he was worthy for whom He should do this: For he loveth our nation, and he hath built us a synagogue.
The centurion sent for Jesus but he did not tell the men to say nice things about him. They spoke of this man's character and integrity because of who this man was publicly and privately. He was deeply concerned about his servant and the Bible tells us that the servant was dear to him. He is not worried about losing a good worker or how this will impact his bottom dollar. He genuinely wants his cherished servant to be well.
Jesus must have been asked to a lot of people's homes to perform miracles and to heal diseases. Yet, Jesus did not hesitate to go this man's home. Just like Jesus told the leper who asked to be healed, Jesus is saying to this centurion, "I want to. I will."
MATTHEW 8:7 And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him.
LUKE 7:6a Then Jesus went with them.
What would you do if you found out Jesus was coming to your house? Would you be glad? Would you panic? The Roman soldier humbled himself to request this healing but he did not want to trouble Jesus. He had deep respect for Jesus. But he did not want Jesus to come to his home. He wants Jesus to heal the servant but his faith is so strong that he tells Jesus to just command the miracle to be and he believed that it would be just as Jesus said. He knew the power of Jesus' words could bridge the distance and his servant would be healed.
MATTHEW 8:8-9 The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that Thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed. For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.
LUKE 7:6b-8 And when he was now not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to Him, saying unto Him, Lord, trouble not Thyself: for I am not worthy that Thou shouldest enter under my roof: Wherefore neither thought I myself worthy to come unto Thee: but say in a word, and my servant shall be healed. For I also am a man set under authority, having under me soldiers, and I say unto one, Go, and he goeth; and to another Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.
Remember the centurion did not speak to Jesus face to face. He did not feel worthy to even be in His presence. He just wanted the Lord to command the illness to leave his servant and he had no doubt that it would be done. Scripture tells us what Jesus thought about that. A Gentile career military officer had so much faith in Jesus to heal his servant that Jesus said this man had more faith than anyone else in all of Israel!
How is our faith? What are we asking God for? Do we believe in the authority Jesus has over cancer, chronic pain, financial distress, chaos with our children, anxiety and depression? Can Jesus do what we are asking of Him? The centurion did not doubt for one moment what Jesus could do. He was bold enough to ask and courageous enough to believe. We must ask ourselves if we are that bold and courageous.
MATTHEW 8:10-13 When Jesus heard it, He marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and the west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the Kingdom of heaven. But the children of the Kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so shall it be done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour.
LUKE 7:9-10 When Jesus heard these things, He marvelled at him, and turned Him about, and said unto the people that followed Him, I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. And they that were sent, returning to the house, found the servant whole that had been sick.
Why did Jesus say all that about Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob? What could that have to do with healing the centurion's servant? The point Jesus is making is that not all the Israelites would be in heaven. This man was not a Jew and yet he would be sitting at the table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the Kingdom of heaven. The children of the Kingdom who are cast into outer darkness refer to the lost sheep who refuse to listen to the Good Shepherd. The Gentile has a place in God's Kingdom because he had great faith in Jesus. We all have the opportunity to make heaven our Home. Have you believed on Jesus? Do you recognize that He is the Son of God, the Holy One? If you do, then you are saved. If you do not believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Christ, the Savior of the world, then you need to put your trust in Him today. Let today be your day of salvation.
This is a wonderful miracle that impacted the centurion and his servant and countless others connected to these two men. We know that it is to increase our faith that Jesus can do anything we ask, think, or even imagine. There is more to this story, though. This is an invitation for whosoever will to receive the free gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Do you know Him as Lord and Savior? I pray that you do!
I hope that you are encouraged today as you read this miracle of Jesus Christ. Jesus healed the centurion's servant who was paralyzed and near death. What a Savior indeed! May today's blog post be strength for your journey and light for your way. God bless you!
~Bridgett Owens
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