THE CENTURION’S FAITH
Matt. 8:5-13
As we continue our series on the places where Jesus said, “I tell you the truth” we find ourselves in Matt. 8 where Jesus was actually astonished over someone’s level of faith.
1) What do we see in the Centurion that showed his faith (5-9)?
• He looked to Jesus. The Centurion was concerned about his servant. In Luke’s version of this event, it says that the servant was about to die. This shows that it was a grave situation. Luke’s version also states that this servant was highly valued by the Centurion. Masters didn’t care about their servants like that-they considered them disposable property when they got sick. But the Centurion was different-he cared.
The Centurion’s journey to Jesus was preceded by a reason; something that prompted him to go to Jesus. And in his great concern he sought Jesus to meet his need. He could’ve gone after others in the land-magicians, soothsayers, healers but instead he looked to Jesus. He had heard about Jesus’ healing ability and because of his faith he knew Jesus was the one that could make his servant well.
What about us? When we have a concern or are in a desperate situation are we turning to Jesus? When trouble or sickness comes to us or someone we care about is prayer our initial response? There are many things or people we could turn to for help but first and foremost we need to look to Jesus. The Centurion had a problem and in faith he turned to Jesus.
• He had humility. In Luke’s version it has the Centurion sending others to ask Jesus for help. Both are true, it’s just that Luke gives the fuller version of events while Matthew condensed it to highlight the main exchange-between Jesus and the Centurion. Regardless of the variations the point remains-the Centurion humbled himself to ask Jesus for help.
A Centurion is an officer in the Roman army who was in charge of a company of 100 men. To have that position meant you were smart, powerful and respected. It would be easy to find yourself to be a proud individual. Typically men, especially men who are in positions of authority, have a hard time asking for help. It can be construed as a weakness. So, for this Centurion to go to Jesus, a foreigner no less, and ask for help was a big thing.
And notice that the Centurion addressed Jesus as Lord. He wouldn’t have used this term unless he saw Jesus as the higher authority. In his humility he was able to acknowledge that the one who had the true power and authority was not himself-but Jesus.
And the Centurion’s humility is seen in saying to Jesus, “I don’t deserve to have you come to my house”. In that day a Jew defiled himself if he went to the house of a gentile but I think he said this because he recognized Jesus’ holiness vs. his own unholiness.
In Luke’s version, the Centurion said, I do not consider myself worthy. We need to understand that we are unworthy; undeserving of Christ and salvation through him. Pride will keep us from recognizing our need for Jesus. Pride will not allow us to come to him; we will think we can do it ourselves. Pride will not allow me to think there’s a power greater than myself. In order to have faith, we need to be humble.
• He believed in the power of Jesus. “But just say the word and my servant will be healed”. In Luke’s version the people that went to Jesus on behalf of the Centurion were Jewish elders. They spoke highly of the Centurion, saying that he loved the nation of Israel and even built their synagogue. So it seems likely that the Centurion was a believer in Israel’s God even though he was a gentile. This belief would serve as the basis for him trusting in Jesus.
The Centurion had a remarkable level of trust in Jesus’ ability and power. Jesus was willing to go with him and heal the servant on site. It would’ve been easier for the Centurion to not say anything and let Jesus do what he had already agreed to. It would’ve provided more security to have Jesus be a physical presence and heal his servant on site. But the Centurion wanted Jesus to know he didn’t need him to do that.
“Just say the word”. The Centurion understood the power of the spoken word. He, being in the army, knew the power of a command. He had followed them when they were given to him and his soldiers followed his. He knew what is was like to be subject to authority and so, in recognizing Jesus as the supreme authority, he had faith, confidence and trust that if Jesus said it, it would be done.
What about us? Do we believe in what the bible says or do we need physical proof? 2nd Cor. 5:7, “We live by faith, not by sight.” Do we believe in the promises of God simply because we believe the bible to be true or are we skeptical until we see them come to pass? Heb. 11:1, “Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” Seeing is not believing when it comes to faith. If we believe then we will see. The Centurion believed without first seeing; he was certain of what he did not see. Was he tempted to doubt on the way home? Probably. Did he regret not having Jesus come with him? No; he trusted in the healing power of Jesus.
2) Jesus’ response (10-13).
• He was astonished. There are only two incidents where it records Jesus being amazed. Here and in Mark 6:6 where, ironically, he was amazed at their lack of faith.
Mark 6:1-6. It’s interesting that the people were amazed when they heard Jesus but yet they had a lack of faith. The people were perplexed and surprised that Jesus could teach like he did. Their amazement stemmed from their inability to figure out how this carpenter that grew up around them could do such amazing things. And instead of taking that as a confirmation of his divine ability, they dismissed it; taking offense at Jesus. Probably because of the absurdity of it they concluded that he must be a phony; a magician of some sort trying to fool them into following him.
Jesus was amazed at how skeptical and unbelieving his own people were towards him. Obviously growing up around them they would’ve seen his integrity and morality. If they had thought about it for a minute they would’ve realized that they had never seen Jesus sin, cheat anyone, get out of line in any way. Yet, despite the evidence of his holy lifestyle they dismissed him with a reluctance to believe.
Contrast that with the Centurion, who, didn't have the privilege of knowing Jesus personally yet possessed great faith. He had only heard about Jesus and yet believed so deeply that he knew Jesus could speak and heal. What’s interesting is that as far as I know, up to this point, Jesus had not healed anyone like this. So, this Centurion believed that Jesus could do something that he had not yet shown he was capable of. I think for these reasons, Jesus was astonished.
There’s something else interesting to note regarding Jesus being astonished over the Centurion’s faith and his people’s lack of it. The Fourfold Gospel commentary, “Those who think that Jesus gave or gives faith should note this fact. If Jesus had given the centurion faith, he could not have been surprised to find that he had it; and, if he failed to bestow it upon the people of Nazareth, it would have been inconsistent in him to express surprise at their lack of it. 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. Faith means no more nor less than belief; and a man believes the Scripture facts in the same manner and by the same processes that he believes any other facts.” What this means is since Jesus was astonished then faith could not be a gift for if it was he would not have been astonished by the Centurion’s possession of it and his own people’s lack of it. And it makes the point that faith is not given to some but not others but is available to all. God blesses everyone with the ability to have faith. Do we possess it or do we lack it?
• He was revealing. Jesus takes the opportunity to shed a little light on the situation for his fellow Jews, the ones who should’ve believed; the ones who should be exhibiting the faith the Centurion, the non-Jew, was. He makes it clear that many of the people who will be in heaven will be gentiles, while many of the Jews will not. This would have floored them (they would’ve been amazed) because they thought they were the shoo-ins because of being God’s chosen ones; descendents of Abraham (John 8:33).
Where the Centurion was humble recognizing that he was undeserving and unworthy, the Jews were the opposite-they did feel worthy; they did feel they deserved to go to heaven. Jesus wanted them to see that what they thought was going to reserve them a place in heaven was not true. They needed to be humble; they needed faith in him-like the Centurion had.
What about us? We who are born again should be the ones exhibiting great faith. Sometimes, however, we act as if we had no faith at all. Sometimes, the person who is not a believer displays a better characteristic of Christ than the follower of Christ does. I know a couple of non-Christians who live and act better than most Christians I know.
At one time there was this homeless guy who used to stop by the church every now and then. He rode his bike around, collecting cans. I took him to lunch one day. As I listened to him talk, he wasn’t complaining about his situation; he wasn’t worried about things. In fact, quite the opposite-he was grateful! He was thankful for the blessings in his life. As far as I know he wasn’t a follower of Jesus-but I was. And I was convicted that if the roles were reversed I probably would not have his attitude-but I should have because I was the one who was born again. I was the one who had received eternal life. I was the one that understood who Jesus was and what he had done in my life.
Sometimes it’s the non-Christian who acts more like Jesus than the Christian does. If we find ourselves in a situation where Jesus reveals that to us we should be amazed at our lack of faith?
• He was rewarding. “Just as you believed”. Jesus acknowledged the Centurion’s faith and rewarded it accordingly. “That very hour”. The servant was healed when Jesus spoke. Jesus showed that he could heal without the need of touch. He had power in the spoken word. He was showing his divine power since, in the beginning, we know that God spoke creation into existence.
We saw Jesus’ spoken power when the disciples were in the boat and the storm arose. Jesus spoke to the wind and the waves and all became still. It says that the disciples were amazed (astonished) when they realized that Jesus had such power to command nature to obey.
The power of Jesus’ word was seen when he raised Lazarus from the dead. Mary and Martha thought Jesus needed to be present in order for their brother to be healed. But Jesus showed that he didn’t need to touch Lazarus. He called out to him and Lazarus rose from the dead and came walking out of the tomb.
Do we recognize the supreme healing power of Jesus? If it’s his will, Jesus can heal you. I’m not saying there’s no need for doctors or medicine but I’m saying our faith should not be in people or things. Jesus has shown that he has awesome healing power. The question is-do we have the faith that he can heal us?
Maybe we have a long-standing affliction that we’ve just grown accustomed to; thinking it’s something we will have to deal with it the rest of our lives. Maybe we prayed at one time for it to be taken away but after a while when nothing got better we stopped praying. My advice is to not give up. Unless the Holy Spirit tells you to stop praying because it’s not in God’s plan to heal you then continue praying for God’s healing miracle.
Maybe you’re in a situation where the doctors have said, “There’s nothing more that can be done”. And so, because of that news, you have given up all hope of being healed. My advice to you-don’t give up.
I’m not going to tell you I have all the answers as to why God heals some and not others. All I can say is that if he doesn’t there’s a good reason. And it’s not because he doesn’t love you. He loved Paul but when he pleaded for his affliction to be taken away his request was denied. Jesus told him “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
Paul accepted the Lord’s will and saw the purpose behind it. He responded with, “Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
But even if Jesus doesn’t heal one affliction that doesn’t mean he won’t heal a different one. Continue to pray for healing. We need to allow for God’s will but it doesn’t change the fact that he has all power and ability. When we trust in that, somehow, some way, our faith will be rewarded.
