Love in Action, Episode 2

“Soldiers, Servants and Sons”
Matt. 8:5-13 points to 2 things all human beings struggle with: authority and ability. We want to be our own authority in life but we quickly realize we don’t have the ability to do what only God can do. It is not just people like Tiger Woods who find it difficult to humble themselves and admit the need for help. In the story of Jesus healing the Centurion’s servant we see Christ’s authority as Lord and ability as God, which takes the pressure off of us and shows us we are simply called to cooperate with God.

First we see the Soldier. Centurions were in charge of 100 foot soldiers. The Roman army was broken into units: there was the legion comprised of 6000 men (5300 infantry, 700 cavalry); each legion was divided into 10 cohorts of 600; each cohort had 6 centuries, with 100 men each. The Century was the smallest unit of the army, commanded by a Centurion, a long-term professional soldier in charge of discipline in the regiment. They were the backbone of the Roman Army; the glue that held it together. Centurions were men of wealth & power. Promoted through the ranks, they were at times paid as much as 15 times more than regular soldiers. They had better housing than the local population. They were trusted men of integrity. Their word was law. While both extremes of the social structure of that day were represented; the Centurion was an outsider like the leper. Lepers were the classic outsiders, barred from participating in Israel’s worship and social life. Centurions were also classic outsiders, being Gentiles and not Jews. They were provisionally barred from Israel’s inner life. Lepers could not enter Jerusalem at all. Gentiles could, but could go no farther into the temple than the outer court of the Gentiles. Only a leper was considered more unclean than a Gentile.

But there was something significantly different about his man in that he cared for his servant. He was unlike others who treated them with contempt; or like possessions in those days. He had an amazing attitude toward his servant. He was resolute in his aim to do whatever he could for his servant who was sick. He loved his servant. He was a man of faith; He wanted Jesus to help and heal his servant so he made a faith-based request “Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed at home, suffering terribly”, not merely a statement but an implied request. Jesus says to him, “I will come and heal him” and the Centurion humbly says “Lord, I am not worthy to have you under my roof, but only say the word, and my servant will be healed”. A humble man, he called Jesus Lord, recognized who Jesus was. This soldier was under the authority of the Roman emperor. When he spoke he had the full strength of Rome behind him. When he spoke it was as if the emperor spoke, so great was his power and so solid was the strength of the Roman army and the backing of the Roman Empire. His word was obeyed because of it. But this powerful man who was used to giving orders recognized Jesus’ authority above his own. He understood when Jesus spoke He spoke with God’s authority. When Jesus spoke it was God speaking. He believed Jesus’ words were God’s words. Jesus marveled at his great faith, which He said, was more than He had seen in all Israel, among those who should have shown such faith in Him.

Next we see the Servant. You notice right away something significant about him: he didn’t do anything; someone else acted on his behalf. He received God’s blessing due to the request of his master, appealing to God on his behalf. The servant held a very low place in society. He was not worth much to people. In those days slaves were things, they did not matter. No one cared if they suffered or whether they lived or died. Aristotle said: “There can be no friendship or justice towards inanimate things; indeed, not even towards a horse or an ox, nor yet towards a slave as a slave. For master and slave have nothing in common; a slave is a living tool, just as a tool is an inanimate slave”. A slave was no better to people then than a thing. They had no legal rights, the Roman legal expert Gaius said “We may note that it is universally accepted that the master possesses the power of life and death over the slave”. The only difference in people’s minds between a slave and an animal was that a slave could speak. So it was shocking the Centurion would be so concerned for him. Not the normal attitude of master to slave. He was not treated with contempt or like a possession, but more like a son. He was suffering greatly (some scholars think he had polio by the description) and God healed him. Jesus said to the Centurion, “Go (notice the authoritative order), let it be done for you as you have believed; and the servant was healed that very moment”. Instantaneous, long-distance healing.

We also see the Sons. One group directly referred to, the other implied. With regard to the Centurion’s faith Jesus said “Many will come from east and west and recline at the table with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, but the sons of the Kingdom will be thrown into outer darkness, in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth”. This is a classic description of hell & eternal punishment. No one likes to think about it, but all who do not believe will spend eternity there, away from the presence of God. There are the ‘Sons of the kingdom’, Jews that did not believe, who thought they were favored due to their heritage. They believed when Messiah came there would be a great banquet where all Jews would sit down and feast. They never dreamed any Gentile would be invited. They should have known Is. 25-6-9 which speaks of what God will do for believers from all nations. These are the ‘Sons of Abraham’, those who believe and are justified by faith, sons of God by faith (Rom. 9:30-32. Gal. 2:16; 3:16, 26, 29; 4:4, 7). The Gentile Centurion was not a ‘son of the kingdom’ but seems to be a son of God by faith because he trusted in the Jewish Messiah for this need.

There are lessons for us today in this story.

The 1st is about Humility. The Centurion, as a servant of God, considered himself unworthy, humble before God and man. This man who was over others put himself under Christ; and was able to treat someone considered worthless (his servant) as very valuable. Illustrates the gospel truth that in Christ’s church people get along who would never get along outside. The essence of humility is that you know who God is, you know who you are, and you know the difference (Rom. 12:3; Phil. 2:3). When we are truly humble we have an attitude that says ‘God is God and I am not. I know how I truly am and God knows better than me. I am at His mercy and it is not the other way around. He is so far greater, better and stronger than me – I need Him to live and to do anything that pleases Him. I know that I am unworthy of His love but also that He loves me and considers me of value. We are able to see people through God’s eyes – with compassion, love and grace; gracious towards others because God is gracious with us.

The 2nd lesson has to do with Faith. The Centurion believed that Jesus’ word was sufficient to heal his servant. He believed that when Jesus spoke, God spoke. That His authority is God’s authority and His Word is effective because it is God’s Word. Therefore he acknowledged Christ’s authority as Lord and His ability as God and he trusted Him. The servant was healed because God chose to heal him. What part did the Centurion’s faith play? He trusted in God’s authority and ability to do it. If you do the same what difference should that make in your life? You will see God at work & will consider Him your highest authority. You will count His Word as preeminent among all others. You won’t be able to get enough of it. You will listen to Him, learn from Him, follow Him, obey Him. Believe. You will trust Him; stake your life upon Him. The overriding ‘governor’ of your life will be God’s Word, not your own understanding. It is revealed in common everyday life: in family life, work and business, school and church settings – anywhere people interact and make choices (Heb. 11:6).

Matthew favors a condensed style, so he does not mention every detail. Luke gives us more. In Luke 7:1-10, Jewish leaders say many good things to Jesus on the Centurion’s behalf that they thought made him worthy to be helped by Jesus. ‘He likes us and treats us well’. ‘He built our church for us’. The Centurion knew he wasn’t worthy. Jesus made it clear that faith is the only thing that mattered; His favor cannot be earned or bought; the Scriptures make it very clear salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, for God’s glory alone. We are unworthy and unable. God is worthy and able. Without God we are without hope. Faith is a gift from God that makes us humble before Him.

Just like the Centurion’s servant didn’t do anything; someone else acted on his behalf. Jesus acted on our behalf – Jesus, the Son of God, the Suffering Servant (Is. 53), took our sin upon Himself and paid the penalty a holy God required for that sin. Of his own free will the Centurion went out of his way for someone else – someone so far beneath him in that culture – but on the same level in God’s eyes. Jesus, doing the willing of the Father, went out of His way for us who were as good as dead, slaves to sin, sentenced to death, in bondage to decay, destined for eternal damnation – dead in sin. Jesus, in the Gospel, restores what sin destroys; relationships, families, bodies, communities, careers. Jesus restores marred humanity to the image of God. Jesus reclaims what man discards and disowns. God did what we could not, bridging the gap between us and Him caused by our sin. In Christ we are overwhelmed by the fact we are more sinful than we ever dared imagine, but more loved and accepted than we ever dared hope. Christ is able to do what we cannot; and He is worthy of all our praise.

Soli Deo Gloria