Jesus is Impressed

INTRODUCTION

Human beings learn, from an early age, the value of impressing other people. They don’t have to be taught. It comes prepackaged.

That tendency never goes away. The older we get, the stronger it gets and the more sway other people begin to have.

We still desire the reward of making a good impression but we dress it up with manners and polite language.

Show-and-tell becomes the report card. Report cards become tryouts which become applications, interviews and résumés. The worst examples show up on social media or online dating profiles.

Every single system rewards the same thing: impressing the people who matter. The more the people matter the more important their opinion.

In fact, it can cause serious problems. It can lead to anxiety or moral compromise because what people think becomes the only thing that matters.

The opinion of other people drives you to a ditch: two poles of despair and arrogance.

One ditch was created through self-exaltation, the other ditch was though self-denigration.

You’re either too impressive or not impressive enough. Either way, you’re the focus and the point.

Neither mindset leads to a place of human flourishing because they’re both expressions of sinful pride.

The instinct itself is neither sinful nor a problem. It’s a natural human inclination.

Before important people, a good impression matters.

The problem is the weight those people carry.

Impressing Jesus

There’s one person who’s opinion matters more than any others. And he is not easily impressed.

What impresses other people does not impress this person. It requires you to learn a different way.

The question is never whether to make a good impression. The question is who you make it for. There’s one impression that matters most of all and it’s not your family or your friends.

The person whose opinion matters the most is the person who made you for himself. The person who gave you everything you have, the one for whom you’re meant to live.

Usually, a good impression requires self-exaltation. What impresses this person is a totally different. He not impressed by our knowledge, gifts or abilities. He doesn’t care about the trophies or awards.

The ironic thing about our passage today is who discovers this truth. It wasn’t the person that people would expect. It was a person marked by modesty and faith.

Jesus is impressed by modesty and faith.

I know that sentence raises two questions. What is modesty and what makes faith great?

The man in this story is going to answer both. So let’s pick it up in Mathew 8:5-13.

There, we’ll meet a man who was socially impressive but didn’t appeal to that when speaking to the Lord.

This story is the second in a series we’re in entitled “What Man is This?” The Sermon on the Mount gave us the words of the King. These stories show us what he does.

Last week we saw that Jesus is willing to do what other people wouldn’t. This week Jesus crosses another boundary. This time, its social and ethnic.

Jesus is willing to help a Roman Centurion because he’s impressed by his great faith. Not only was this man a political enemy. He was a high ranking officer in the occupying army.

He was the wrong race, wearing the wrong uniform and fighting for the wrong side. For all we know, he wasn’t even religious. Yet Jesus listens to what he has to say and is totally amazed by his faith.

Let’s read Matthew 8:5-13

Matthew 8:5–13 CSB

5 When he entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, pleading with him, 6 “Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, in terrible agony.” 7 He said to him, “Am I to come and heal him?” 8 “Lord,” the centurion replied, “I am not worthy to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. 9 For I too am a man under authority, having soldiers under my command. I say to this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this!’ and he does it.” 10 Hearing this, Jesus was amazed and said to those following him, “Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with so great a faith. 11 I tell you that many will come from east and west to share the banquet with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. 12 But the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” 13 Then Jesus told the centurion, “Go. As you have believed, let it be done for you.” And his servant was healed that very moment.

What does it mean for a person to be modest? What is faith and what makes it great?

These are the questions raised by our passage and Jesus provides a detailed answer.

In order for us to appreciate the answer, we must first read with first century eyes.

If you’re not familiar with the first century cultural landscape it’s hard to appreciate what Jesus does.

For Matthew, the main point isn’t the healing. It’s a footnote at the end of this story. The point of this passage is the amazement of Jesus and his indictment on Israel’s unbelief.

You can see this in how the story is organized. It begins and ends with the Centurion coming and going. From there it works towards the middle. It’s actually verses 10-12 that form the focus and main point.

It was actually the man who should’ve been proud that demonstrated a poverty of spirit. And it was actually the people who should’ve been humble who demonstrated pride and arrogance.

IMPRESSING JESUS

Let’s begin where Matthew begins which is the words of this Roman Centurion. (“Centum” is Latin for 100.)

A Roman Centurion was a military officer who oversaw between 80-100 soldiers.

Usually, these guys came up through the ranks and were the best of the best among their peers. This is a man of achievement and honor not some politico’s child.

Matthew says he “came to Jesus” and “pleaded with him” for the sake of his “servant.” The word translated servant (pais) describes a young male child who would attend to certain needs around the house.

Many Roman officials weren’t allowed to have families and hired these servants to meet their needs. It was common for a Centurion to have such a servant. What wasn’t was the care he seemed to show.

In Luke’s Gospel, this is the first encounter after Jesus’ Sermon. Luke describes the servant as “highly valued” by the Centurion and his “pleading” through Jewish religious elders.

Luke 7:2–3 CSB

2 A centurion’s servant, who was highly valued by him, was sick and about to die. 3 When the centurion heard about Jesus, he sent some Jewish elders to him, requesting him to come and save the life of his servant.

The Centurion worked through the elders for a variety of reasons. First, they owed him a favor because he helped to build their synagogue.

But the other reason was because of the cultural hostility between religious Jews and pagan Gentiles.

To enter the home of a military Gentile was though to cause “ritual defilement.” Essentially, these elders are vouching for the Centurion to say, “this one is actually an exception.”

Why were they good with this particular Gentile? Because he had done them a favor. It was common for people of high position to carry favors back and forth.

Luke 7:4–5 CSB

4 When they reached Jesus, they pleaded with him earnestly, saying, “He is worthy for you to grant this, 5 because he loves our nation and has built us a synagogue.”

Even though these elders vouched for the Centurion and he was otherwise a very impressive man. He doesn’t accept their words of praise, nor does he elevate himself.

Modest Measures

This then brings us to the first main point for a life that impresses Jesus.

Jesus isn’t looking for people of greatness but people who are humble and modest.

The reason I chose the word modesty is because of it’s original definition. It comes from the Latin “modus” which means “measure, limit or manner.”

Modesty means to measure properly.

It’s the root of words like “mode” or “moderate” which convey a balance or middle ground between two poles.

He could’ve approached Jesus with a spirit of arrogance and leveraged his political authority. Instead, he models something else.

Notice how Matthew describes the encounter.

Matthew 8:6–8 CSB

6 “Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, in terrible agony.” 7 [Jesus] said to him, “Am I to come and heal him?” 8 “Lord,” the centurion replied, “I am not worthy to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed.

On the one hand he recognizes that he is “unworthy” and TWO times he refers to Jesus as “Lord.” And yet, when Jesus asks him, “Am I to come and heal him?” he doesn’t decline the invitation.

Two Poles

The Centurion refuses merit as his plea. Even though he had merit, he leverages none. (Not his rank, resources, resume, or reputation)

He rejected merit as a source of self-commendation. And, he rejected merit as a source of self-condemnation.

On the surface these may feel like opposites but they’re two opposing sides of human pride. This man does a third thing. He tells the truth about himself and he still asks Jesus for help.

That is what Christians call Modesty. It’s a sober assessment of the facts. It’s less about the way that you dress in front of others and more about how you see yourself.

His modesty kept him from either ditch I mentioned in the introduction. He avoids both arrogance and despair.

Arrogance is thinking too highly of yourself. (He never would’ve asked for help)

Despair is thinking too lowly of yourself. (He would’ve left on Jesus’ question)

Modesty holds the truth in tension. “Lord, I am not worthy… but just say the word.”

He rejects both poles of human pride. He doesn’t say, “Act now, because I deserve it.” Nor does he say, “Don’t act, I don’t deserve it.”

He says, “I know I know don’t deserve it but would you please meet my need. Not because of who I am but who YOU ARE.”

The Mirror

Modesty is central to living as a Christian and it starts with what you see in the mirror.

Modesty sees two truths. As Tim Keller likes to say, you’re holding the tension of two great pillars in the Gospel.

(1) You’re far more sinful than you could even imagine.

(2) But, in Christ, you’re far more loved than you could ever dare to hope.

If you’re constantly looking to “prove yourself” then you’ll never become a modest person. But if you’re constantly denigrating and criticizing yourself then neither will you have the mind of Christ.

What Jesus requires is a “sober self-assessment” and one that’s not so self-absorbed. Not to think of yourself more highly than you ought. But neither to think more lowly than you ought. Self must become “less important.”

How do you view the person in the mirror?

Towards which pole do you tend to drift? Is it the pole of self-righteous arrogance or self-critical doubt and despair?

You’re a sinful person in need of a savior. You also bear God’s image and he loves you. If you have a need, you should ask (without the self obsession)!

The self-sufficient think they need not ask. They treat Jesus like he’s unnecessary.

The self-loathing think they dare not ask. They treat Jesus like he’s unavailable.

Only the modest know they “must ask” because they see the truth for what it is.

Humility isn’t thinking less of yourself. It’s thinking lesson often OF yourself. It’s shifting the focus away from you and putting the focus on another.

Which leads us to the next proper measure shown by the Roman Centurion.

Not only does he properly measure the mirror, he also sees the truth about Jesus.

The Master (v. 8b)

You can see it in the second half of Matthew 8:8

Matthew 8:8 CSB

8 “Lord,” the centurion replied, “I am not worthy to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed.

The centurion not only rightly viewed himself. He rightly viewed Jesus and his authority.

He says to Jesus, “Just say the word and my servant will be healed.”

Modesty rightly measures the power a master has through his position.

Everybody else who came to Jesus wanted a visit. A touch. A house call. This man asks for less than anyone and it wasn’t because of lower expectations.

The man asks for less because he believes even more. He knows that Jesus needs to only say the word.

He doesn’t treat Jesus like a doctor or faith healer who has to be on site to work his cure. He sees Jesus as a King over disease who need only tell it to be gone.

He addresses him as a master the kind of person whose word settles things whether he’s in the room or not.

Power Moves (v. 9)

The weight of any word is measured by who speaks it. We all know this intuitively at some level.

When someone threatens, “You’ll hear from my lawyer!” The threat empty if they don’t have a lawyer. The same is true for any number of things.

But if a doctor says your cancer is benign then that can change your whole life. It would’ve sounded the same had your child said the word but you’re doctor holds a different level of authority.

The question is never just what was said. It’s who stands behind the spoken word. The weight of a word is measured by who speaks.

The centurion knew this better than anyone, because he lived it every single day. Notice the analogy he gives in Matthew 8:9.

Matthew 8:9 CSB

9 For I too am a man under authority, having soldiers under my command. I say to this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this!’ and he does it.”

Notice how he starts by describing himself as a person who is “under authority.” The reason he could say “Go, come and do” is because of whose power he was wielding.

In the Roman Empire, authority ran downhill from Caesar. When a centurion said “go,” a soldier went not because of the centurion’s personality. What mattered wasn’t the tone of his voice but the power who gave him his rank.

Because Rome was standing behind the order. Inaction was not an option. He wasn’t defying a centurion. He defying the Roman Empire.

The Centurion illustrates a universal point. The weight of a word gets measured by who speaks it.

It’s less about the Word than the power from which it comes.

Power moves whatever sits beneath it.

“I say to this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes.; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this!’ and he does it.” (Matthew 8:9)

Being under authority was not a limit on his word. It was the reason that his word was so effective. He could say “go” from his doorway and things happen across town.

If that’s true of his power, how much more so was it true for Jesus. If my word moves men because Rome stands behind it, your word can move disease, because heaven stands behind it.

Sickness is just one more soldier in your ranks. You say “go” and it goes. (Illustration: City Construction Permit)

This man had faith because he measured properly. He rightly viewed the mirror and the power of a master.

It was actually that modesty that shaped his faith. Modesty made his faith great. What do YOU see when you look in the mirror? How do view Jesus’ authority?

GENUINE FAITH

That’s were Matthew goes next in Matthew 8:10

Matthew 8:10 CSB

10 Hearing this, Jesus was amazed and said to those following him, “Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with so great a faith.

That Jesus would compliment a Roman Centurion was a scandal unto itself. That he would use it to criticize Israel took it to another level.

Jesus wasn’t doing this to get a rise out of people He did it to show the nature of true faith.

Israel had made faith about something else, so Jesus comes along to correct the record.

If modesty means to measure properly.

Then true faith is measured practically.

Modern people think of faith as a sentimental feeling expressed with great passion and sincerity. It’s purely emotional, wishful thinking, that projects human will into the void.

That’s a terrible definition of faith! It has done tremendous damage to Christian people. Just because that’s how our culture defines faith doesn’t mean that’s what the Bible actually says.

Words get their meaning based on their context. So this context helps us know what faith is. Faith is the opposite of conviction without evidence. It’s evidence so compelling that it’s beyond any doubt.

Proven Match

At one level you can see this with the illustration in verse 9. The man appeals to an experience that’s “always the case.”

His whole life he had seen delegated authority at work and he brings that to bear on his question.

He’d proven a thousand times that an authoritative Word was sufficient to get something done. By this point, he had heard the news about Jesus (Mat 4:24) and had maybe seen the evidence with his own eyes.

So when he says “just say the word,” he isn’t gambling. His confidence is grounded in what he’s seen and heart. His faith was a match with what he knew to be the case.

It was resting on a principle proven beyond all doubt. It was resting in a person who had proven to have great power. That’s how you need to think about faith.

Faith matches what has already been proven.

That’s why Jesus was impressed. It wasn’t because of wishful thinking without evidence. It was acting on the evidence that had been proven.

Marshaled Provision (v. 13)

But that’s just the first reason faith is measured practically. The second reason is described in verse 13.

Matthew 8:13 CSB

13 Then Jesus told the centurion, “Go. As you have believed, let it be done for you.” And his servant was healed that very moment.

Faith does not just match what’s been proven.

Faith marshals God’s provision.

I didn’t (only) choose marshal because it starts with an M. It’s a great illustration of true faith.

The word marshal comes from a French word for “horse-servant.” You can hear it in the English (mare=horse, scale=servant). Many of these “horse-servants” would rise through the ranks and become the highest ranking officers on behalf of the King.

In that way, these “marshals” were just like the Centurion. A great authority who was under greater authority. Today, people hear Marshal and think “high ranking officer.” But they’re really just a servant of the King. They order, arrange and direct things according to the Master’s will.

The power of a marshal is delegated power. He never commands in his own name. Which means the power of faith isn’t “in the faith” but “the one to whom it points.”

Human faith carries great power when expressing God’s sovereign will. Faith marshals power like the centurion marshaled soldiers, not through his power but the one who sent him there.

Not Shallow Sentiment

So many people misunderstand this and leads to disappointment and anger.

Many assume that the power of faith is some how in the faith itself. Or somehow the faith depends on us to ensure that’s it’s strong or a large amount.

The centurion understood that the power of faith was located in that to which it points.

Faith in faith is not very powerful. Faith in sincerity or prayer techniques will never make much of a difference.

But when faith is expressed and rightly aligned with the will of sovereign God. That faith can do whatever GOD can do. Because the power of faith comes from its source.

Faith is MORE than shallow sentiment.

The healing came in response to faith but not in proportion to it. “As you have believed, let it be done to you.” The healing power didn’t come from the faith. It came from where the faith was placed. The healing was given by God.

Faith magnifies the authority of Christ, not the believer’s control.

That’s why faith can heal a person who doesn’t even ask to be healed.

Nobody asked the boy what he believed. But he was healed anyway. Becasue the faith wasn’t about the boy but the power of God to heal.

This is why the miracle isn’t even the point. There’s only one verse dedicated to that and and eight verses dedicated to the faith that made it happen.

The authority of Christ can heal disease with only a word, immediately with nobody to see it. Why? Because of faith that was properly placed.

Application

So many wonder, “Do I have enough faith?” You need to learn from the Centurion how biblical faith actually works.

The question isn’t do you “have enough” or is your faith “strong enough?” The question is always, “is it properly placed?” That’s all that matters.

Think of it like a climber on a mountain ledge who has honed an incredible grip. Great faith is less about the grip than what the grip is on.

Picture two climbers on a ledge. One has a trembling hand on solid rock. The other has a confident grip on a rock that’s coming loose. The climber who lives survives because of the rock, not the strength of his grip. A weak faith in a sound object will hold you every time.

Total confidence in an unstable thing will kill you when trouble comes. It’s not the strength of your hand. It’s whether the object is worthy of trust.

It’s not the size of faith that matters but the source in which it’s placed.

Faith is more than shallow sentiment. It’s more than optimism with religious vocabulary.

It is a settled response to a trustworthy word and basing EVERYTHING on that Word because of the power it represents.

That’s impressive to Jesus. That’s the ONLY thing. It’s the only time anywhere in Scripture when Jesus is positively amazed.

“Without faith it’s impossible to please God, since the one who draws near to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6)

THE ABSENCE MATTERS PERMANENTLY

But Jesus isn’t finished. He has one more thing to say, and it is the hardest sentence in this passage and a warning for you and me.

“Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with so great a faith.” (Matthew 8:10)

Some read this as an insult. I see it as a sober warning. Jesus had come to deliver Israel, but deliverance would only come one way.

Israel should’ve been waiting in faith and many thought that they were. But like many of us they had misunderstood what biblical faith requires.

They had lost a spirit of modesty. They had lost a genuine faith. As a result, they could not recognize the Messiah when he came.

The absence matters permanently.

The faith of many in Israel was the opposite of the Centurion. Whereas he rightly read the mirror, they wrongly measured the same.

Instead of looking to Scripture and the covenant mercy of God. They pointed to their Jewish bloodline. They never measured, because they assumed the measurement was settled at birth.

This was the very warning that John gave in Matthew 3:9.

Matthew 3:9 CSB

9 And don’t presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that God is able to raise up children for Abraham from these stones.

This is the exact opposite of what Jesus describes in the Sermon on the Mount.

Because they misread the mirror, they also misjudged the master. They assumed proximity to God was the same thing as submission to Him.

But Jesus had already said otherwise, one chapter before this. “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven” (Mat 7:21).

The centurion says “Lord” once and puts himself under the Word. The sons of the kingdom said it constantly but never once submitted to it.

One man treated the Word of Christ as authority before which he would submit. Isreal treated the Word of God like a privilege they could never lose.

Meeting Wrath

They misread the mirror. They misjudged the master. And Jesus tells them where that ends.

Matthew 8:11–12 CSB

11 I tell you that many will come from east and west to share the banquet with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. 12 But the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

Isaiah prophesied about a coming banquet that would accompany the Kingdom of God.

Isaiah 25:6 CSB

6 On this mountain, the Lord of Armies will prepare for all the peoples a feast of choice meat, a feast with aged wine, prime cuts of choice meat, fine vintage wine.

Those who miss the banquet will meet the wrath of God.

God promised a feast that was was extended to “all peoples.” The promise was given to all of the earth but Israel had reserved it for themselves.

Jesus says, “You’re severely wrong. Not only will they BE there, many of you WILL NOT.” He even uses the language of “east and west” which was an echo of their “homecoming” promise.

Jesus takes Israel’s homecoming anthem and puts it in the mouths of foreigners. THEY were the ones reclining at the table of the Patriarchs. To recline at this table was highest honor and among the most important company.

A Table of Mercy

The reason they could sit at God’s table is because it’s always been a table of mercy.

It’s always been a table of covenant grace for those with repentance and faith.

Nobody at God’s table “earns” their seat by boasting about themselves. It’s always given by grace through faith so none can boast.

It started with a pagan Abraham, who was called by God through mercy. And every stage of the story, his promise was advanced by faith.

God called him out of a pagan family and counted his faith as righteousness. And what was true of Abraham was true of Isaac and was also true of Jacob.

Every chair at that table is a gift of sovereign grace. Kingdom people don’t “earn their wages.” God’s kingdom is a gracious gift that’s received from faith to faith.

The Outer Darkness

Those not at the table are “thrown into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

One mouth enjoys the finest food while the other grinds their teeth.

Remember, Jesus gives this warning to people like you and me. People who are tempted to point to their religious resume.

He didn’t say it to the Roman pagan. He gave it for the people in the pew. So whether your like this Roman pagan or a religious Israelite - the only thing that impresses Jesus is modesty and faith.

So we should do some measuring today:

What’s your faith resting on? Your childhood faith? A baptism ritual? The reputation you have in the church?

When did you last come to God without making a case for yourself? When’s the last time you looked to Jesus and said, “I know that I’m not worthy. But I’m so thankful for your saving grace.”

Are there ever moments where you decide God’s table isn’t for “those people?” Have you mistaken what pleases God for religious pedigree?

Everything that impresses people requires you to exalt yourself. Impressing God requires the opposite. Are you willing to do what it takes?

THE CHRIST CONNECTION

Here’s the most astonishing thing about this miracle story. Everything Jesus commends in the story he demonstrates in his own life.

Jesus belonged at the banquet table more than any other person. And yet he was cast to outer darkness so you and I could recline.

Jesus was also fully man and he lived under authority. His authority was the Father’s will and he was submitted to the end. (John 5:19; 8:28, 12:49) The authority that Jesus wielded was a result of living under authority.

At his trial, nobody made his case for him. The centurion had elders pleading his worthiness; Jesus had witnesses inventing his guilt.

And the one thing he asked his Father for in the garden was the thing that the Father did not will. Yet Jesus submitted himself in faith and said, “Not my will but yours be done.”

Jesus did what the centurion did. He lived under the Father’s authority. As a result, he was faithful to absorb God’s wrath for us.

Jesus was thrown outside the gate. Jesus was cast into the darkness. Jesus cried out and gnashed his teeth, “My God, why have you forsaken me?”

Why? So that you and I could come to the banquet and sit at the Table of mercy.

Jesus paid the ultimate price so that any “all nations” could come to the table. From east and west, north and south, everyone is invited. All you need to recline is a heart of repentance and faith.

Repentance is agreeing with God about the facts. You’re far worse off than you even imaged. But in Christ you’re more loved than you ever dared to hope.

In response to Jesus’ faith, God raised him from the dead. And because of Jesus’ obedience, your sins have been forgiven. All you need for God’s saving power to wash away your sin is a modest spirit and simple faith that Jesus can save.

The evidence is already there. God raised Jesus from the dead. Faith in Jesus is not blind. There is evidence for you to see. Even the Roman soldier confessed at the cross of Christ. “Truly, this man was the son of God.” (Matthew 27:54)

CONCLUSION:

Imagine how different your life would be if you lived with modest faith?

Imagine a church where people aren’t competing to outshine the other.

A church that knows they saved by mercy and extend mercy to every person. That’s the invitation before us today if we are willing to respond.

Jesus isn’t for people who have it together. Neither is Jesus for people, who think they can’t be saved. “God resists the proud but he gives grace to the humble.”

The only man impressive to Jesus was a man who could’ve been proud but instead he humbled himself and acted on the truth of God’s Word.

Will you repent also act on what God’s Word has said? Today can be the day.

Measure yourself honestly. Take Jesus at his word. And ask him to save you and bring you to God’s table.