Just a Word from Jesus

Intro:

-In America they always talk about the way to success is not so much what you accomplished, but “Who you know!”

-You can have all the education, you can have an airtight resume, you can have great references, but to this day having someone on the inside of a company how can vouch for you is still the most effective way of getting a job.

-In some ways the Kingdom of God works the same way. You can have “Great acts Kindness, Give all your money to the poor, Give your life for a worthy call” But if you don’t know somebody in Heaven who can vouch for you then you have no Hope for Salvation.

-There is an interesting story in Matthew that does a excellent job of illustrating this truth:

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.

I. His Request

Matthew 8:5–7 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?”

-(v.5) A Centurion was a military commander of the Roman Army. The Roman’s understood the Jews considered them to be unclean, so generally speaking they keep away from each other. This Centurion need superseeded the cultural barrier

(v.6) His request “My servant is paralyzed in agony” without asking Jesus responded:

(v.7) What do you need from me? The Centurion is asking Jesus to do what he could not do himself!!!

Application: The Centurion has come to the end of his rope. I would assume the Centurion has prayed to his GODS and they have not answered. I would assume the Centurion has consulted the local tribal doctor for help and he was not able to do anything. Salvation is when you come to the end of yourself because you have tried everything else and nothing satisfied

II. His Dilemma

Matthew 8:8–10 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. 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.

(v.8) Her is the Centurion problem: He recognizes his own sinfulness. He recognizes he is in the presence of a Holy Man. He recognizes that Holy Man is under no obligation to save him because he is unworthy!

Application: A person must realize they are:

We are Unworthy

He is Holy

He does not owe anything to anyone

Matthew 8:8–9 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. 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.”

(v.8b-9) Notice what the Centurion says to Jesus despite his own sense of “Unworthiness” He says “But just say the word, and my servant will be healed”

Application: Never let your sin keep you from the healing that can come through Christ.

-He tells Jesus I don’t need you to be there. You don’t have to enter my house. I realize that your power is not bound by Time & Space. I realize your Power is not of this world. You don’t need to do an examination first, you don’t need to know where I live, you don’t need to touch my servant. You know all things and have all power!!!

(v.9) The Centurion’s Analogy: “9 For I too am a man under authority, having soldiers under my command.E 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.”

-The Centurion is basically saying in a human sense I understand what it means as a ruler to give orders to people where my influence is felt miles away from where I actually resides. Remember he works for Rome. The Roman Caesar Authority extended to the Middle East although they were separated by many miles.

-He affirmed is this statement that he understood Jesus influence extended far beyond the regions of Capernaum. He affirmed that Jesus could speak a word a complete a task on the other side of the globe if he wanted to

-Jesus was astounded by this man’s faith:

III. His Exaltation

Matthew 8:10–13 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. 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.

(v.10) Jesus is amazed at this faith. He then embarrasses his Israelite family by telling them “I have not meet anyone in Israel that has exercised this much faith in me”

(v.11-12) Jesus promises a Gentile Revival and and Israelite Apostasy.

(v.13) Jesus heals both his Servant and more importantly He also heals the heart of the Roman Centurion

-This is Salvation:

a. The Recognition you have a problem that cannot be solved by human means

b. The Recognition you are not worthy of this great Gift

c. The Recognition that God’s grace is bigger than your sin

d. The Recognition that God has the power to heal your situation with

“Just a word”

e. The willingness to recieve the gift of Eternal life