Jesus and the Centurion

Matthew 8:5-13

The Problem: The Good News is no longer the most powerful, life-changing news to us.

When we read Jesus’ miracles in the Bible most of the times our thoughts go, “Well wouldn’t that be cool if he did that today for me?”

So today we are talking about one of Jesus’ miracles, and let’s see what we can pull out of this story.

Take a step back into time with me and imagine you are a Jew in Israel living in Capernaum (a center of commerce where fishing and trade were important, and the town was also a Roman tax polling station) during the time of Jesus.

Your land you deeply believe was promised you by God has been taken over by Rome. The big boy of the world. The world conquerors at this moment of history. You have heard about Jesus as this guy who has healed some people, and is a really good teacher, but he says some hard things to understand sometimes. some people think he is the Messiah who will save Israel from captivity, but you aren’t so sure.

Jesus enters Capernaum (you know Capernaum has been his home base but you haven’t run into him yet) and people are following him and starting to gather around him because they heard he just healed some lepers..

The New International Version Chapter 8

5 When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help. 6 “Lord,” he said, “my servant lies at home paralyzed, suffering terribly.”

7 Jesus said to him, “Shall I come and heal him?”

8 The centurion replied, “Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. 9 For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”

10 When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him, “Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith. 11 I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. 12 But the subjects of the kingdom will be thrown outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

13 Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go! Let it be done just as you believed it would.” And his servant was healed at that moment.

The miracle of this passage runs deeper than the healing. the healing IS powerful, and it demonstrates God’s authority over our world, but the true miracle is that the Kingdom of God is for ALL who have faith in Christ, not just the Jews, but for Jew and Gentile together.

This miracle of Jesus not only heals the servant of the centurion, but heals the race relationship, and not only that but it is a demonstration of ushering in of God’s kingdom for all who have faith.

How then do we live out this miracle practically in daily life? Ask them for responses

We can share with others how God has changed our lives with the Good News. And if you are wrestling still with whether or not you have faith in God or trust Him, that’s okay. I can tell you personally that it has changed my life and perspective of people. I can also tell you that I am still a work in progress. Yes, I have my own sin. But I find so much peace knowing that if someone like the Roman centurion could be a part of God’s kingdom, forgiven and loved, then that certainly is true for me.