An Uncommon Faith

Last week we finished the study on the sermon on the mount. The last verse in chapter 7 gives us the reaction of those listening.

Matthew 7:28–29 CSB

28 When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, 29 because he was teaching them like one who had authority, and not like their scribes.

Trans: As we continue through the life of Christ, today we are going to see another glimpse of Jesus authority in the healing of the centurion’s servant.

Luke 7:1–10 CSB

1 When he had concluded saying all this to the people who were listening, he entered Capernaum. 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. 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.” 6 Jesus went with them, and when he was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to tell him, “Lord, don’t trouble yourself, since I am not worthy to have you come under my roof. 7 That is why I didn’t even consider myself worthy to come to you. But say the word, and my servant will be healed. 8 For I too am a man placed 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.” 9 Jesus heard this and was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd following him, he said, “I tell you, I have not found so great a faith even in Israel.” 10 When those who had been sent returned to the house, they found the servant in good health.

An Urgent Request

A servant/slave is dying. Not only is he dying but Matthew records that he was paralyzed and in excruciating pain.

Matthew 8:6 CSB

6 “Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, in terrible agony.”

What is unique about this request is found in Luke 7:2

Luke 7:2 CSB

2 A centurion’s servant, who was highly valued by him, was sick and about to die.

In this period of time slaves were viewed as tool to be utilized. When a tool was worn out they were simply discarded often by execution. Dignitaries and men of authority did not fraternize with salves and servants. But here we see that the request was made by the centurion himself. The scripture tells us that the Centurion slave was dear to him. Dear enough to him to request the help of a Jewish man, Jesus.

Two Conflicting appeals

I. The Jewish Elders made the appeal on behalf of the centurion, based upon their standard of worthiness.

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.”

Application: How often do we believe that God answers prayers based upon a person’s worth instead of the grace and merit of Jesus’ work on the cross? When God answers prayer it is never because we are worthy, but rather because He is good.

Throughout the N.T. we see this was the common understanding of the religious Jews and one a point of constant contention with Jesus. A “good person” a “worthy person” would not associate with gentiles and sinners” let alone have compassion and serve them.

Transition: Yet...

II. The centurion made the appeal understanding that his works did nothing to make him worthy of Jesus attention.

Luke 7:6–7 CSB

6 Jesus went with them, and when he was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to tell him, “Lord, don’t trouble yourself, since I am not worthy to have you come under my roof. 7 That is why I didn’t even consider myself worthy to come to you. But say the word, and my servant will be healed.

Application:

His appeal did not come from his works, but from faith in Jesus’ authority.

III. The Centurion’s Faith

It is obvious that this centurion is an important man. However, centurions were actually consider one of the lower ranks. He would have been in charge of a hundred men and part of a legion usually made up of 6,000 soldiers.

However, it is obvious that he was one of the social elites. He had money enough to finance the building of a synagogue and had servants.

As a Roman he would have most likely had many gods. Caesar would have been one of them. Yet he recognized in Jesus an authority that not even caesar possessed.

In the last decade, it has been unfortunate to often witness that in the American church more focus on who is sitting behind the oval office than who is sits on the Throne of heaven.

Do I like watching the erosion of our liberties? No. Do I like sin being written into law, of course not. It bothers me. But I must remember, that ultimately I do not serve the nations or governments of this world. I serve the King of Kings and Lord of Lords and he has granted me all freedom serve in His Kingdom. And the kingdoms of this world are not my first loyalty or my first concern because I serve one greater authority.

Trans: The centurion recognized

B. He recognized Jesus’s Authority as greater than Caesar and His own.

This would have been significant admittance that someone who was a representation of Rome to acknowledge the authority of a Jewish man, a citizen of a conquered nation would appeal to Jesus in this way.

Luke 7:7–8 CSB

7 That is why I didn’t even consider myself worthy to come to you. But say the word, and my servant will be healed. 8 For I too am a man placed 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.”

B. It was his Roman understanding of authority that produced such an astonishing faith.

Luke 7:8 CSB

8 For I too am a man placed 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.”

Nowhere was it recorded that Jesus had performed this type of miracle before. Not only was the centurion asking for a miracle, but also one that had never been performed.

Yet he understood that those with authority can command all those under them and they must obey. He obviously recognized that all things including disease have been made subject to Christ.

Application: Matthew foreshadows for us that the focus of this passage is not truly the centurion or the sick servant but rather Jesus’ authority over all things.

Matthew 7:28–29 CSB

28 When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, 29 because he was teaching them like one who had authority, and not like their scribes.

Matthew shows us not only does Jesus have authority over religious matters but also over diseased and rulers of this world.

IV. Faith and a Lack of faith

Matthew 8:10–12 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.”

How is it possible that Jesus was “amazed”. We often forget while in Jesus Divinity He knew all things. Yet in his humanity he emptied Himself and limited himself to only knowing what the Father revealed to Him. we see this in Luke 2:52

Luke 2:52 CSB

52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and with people.

Luke 4:1 CSB

1 Then Jesus left the Jordan, full of the Holy Spirit, and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness

Jesus was led by the Spirit. Jesus did not set-aside His deity, but rather practiced self-limitation to live as man.

John 5:19 CSB

19 Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, the Son is not able to do anything on his own, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, the Son likewise does these things.

He had all the power of God in human form and in that power chose to limit himself to only what the father revealed to him.

He lived this way as our example. We too are to live by the spirit of God.

A. No faith like this in all of Israel.

Isreal had every reason to have this type of faith. They had been given the Law. The nation was born out of slavery from one miraculous event after another. Their ancestors witnessed the 10 plagues, the red sea splitting, the miraculous conquest of the promise land and yet this Roman soldier had greater faith than they.

In fact Jesus made this statement that would have perplexed and infuriated the religious in his audience.

Matthew 8:10–12 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.”

B. Jesus made it clear that no birthright or religious affiliation will allow you to gain entrance into heaven.

The Religious leaders believed that they would find special favor with God in the day of Judgement because of their heritage and religion.

Good News:

The Good news is that Jesus has all authority over all things. He has the authority over life and death, kings and rulers. He can be trusted and even in the height of glory His accessible to all who will seek Him. No matter your race, background, or social class. Jesus promises that all those who come to Him will never be turned away.