Bro. M. K. Shivakumar
Today we are going to see three things from a miracle Jesus did for the Centurion’s servant in Matthew 8. These truths are necessary for us in our daily spiritual life, so that we may grow in Christ.
1. Humility
2. Faith in Jesus’ Power
3. Distance not a barrier
Jesus came down from the mountain after a long teaching, came to Capernaum which was a small fishing town located on the northern side of the Sea of Galilee about 100 miles north of Jerusalem. It was the home town of a number of Jesus’ disciples: Peter, James, John, Andrew, and Matthew. Although Jesus was from Nazareth, Capernaum became his new hometown and was the center of many of his activities and miracles.
The centurion was a commanding offer of 100 men in the Roman army. The Roman government had invaded and conquered the land of the Jews. This army was a kind of military police with complete authority. Many of the Jewish people hated the Romans. He was a gentile. But this man, beyond the prejudice and the hatred of Jews, he fell in love with their God (Jesus).
Jesus had just completed the message that is known as the Sermon on the Mount.
Verse 6: “Lord,” he said, “my servant lies at home paralyzed, suffering terribly.”
He addresses Jesus as “Lord” (or kurios in Greek) means master or the one who rules over me. “I am your servant.” He recognizes Jesus as Messiah.
1) Humility
The centurion acknowledged his unworthiness to have Jesus in his house.
This gentile officer had a servant who is paralyzed and suffering greatly. So he asked Jesus for help. He was asking for someone who was working under him but not for himself. So we can also intercede for others to Jesus, He will be willing and also able to help us.
Jesus said, “Shall I come and heal him?”
Jesus did not say to the centurion, “I will come and see what I can do” or “I am tired after teaching” or “I am hungry, come and see me later.” Jesus said, “I will come and heal him.”
Verse 8: “Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed.”
The greatest part he acknowledges is his unworthiness. Let’s look at a few examples of people who confessed their unworthiness.
In Luke 18, we see the tax collector in the template praying alongside the pharisee. The tax collector beats his chest and says, “God be merciful to me, a sinner.”
In Luke 15, In the parable of the prodigal son, the son confesses, “I am no longer worthy to be called your son.”
Are we acknowledging our unworthiness always whenever we are in His presence?
2) The Faith of the Centurion
Let’s now look at the centurion’s faith: The centurion believed that Jesus had the power to heal his servant, that his one word could heal him.
We see when Jesus was raising Lazarus from the dead after 4 days. Jesus was asking the people around him to roll the stone away, but Martha said, “Lord, by this time there is a bad odor if we open.” Jesus said to her, “If you believe, you will see the glory of God.”
How is our faith? Let’s examine ourselves. Is it like the centurion who believed that Jesus’ one word can heal his servant?
Pslam 107:20: “He sent out his word and healed them”
Isa 55:11: “So is my word that goes out from my mouth:
It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.”
3) Distance is not a barrier
Distance is not a barrier with God, because God is omnipresent. Jesus is fully human and fully God. He knows all our situations, all our challenges, He is present at all times, there is no such thing as distance when it comes to God.
Jesus works in response to the centurion’s faith. He says “You are all powerful, able to heal my servant by your word.”
In Matthew chapter 15, we see one more instance of Jesus healing from a distance. Jesus heals the daughter of a Canaanite woman. This woman was also a gentile.
Eph 2:13 “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.”
Are we far away from God?
Distance is not a barrier for healing and it is not a barrier for salvation. What we can understand from this is that we can pray for people from anywhere in the world. His words goes out and heals them.
Finally, we are going to see the reward.
Verse 10: “Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith.” What a reward and certificate he had from the Lord for his faith.
Verse 13: “Jesus said to the centurion. “Go! Let it be done just as you believed it would.” The servant was healed at that moment.
Let’s all submit ourselves to God through faith in Jesus.
