THE MILITARY MAN WHO CAUSED THE LORD TO MARVEL

Matt. 8:5-13

Morning Meditation 7/11/17

Matthew 8:5-13, "And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him, And saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented. And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him. The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed. For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it. When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven. But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour."

There are some instances in the Scripture in which Jesus marvelled at the faith of people. In this case it was a Gentile soldier. He came to Capernaum. Capernaum means, "Nahum's town, a Galilean city frequently mentioned in the history of our Lord. It is not mentioned in the Old Testament. After our Lord's expulsion from Nazareth (Matt. 4:13-16; Luke 4:16-31), Capernaum became his 'own city.' It was the scene of many acts and incidents of his life (Matt. 8:5, 14, 15; 9:2-6, 10-17; 15:1-20; Mark 1:32-34, etc.). The impenitence and unbelief of its inhabitants after the many evidences our Lord gave among them of the truth of his mission, brought down upon them a heavy denunciation of judgement (Matt. 11:23)."

"It stood on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee. The 'land of Gennesaret,' near, if not in, which it was situated, was one of the most prosperous and crowded districts of Palestine. This city lay on the great highway from Damascus to Acco and Tyre. It has been identified with Tell Hum, about two miles south-west of where the Jordan flows into the lake. Here are extensive ruins of walls and foundations, and also the remains of what must have been a beautiful synagogue, which it is conjectured may have been the one built by the centurion (Luke 7:5), in which our Lord frequently taught (John 6:59; Mark 1:21; Luke 4:33). Others have conjectured that the ruins of the city are to be found at Khan Minyeh, some three miles further to the south on the shore of the lake. 'If Tell Hum be Capernaum, the remains spoken of are without doubt the ruins of the synagogue built by the Roman centurion, and one of the most sacred places on earth. It was in this building that our Lord gave the well-known discourse in John 6; and it was not without a certain strange feeling that on turning over a large block we found the pot of manna engraved on its face, and remembered the words, 'I am that bread of life: your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead.'" --Easton's Dictionary

A centurion was "a Roman officer in command of a hundred men (Mark 15:39, 44, 45). Cornelius, the first Gentile convert, was a centurion (Acts 10:1, 22). Other centurions are mentioned in Matt. 8:5, 8, 13; Luke 7:2, 6; Acts 21:32; 22:25, 26; 23:17, 23; 24:23; 27:1, 6, 11, 31, 43; 28:16. A centurion watched the crucifixion of our Lord (Matt.. 27:54; Luke 23:47), and when he saw the wonders attending it, exclaimed, 'Truly this man was the Son of God.' 'The centurions mentioned in the New Testament are uniformly spoken of in terms of praise, whether in the Gospels or in the Acts. It is interesting to compare this with the statement of Polybius (vi. 24), that the centurions were chosen by merit, and so were men remarkable not so much for their daring courage as for their deliberation, constancy, and strength of mind.'" --Easton's Dictionary

The centurion had evidently heard of Jesus and His power to heal and was very compassionate toward his servant. Palsy is a shorter form of "paralysis." This could have been caused by a stroke. But it was something that called for a miracle in that day and time. When I think of palsy I think of the crippling disease of sin and that Jesus is the only one who can restore one from its power. First of all, lets look at,

THE REQUEST HE MADE

Matthew 8:5-6, "And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him, And saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented." The word "beseech" can have a variety of meanings. I believe it means here to beg. For a centurion to beg a Jew for a miracle tells you something about this man's attitude. First, he is doing this for a servant who is also a friend and he approaches Jesus with a humble attitude. He called Jesus "Lord." It makes you wonder if he had not had a previous encounter with Jesus. He says my servant "lieth" at home sick. The word "lieth" translates "ballo" to throw or let go of a thing without caring where it falls." This is a perfect passive indicative verb. The perfect tense looks back to the time he took the palsy and emphasizes that he remains in that condition. The passive voice means the disease threw him down and he is "grievously tormented" by this. The words "vehemently, and terribly" are in the definition of the word tormented.

The centurion was wise to come to Jesus and make this request. I don't know why it is but many of us wait until all else fails before we bring our cares to Jesus. He is alive and still able to heal and/or comfort. The promise of Matthew 11:28-30 is still ours, "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

Are you having family problems? Bring them to Jesus. Are you having problems with a child? Bring that child to Jesus and say, "Lord, I am having problems with my child and I see the direction that he/she is headed in and I do not seem to be able to do anything about it. Would you please help me?" Of course, the first thing in the family problems that we need to look at is ourselves. For instance Peter said in 1 Peter 3:1-5, "Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives; While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear. Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands:" This is the Holy Spirit's prescription in winning a lost or rebellious husband. You say, "I can't do that." God's enablings come with His commands. God will give you strength to do what He says here and comfort during the time of waiting for His plan to work. Next let's notice,

THE ANSWER HE RECEIVED

The answer is given in Matthew 8:7, "And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him." Jesus committed Himself to do what this man requested. I think many times when we come to the Lord with a request, we are not prepared for an immediate answer. Satan is constantly lying to us and making us feel that we do not deserve an answer. And we don't. But grace is getting what we don't deserve. It is the unmerited favor of God given to faith.

The Bible teaches that there are certain needs that when we come to Jesus we can expect an answer:

1. If we need salvation. We have his promise in John 10:9, "I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture." Then again in Romans 10:9, "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." I have never seen this promise fail after 45 and a half years of ministry.

2. If we need cleansing. We have the definite promise in 1 John 1:9, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." Psalms 51:2, "Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin." I will never forget a lady who was a member of my church who was approached by another man in the church in an improper way. She said, "Bro. White I went home and took a shower I felt so dirty." This lady had not asked for this. She did nothing to provoke it. But it still made her feel dirty. Our thought life can make us feel dirty and will create a need to go to Him for cleansing. Just remember this. You can't be more right with God than the blood of Christ makes you.

3. If we need guidance. We have been promised in Psalms 32:8, "I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye." Isaiah 30:21, "And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left." This is a promise that says we will know which way to walk. When we come to a fork in the road, we will know which one to take.

4. If we need deliverance. 2 Timothy 4:18 says, "And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen." John Gill comments on this verse, "From wicked and unreasonable men, and all their attempts upon him, and from all afflictions by them; not but that he expected afflictions as long as he was in the world, but he knew that God would support him under them; and in his own time and way deliver out of them; and at last entirely by death, when he should be no more attended with them; and from all the temptations of Satan, and his evil designs upon him, and from sin and iniquity; not that he expected to live free of Satan's temptations, or without sin, but he believed that he should be kept from sinking under the former, and from being under the dominion of the latter; and should not be left to deny his Lord, desert his cause, blaspheme his name, and apostatize from him:"

5. If we need fruitfulness. We have His promise in John 7:37-38, "In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.."

6. If we need illumination. John 8:12, "Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life." Psalms 119:105, "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." We do not need revelation. God's revelation is complete in His Word. But we do need illumination to help us understand what He is saying.

7. If we need victory. He promises victory in John 16:33, "These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." We live IN the Overcomer and the Overcomer lives in us. 1 John 5:4-5, "For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith."Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?" Next we see,

THE FAITH HE DISPLAYED

There are three things that are important in verses 8 and 9:

1. Note the man's admission of his unworthiness. The centurion says, "Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof." This is certainly not the normal attitude of a centurion in the Roman army. This man was the exception to the rule. We are not told much about this man. But statements like this might suggest that he had been influence by the Hebrew Scriptures and possibly been converted from heathenism to faith in the God of Israel.

This is the only approach to God that will work. We must approach Him as unworthy servants of the most high God. Man in his pride wants to get God obligated to him. If he asks for something and don't get it, he is angry at God because he thinks if God can do it, and don't, that He has not done him right. This is nothing but pride and arrogance. This is the American way but not God's way. Like Rome we are a proud people and it is a hindrance to genuine faith.

2. Note the man's great faith. He said, "The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed." This man believed that Jesus was more than a man. Or, he believed that He had the authority of heaven at His disposal at will. There is quite a difference between this man's faith and Naaman's in the Old Testament. When Naaman went to the prophet Elisha for the healing of his leprosy, Elisha did not even come to the door and talk to him. He sent his servant and told him to go dip in Jordan seven times. This infuriated this proud captain of the forces of Syria. He says in 2 Kings 5:11, "But Naaman was wroth, and went away, and said, Behold, I thought, He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of the LORD his God, and strike his hand over the place, and recover the leper." He sounds like a convert of Benny Hen!!!

But the centurion believed that Jesus had the power to speak the word and heal his servant without being present. This man had great faith. Next let's notice,

3. The man's intelligent reasoning. The man reasons in Matthew 8:9, "For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it." This man was not only over 100 soldiers he was also under authority himself. He recognized that Jesus was under authority. Jesus emphasized this to His disciples over and over again. John 5:17-19, "But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work. Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God. Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise." Next let's look at,

THE COMMENDATION HE HEARD

Matthew 8:10, "When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel." This Roman soldier had greater faith than the Jews. That didn't set well with many of them I am sure. He knew from that moment that his servant was healed. Jesus gave him assurance in verse 13: "And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. . ." Then finally,

THE MIRACLE HE WITNESSED

We are told in verse 13: "And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour." Faith is the key that unlocks the door to the blessings of God. One of the things we as Christians need to work on more than anything else is faith.

Pride is a hindrance to faith according to Habakkuk 2:4, "Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith."

Matthew 9:2, "And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee." In Mark 2 we are told that this man was borne of four. It was their faith that brought the miracle to this man. So we can believe God for others.

God still responds to faith. Some people today are afraid to use the word miracle. But anything God does is something man can't do. That comes under the category of a miracle. The centurion witnessed a miracle. He had met one who could speak the word and a man be healed of a permanent illness. Jesus marvelled at this centurion's faith. May the Lord help us to cause Him to marvel at our faith.

May the Lord bless these words to our hearts.

In Christ

Bro. White