Beloved, I am glad to share with you today on the humility of the Roman centurion whose servant was paralyzed and suffering a lot. We have just seen that he instantly healed a leper by speaking to him and touching him, to the amazement of the crowds who followed him.
He continues to demonstrate this power when a foreign soldier meets him. We read this in Mat 8.5-8, 13: “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. 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.”
First, note that the centurion was a Roman officer, commanding a company of one hundred men. He was a pagan presumably attained faith in the living and true God during his stay with the Jews. Because he also had to have some knowledge of Jesus and his works. That’s why he showed boundless confidence in his power.
Then, the centennial’s charity and dedication came out more and showed all the love he had for his servant who was dear to him, especially since his illness was an acute illness which caused him great suffering and put him in danger of death.
The Lord Jesus then affirms his divine power and his love always ready to help, following his astonishment and his explanation on his place in the military chain of command. Which makes the Savior say that he did not have such great faith in Israel; for he knows that the Lord Jesus understood his humility. Indeed he said to himself: If I, a man, who must obey my superiors, I have such power over the will of other men, how much more can you, you, order sickness and death. And the Bible says that right now his servant was healed.
- A RELIGIOUS SOLDIER : ILLUSTRATIONS
-The Gentile Believers: Luke 7.3 “ The centurion heard of Jesus and sent some elders of the Jews to him, asking him to come and heal his servant.”; Luke 23.47 “The centurion, seeing what had happened, praised God and said, “Surely this was a righteous man.”; Acts 8.12 “But when they believed Philip as he proclaimed the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.”; Acts 10.2 “He and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly.”; Acts 18.7 “ Then Paul left the synagogue and went next door to the house of Titius Justus, a worshiper of God.”
-Intercession of man to Christ: Mark 7.32 “There some people brought to him a man who was deaf and could hardly talk, and they begged Jesus to place his hand on him.” Matt 8.6 “Lord,” he said, “my servant lies at home paralyzed, suffering terribly.” Luke 4.38 “Jesus left the synagogue and went to the home of Simon. Now Simon’s mother-in-law was suffering from a high fever, and they asked Jesus to help her.”; Luke 9.38 “A man in the crowd called out, “Teacher, I beg you to look at my son, for he is my only child.”; John 4.47 “When this man heard that Jesus had arrived in Galilee from Judea, he went to him and begged him to come and heal his son, who was close to death.”
-The centurion: Mat 27.54 When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, “Surely he was the Son of God; Mat 8.5 “When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help.”; Mark 15.39, 44 “And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, saw how he died, he said, “Surely this man was the Son of God! 44 Pilate was surprised to hear that he was already dead. Summoning the centurion, he asked him if Jesus had already died.”; Acts 10.1 “ At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was known as the Italian Regiment.”
Acts 22.25 “As they stretched him out to flog him, Paul said to the centurion standing there, “Is it legal for you to flog a Roman citizen who hasn’t even been found guilty?”; Acts 23:17 “Then Paul called one of the centurions and said, “Take this young man to the commander; he has something to tell him.”; Acts 27.11 “ But the centurion, instead of listening to what Paul said, followed the advice of the pilot and of the owner of the ship.”
-Paralysis: Mat 4.24 “News about him spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed; and he healed them.”; Mat 8.6 “Lord,” he said, “my servant lies at home paralyzed, suffering terribly.”; Mat 9.2 “Some men brought to him a paralyzed man, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the man, “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.”; Acts 8.7 “For with shrieks, impure spirits came out of many, and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed.”; Acts 9.33-34 “ There he found a man named Aeneas, who was paralyzed and had been bedridden for eight years. 34 “Aeneas,” Peter said to him, “Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and roll up your mat.” Immediately Aeneas got up.”
- THE COMPASSION OF CHRIST
- The compassion of Christ:
-for the multitude: Mat 9.36 “ When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.”; Mat 14.14 “ When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick.”; Mat 15.32 “Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away hungry, or they may collapse on the way.”;
-for the unhappy: Mat 20.34 “Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed him.”;
-for Jerusalem: Mat 23.37 “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing.”
-for the leper: Mark 1.41 “ Jesus was indignant. He reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!”
-for those who are in mourning: Luke 7.13 “ When the Lord saw her, his heart went out to her and he said, “Don’t cry.”; John 11.35 “Jesus wept.”
- Christ’s spiritual love for men:
-is invariable: John 13.1 “ It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.”
-is divine: John 15.9 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love.”
-is rich in self-denial: John 15.13 ” Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”
-is inseparable: Rom 8.35 “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?”
-is binding: 2 Cor 5.14 “For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died.”
-is quick to sacrifice: Gal 2.20 “ I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”
- Examples of humility:
-King Saul: 1 Sam 9.21 “Saul answered, “But am I not a Benjamite, from the smallest tribe of Israel, and is not my clan the least of all the clans of the tribe of Benjamin? Why do you say such a thing to me?””
-King David: 2 Sam 7.18 “ Then King David went in and sat before the LORD, and he said: “Who am I, Sovereign LORD, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far?”
-King Solomon: 1 Kings 3.7 “Now, LORD my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties.”(Psa 131.1“ My heart is not proud, LORD, my eyes are not haughty; I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me.”)
-Jean-Baptiste: Mat 3.14 ” But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?””
-the centurion: Mat 8.8 “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.”
-the Canaanite woman: Mat 15.27 “ “Yes it is, Lord,” she said. “Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.” (John 1.26 “I baptize with water,” John replied, “but among you stands one you do not know.”)
-Paul: 1 Tim 1.15 ” Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst.”
- The power of Christ that men have experienced:
-to cure the lepers: Mat 8.2 “A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.””
-to heal at a distance: Luke 7.7 “That is why I did not even consider myself worthy to come to you. But say the word, and my servant will be healed.”
-to command the demons: Luke 8.31-32 “And they begged Jesus repeatedly not to order them to go into the Abyss. 32 A large herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside. The demons begged Jesus to let them go into the pigs, and he gave them permission.”
-to raise the dead: John 11.22 “ But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.”
-to retain the believer: Rom 8.39 “ neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
-to keep spiritual treasures: 2 Tim 1.12 “That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet this is no cause for shame, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day.”
-to save completely: Heb 7.25 “Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.”
Examples of great faith:
-the leper: Mat 8.2 “ A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.”
-the centurion: Mat 8.10 “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.”
-the chief of the synagogue: Mat 9.18 “While he was saying this, a synagogue leader came and knelt before him and said, “My daughter has just died. But come and put your hand on her, and she will live.”
-the blind man: Mat 9.28 “When he came home, the blind men approached him, and Jesus said unto them, Do you believe that I can do this? Yes, Lord, they replied. ”
-the sick: Mat 14.36 “ and begged him to let the sick just touch the edge of his cloak, and all who touched it were healed.”
– the Canaanite woman: Mat 15.28 “ Then Jesus said to her, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed at that moment.”
-the woman with blood loss: Mark 5.28 ” because she thought, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.”
From the above, we also note the manifested power of the Lord Jesus over the servant of the centurion: he demonstrated to him a great faith which he did not see in Israel, thanks to his humility and yet Roman army officer. He had indeed come to heal and save humanity. Our prayers support you in your efforts to reach faith in the Almighty God and to be as humble as the Roman officer.
PRAYER OF ACCEPTANCE OF JESUS CHRIST AS LORD AND PERSONAL SAVIOR
I now invite anyone who wants to become a new creation by walking in the truth, to pray with me as follows :
Lord Jesus, I have long walked in the lusts of the world ignoring your love for humans. I acknowledge that I have sinned against you and ask forgiveness for all my sins, because today I have decided to give you my life by taking you as my Lord and personal Savior. I acknowledge that you died on the cross of Calvary and that you rose from the dead for me.
I am now saved and born again by the power of the Holy Spirit. Lead me each day to eternal life you give to all who obey your Word. Reveal to me and strengthen my heart and my faith so that your light may shine in my life right now.
Thank you, Lord Jesus, for accepting me in your divine family so that I too can contemplate the wonders of your kingdom.
I will now choose a nearby waterpoint to baptize myself by immersion, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
To you all adoration, power, and glory, now and forever and ever. Amen!
I would be happy to respond to your questions and comments, before sharing with you next week on Jesus healing a woman with fever.
May the Lord Jesus Christ bless you profusely.
David Feze, Servant of the Lord Almighty.