HEALING OF THE CENTURION'S SERVANT

Matt. 8:5-13; Luke 7:1-10

By David Riggs

Intro.
   A. The miracle of the healing of the centurion's servant is       
      recorded in Matt. 8:5-13 and Luke 7:1-10
   B. Matthew said, "Now when Jesus had entered Capernaum, a
      centurion came to Him, pleading with Him, saying, 'Lord,
      my servant is lying at home paralyzed, dreadfully
      tormented.'" Matt. 8:5-6
      1. Luke said, "And a certain centurion's servant, who was
         dear to him, was sick and ready to die. So when he heard
         about Jesus, he sent elders of the Jews to Him, pleading
         with Him to come and heal his servant." (Luke 7:2-3)
   C. Some think they have found a contradiction here because one
      writer gives the indication that the centurion came to Jesus
      himself, while the other says that he sent others to Jesus.
      1. However, what one does through another is commonly
         expressed as though he did it himself.
      2. Another example of this is found in Mark 10:35-37 and
         Matt. 20:20-21.

I. LET US EXAMINE THE DETAILS OF THE MIRACLE.
   A. The centurion makes his request.
      1. A "centurion" was a Roman military officer, captain of a
         hundred soldiers.
         a. This centurion was probably the chief officer of the
            Roman forces in Capernaum which was a city on the
            great commercial route between Assyria and Egypt.
         b. He was a Gentile as is shown by the text.
            (1) No doubt, he was one of the few Gentiles who saw
                the emptiness and falsehood in the pagan religions,
                and favored Judaism.
            (2) Luke said regarding the Jewish delegation, "And
                when they came to Jesus, they begged Him
                earnestly, saying that the one for whom He
                should do this was deserving,  for he loves our
                nation, and has built us a synagogue."
         c. There are four centurions mentioned in the New
            Testament, all in a favorable way. Luke 23:47; Acts
            10:1-2; 27:1,3,43
      2. Jesus, at the request of the messengers, stated that he     
         would come and heal the centurion's servant. Matt. 8:7
   B. As Jesus was going with them, the centurion had learned that
      Jesus was coming, and sent a fresh group of friends who stated
      the words for the centurion which are recorded in Luke 7:6-8.
      1. First, we see the humility of the centurion.
         a. The Jewish rulers pleaded the worthiness of the
            centurion, but the centurion declared his own
            unworthiness. 
         b. He did not think himself worthy for Jesus to come into
            his house.
         c. Jesus was the great God, and people should be going to
            Him, instead of Him coming to them.
      2. Secondly, the centurion demonstrates faith in Jesus as One  
         of great power and authority.
         a. He knew that Christ's word, without His actual
            presence, would be sufficient to heal his servant.
      3. He made a simple deduction which showed his faith in Jesus.
         a. As one having authority, he had to only say to a soldier
            or a servant "go," and they would obey him.
         b. He likewise knew that Jesus did not need to be present.
            With His power and authority, he could simply say to
            the disease "go," and it would be gone.
   C. "When Jesus heard it, He marveled."
      1. The faith of this centurion stood out vividly in contrast to
         the prevailing unbelief of the Jews.
         a. Only twice do we read that Jesus "marveled" - here
            when he sees this man's faith, and at the unbelief of his
            fellow citizens at Nazareth.  Mark 6:1-6
   D. Jesus declared that He had not seen such faith in Israel. Matt.
      8:10
      1. He would naturally expect "faith" from His own people, but
         He found mainly unbelief, and among those where nothing
         might be expected, He found great faith.
      2. There is a similar example of great faith on the part of a
         Gentile in Matt. 15:21-28.
   E. Jesus reveals that the unbelieving Jews will be rejected. Matt.
      8:11-12
      1. Upon observing the faith of this Gentile officer, Jesus     
         states  that the Gentiles from all parts of the world will  
         "sit down" with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of 
         heaven.
      2. "Sitting down with others" is a thought drawn from the
         custom of visiting and associating with others, such as     
         during a special feast or banquet.
         a. Here, it represents the joys of heaven symbolized as a
            place of pleasant associations.
      3. Jesus' words reach beyond the present kingdom (the church)
         to the eternal kingdom, as seen in His contrasting statement
         of the eternal rejection of the unbelieving Jews.
         a. The "sons of the kingdom" were the Jews who were the
            heirs of the kingdom according to promise.
         b. The expression: "weeping and gnashing of teeth" is a
            common expression of eternal torment.
         c. The kingdom was first offered to the Jews, and because
            they rejected it, they would be "cast out into outer
            darkness."
   F. Jesus blesses the centurion by healing his servant.
      1. This centurion believed that Jesus could heal his servant by
         speaking the word and without going to the servant.
         a. As was his faith, so was the blessing to him and his
            servant. Matt. 8:13
      2. The healing of the servant was instantaneous and perfect.
         a. Luke adds, "And those who were sent, returning to
            the house, found the servant well who had been
            sick." Luke 7:10

II. APPLICATIONS DRAWN FROM THE MIRACLE.
   A. The centurion knew that Jesus only needed to "say the word" and
      his servant would be healed.
      1. Governors sometimes need to only "say the word" and a stay
         of execution can be granted to those sentenced to death.
      2. The President just needs to "say the word" and missiles will
         be launched.
      3. Nevertheless, none have power and authority like our Lord
         Jesus Christ.
         a. He said to the one who had leprosy, "Be cleansed," and
            he was cleansed. Mark 1:40-42
         b. He said, "Peace, be still," and the storm stopped and the
            sea ceased it raging. Mark 4:35-41
         c. He took a dead little girl by the hand and said, "Little
            girl, I say to you, arise," and she came back to life.
            Mark 5:35-43
         d. He said to one who had been dead four days, "Lazarus
            come forth," and he came forth. John 11:43-44
         e. There is coming a day when all who are in the graves
            will hear His voice and come forth. John 5:28-29
   B. Jesus came to call the Gentiles along with the Jews, and many  
      of the Gentiles would hear the call, come into the kingdom and 
      be blessed with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
      1. Many of the Jews would reject the call through unbelief and,
         because of it, would not take part in the blessings of God,
         and in the end would receive eternal punishment.
         a. All people today who are not part of the kingdom will
            be cast out into outer darkness.
      2. We can be delivered from the power of darkness and
         translated into the kingdom. Col. 1:13-14
         a. Let us take advantage of the opportunity to be part of
            the kingdom - both now and in eternity.
         b. Those who are in the kingdom now will make up the
            eternal kingdom in the next world.
            (1) In the end, the present kingdom will be delivered up
                to God the Father. 1 Cor. 15:24
         c. The faithful who are in the kingdom now will have a
            glorious entrance into the eternal kingdom in the end. 2
            Pet. 1:10-11

Concl.
   A. If you are here today, and you have never experienced the new
      birth to become part of the kingdom, why not do so today?
      1. To enter the kingdom, you must be born of water and the
         spirit. John 3:5
         a. It is one birth of two elements:
            (1) To be born of the Spirit is to be born of the
                teachings of the Spirit. 1 Pet. 1:23
            (2) To be born of water is to be buried in water and
                raised to a new life. Rom. 6:3-4
   B. How about you? Are you a citizen in the kingdom? If not, why
      not be born again and become part of the kingdom?