SEEKING THE HEART OF JESUS: A Heart That Marvels (Jesus and a Centurion) - June 23, 2019
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Prayers
INTRODUCTION
Jesus has a heart that touches the untouchable.
“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.”
Hebrews 11:1 NIV
Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274) - "To one who has faith, no explanation is necessary. To one without faith, no explanation is possible."
1. SETTING THE STAGE
Chronological order of Matthew puts our story for today right after the story of the leper.
“When Jesus had finished saying all this to the people who were listening, he entered Capernaum. There a centurion’s servant, whom his master valued highly, was sick and about to die. The centurion heard of Jesus and sent some elders of the Jews to him, asking him to come and heal his servant. When they came to Jesus, they pleaded earnestly with him, “This man deserves to have you do this, because he loves our nation and has built our synagogue.” So Jesus went with them. He was not far from the house when the centurion sent friends to say to him: “Lord, don’t trouble yourself, for I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. That is why I did not even consider myself worthy to come to you. But say the word, and my servant will be healed.”
Luke 7:1-7 NIV
A. Elders, friends felt the centurion deserved consideration by Jesus.
1. The centurion built their synagogue. Possibly the same synagogue the leper would have been connected to.
2. The elders spoke on his behalf.
B. The man approaches Jesus on behalf of his servant.
1. The centurion had compassion for his "property."
2. A SOLDIER'S STORY
“When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help. “Lord,” he said, “my servant lies at home paralyzed, suffering terribly.” Jesus said to him, “Shall I come and heal him?””
Matthew 8:5-7 NIV
A. Military information
1. There was a garrison in Capernaum.
2. He was in charge of a backwater post.
3. He was an extraordinary occupier.
"This man deserves to have you do this, because he loves our nation and has built our synagogue.”
Luke 7:7 NIV
B. Slaves in the time of Jesus
1. Servant in Greek, pais, is "a tender, familial term for a boy"
2. Gaius, a Roman legal expert: "It is universally accepted that the master possesses the power of life and death over the slave."
3. Varro: "The only difference between cattle, wagons, and slaves is that slaves can speak."
4. Aristotle: "There can be no friendship or justice toward inanimate things; indeed not even toward a horse or an is, nor yet towards a slave. A slave is a living tool, just as a tool is an inanimate slave."
C. The Centurion's concern
Abigain Van Buren (Dear Abby): "The best index to a person's character is how he treats people who can't do him any good, and how he treats people who can't fight back."
3. A STATEMENT OF FAITH
A. Jesus response
“And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him.”
Matthew 8:7 KJV
B. The Centurion's faithful response
“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. For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.””
Matthew 8:8-9 NIV
1. Knew of Jesus' inability to enter the home of a Gentile
2. Humility
3. Recognition of Jesus' authority
4. AN AMAZED MESSIAH
“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.”
Matthew 8:10 NIV
A. Marveled is a Greek term that means "to be in awe and wonder."
"Truly I say to you, I have not found such great faith with anyone in Israel."
Matthew 8:10 NIV
CONCLUSION
Faith outside the camp
A. The leper - our own
B. A Gentile occupier - "them"
Jesus reached out to the untouchable and served the faithful outsider.
CHALLENGE
Reach out to an outsider this week. Meet their need. Serve them.
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