An exalted view of Christ

Matthew 8:5-10

This passage details a short, unusual, gem of an encounter between Jesus and a centurion.
The serious military conduct of this Roman professional contrasts with his humble fervent child-like faith in Jesus.
The centurion’s humility, faith, and understanding of Jesus is a powerful example to us all.
The centurion demonstrates that when Christ is exalted in our lives, we can’t help but act for the good. Those actions ultimately bring blessings to others.

What happens in this passage?

Jesus had just finished his great teaching – the sermon on the mount – and had made His way with to the fishing village called Capernum, healing a leper en route (Matthew 8:5).
Matthew 8:5-10 records the first part of a public encounter between Jesus and a centurion (although the Gospel of Luke describes how the centurion did not meet Jesus in person – rather he dispatched two different groups of people to speak to Jesus on his behalf: firstly Jewish elders (Luke 7:3), then friends (Luke 7:6).
It is reported to Jesus the terrible condition of the centurion’s servant – he is paralyzed (Matthew 8:6). The physician Luke gives a prognosis for him – the servant was actually close to death (Luke 7:2).
Jesus is very quick to respond. Before a specific request for help is made, the Great Physician says He will go to the servant and heal him (Matthew 8:7).
The centurion/his intermediaries interrupt Jesus from going to visit the servant. The reason for saying “no” is because of the centurion’s very high estimation of Jesus/low estimation of himself (Matthew 8:8).
The centurion/his intermediaries suggest an alternative course of action – for the Great Physician to simply speak – in order for the servant to be healed (Matthew 8:8).
Jesus remains silent while the centurion/his intermediaries continue speaking. The centurion draws a parallel between Jesus’ authority and his own authority in the Roman army. He understands that words/commands result in obedience and action (Matthew 8:9).
Jesus soaked up the words of this gentile – we are told He marveled at the centurion’s belief in Him/certainty of His identity (Matthew 8:10).
Before responding to the centurion/his intermediaries, Jesus hugely commends the faith of the centurion to the crowd of onlookers (Matthew 8:10).
Jesus continues with a short discourse addressed to the crowd, before finally answering the centurion. He sends him home and promises to heal the servant because of his great belief (Matthew 8:13).

What is God teaching us about the centurion?

A centurion was a professional officer of the Roman army – in charge of 100 soldiers.
He epitomizes a servant leader – he deeply cared about the well-being of his servant (Matthew 8:6, Luke 7:2).
He is a compassionate, warm-hearted, generous man – we see this even more so in Luke’s account (Luke 7:5).
Mc Arthur reasons that the centurion would not allow Jesus to enter his house because it was forbidden for Jews to go into a gentile house. However, the centurion verbally bows his knee to Jesus – the first word he says to Him is “Lord”. This demonstrates his genuine submission to Christ (Matthew 8:6).
It is intriguing to think of this Roman officer operating under the secular authority of Cesar, and the spiritual authority of God (Matthew 22:21).
The centurion demonstrates profound humility. He appeals, not demands (Matthew 8:5); he makes a request for another much lower in the “pecking order” (Matthew 8:6); and he cannot bear the idea of his Lord entering his abode (Matthew 8:8). This echoes responses of other Biblical figures who were made aware of the Lord’s holiness: Peter (Luke 5:8) and Isaiah (Isaiah 6:5).
The centurion shows incredibly deep spiritual understanding of Jesus, a lot more so than his own people. (Matthew 8:9, John 1:11).
The centurion clearly believes Jesus can heal – even the most hopeless of cases. He doesn’t think his servant is too far gone or Jesus is not powerful enough. He’s definitely a son of Abraham! (Romans 4:18-19)
God used the centurion’s work life to help him have a deeper appreciation of Jesus’ identity, authoritative role, and power. (Matthew 8:9). The Holy Spirit is our perfect teacher! (John 2:26).
This gentile grasps the significance and power of the Word of God – this is in contrast to the Jews who had recently heard Jesus’ sermon on the mount where he urges reverence and responsiveness to His words (Matthew 7:26-27).
The centurion typifies the type of person whom God says He looks towards in Isaiah 66:2.
Where does all this knowledge about Jesus come from? Luke tells us the centurion had heard about him (Luke 7:3). Such profound faith! The Jews demanded signs and still did not believe in Jesus. Not even John the Baptist had faith like the centurion (Matthew 8:10).
We are not told how the gentile responded to Jesus’ praise for him. Did he remain humble and pass the test? (Proverbs 27:21).

What is God teaching us about Jesus?

We can see Jesus’ heart for the suffering. He showed no haste in helping the servant (Matthew 8:7).
Jesus is approachable and a good listener (the centurion enthusiastically pours his heart out to Jesus).
We learn about Jesus worthiness (Matthew 8:8, Revelation 5:12).
Jesus’ authority under the Father, over all creation, is displayed. (Matthew 8:9, John 5:19, Colossians 1:20-22).
We learn about the power and authority of the Word of God (Matthew 8:8). Jesus is the Lord of hosts, whose verbal commands are obeyed (Psalm 46:10-11).
We see God’s sovereignty. God orchestrates this encounter at the perfect time – to reinforce Jesus’ teachings on the sermon on the mount. This encounter also serves as a contrast to the episode that followed shortly after when the disciples panicked on the boat during the storm, displaying a complete lack of faith in Jesus (Matthew 8:26).
God delights in actions based on deep belief in Him (Matthew 8:10, Proverbs 23:16, Proverbs 15:9).
Jesus’ commendation about the centurion’s faith, demonstrates God’s promise-keeping to always exalt the humble (Luke 18:14).

How can we apply the truths of this passage?

The Matthew account omits the fact that the centurion used intermediaries to speak with Jesus. God is showing us that while messengers are necessary to get things done, they are not so significant that they need to be mentioned. As ambassadors for Christ, we should have this thinking in our work for the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:20).
Superficially, the centurion was not the most obvious person to think of as a man of deep faith. We should be careful not to make assumptions and superficial judgments about others.
The centurion had a deep and profound appreciation of the identity of Jesus. He elevated Jesus’ greatness, authority, power, and Word. Who do we resemble in our estimation of Jesus? Are we like the centurion, the fearful disciples, the sensationalist crowds – or the Pharisee described in Luke 18:11?
Despite having power over men, the centurion was a deeply humble person who considered everyone else more worthy than himself. We should cultivate a servant’s mindset towards others (Philippians 2:3).
The centurion’s “big God view” resulted in massive blessing on another! We should use our privileged access to the throne of grace to pray for others, believing in God’s power and compassion to act and transform lives. In particular, we should pray for the spiritually paralyzed – for God to heal their souls and save them.
Jesus set the light of this centurion on a stand in front of the unbelieving Jews(Matthew 5:15). We are lights in the world and we should speak publicly of Jesus’ identity and ability to help even the most hopeless of cases. We are truth givers and hope givers!
The centurion tells us of the great obedience in the Roman army (Matthew 8:9). He had 100 men beneath him. When he “gave the word” – his soldiers acted. Jesus is our Commander in Chief. He has given us the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19). Do we take seriously his command to “Go”? Is He a King whose army is with Him? (Proverbs 30:29-31).