Centurion part 1 of 2

Setting: Contemporary Worship
Length: 34:04

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Title: The Great Faith of the Centurion, part 1 of 2
Main Scripture: Matthew 8:5-13

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Introduction

1. Where is Jesus?

2. An overview of section 8:1- 9:38

Themes that hold the miracles together (8:1-9:38): 3

          Theme 1. that He will minister to those whom Israel will not…..

          Theme 2. that Jesus has the authority over all things created

          Theme 3. that Jesus is the long awaited Messiah

v.5 we are in Capernaum

-and in this city, a division of the Roman Army was stationed
-now, the Roman Army was divide into many parts
          -there is the Legion = 6000 soldiers
          -the legion is divided into 60 groups of 100
          -this group of 100 were called centuries
-a one soldier was placed in charge of each century
-he was the Centurion – a full time soldier in the Roman Army in war time and in times of peace
-and he was living in Capernaum at the time

6 "Lord," he said, "my servant lies at home paralyzed and in terrible suffering."
          -picture….a little boy

-notice, the Centurion is not as direct as the leper who cries out to be healed

7 Jesus said to him, "I will go and heal him."

-that Jesus will minister to those whom Israel will NOT

-did you know and there were a kind of “quarantine regulations” against the gentiles as well?

-we are talking here about ceremonial uncleanness
John 18:28
Then the Jews led Jesus from Caiaphas to the palace of the Roman governor. By now it was early morning, and to avoid ceremonial uncleanness the Jews did not enter the palace; they wanted to be able to eat the Passover.

Acts 10:28
He said to them: "You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with a Gentile or visit him. But God has shown me that I should not call any man impure or unclean.

"my servant lies [ where ? ] AT HOME…..
-THAT’S A GENTILE HOME

*Theme 1: Jesus will minister to those whom Israel will NOT

8 The centurion replied, "Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof….

-and now, we get insight into why the Centurion may have hesitated in asking Jesus directly to come to his house….
-I have no doubt this Gentile knew the quirky laws of the Jews
          -in fact, the Romans were somewhat sensitive to the Jews and allowed
them to practice their faith
-and so, this full time Roman soldier living among the Jews no doubt had a heads-up about the quarantine regulations
-but it’s more than that ….there is something else going on
-for him, it’s not about being clean or unclean
          -contaminated or not
-it’s about his sense of unworthiness
"Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof….
          -this sense of humility we saw in the leper as well
-who did not demand that he be healed but only said that if Jesus was willing…that he be healed
          -the Centurion expresses a similar humility

-here comes theme 2…
v.8……But just say the word, and my servant will be healed.
9 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."

          * right out of the mouth of the gentile, Jesus’ authority over all things is confirmed

v.10…Jesus ….is…astonished
          -of course, nothing surprises God and we do believe that Jesus is God
          -it would be inappropriate to think that Jesus was caught off guard
          -but he is also man…and so, he feels this emotion
* and shows this emotion to all the Jews…the pharisees and scribes who surround him

-in astonishment he says….
I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith.

-so Jesus highlights the reality that great faith comes from surprising places

Because this faith of the centurion strikes at the heart of the gospel

-and God has always loved all people
-that even though initially, it looked like the religion of one nation, it was always God’s eternal plan to break open salvation for all people

-the faith of the gentile is the perfect opportunity to say….in v.11….
11 I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.
12 But the subjects of the kingdom will be thrown outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."

* I find these 2 verses (vvs.11-12) to be the most offensive verses in chapter 8
-offensive to the Jews, that is….

-and at the same time….bringing such GOOD NEWS to the whole world that the gospel is truly for everyone

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