Audacious
Jesus had just finished preaching his Sermon on the Mount to enormous crowds. Now he’s returned to his headquarters in Capernaum where he receives news from an unnamed centurion. A centurion is a professional Roman officer who commands 100 other Roman soldiers.
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” (Luke 7:2-5).
This centurion is a military leader, a man’s man, a guy’s guy, a dude’s dude. Jesus is often portrayed as the perfect fit for women and children, but not typically for men. Jesus and Christianity are often portrayed in such a way that they do not appeal to men.
However, here we get a picture of a real man’s man. He’s a warrior. This is a man who leads other men in battle. He is well known. He is successful. He works for the Roman government, and they are essentially overseeing—some would say, “oppressing”—the Jewish people, different races, different religions, different belief systems. He could be very cruel to the people of Capernaum, but instead he is kind and generous.
He loves this friend of his. He has genuine affection for this servant. This is not just a guy who works for him, this is a friend and a brother—probably a soldier of lesser rank.
The religious leaders go to Jesus and basically say, “You owe this guy. He’s worthy because he was really nice to us, he built our church.” Religious people tend to work this way. They feel like if they sin, they owe God, so they have to pay him back through their good works, or by going to purgatory, or through karma, reincarnation, suffering. But if they do good, they feel like God owes them. They’re always keeping score.
I DO NOT DESERVE THIS
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” (Luke 7:6).
In what way would a Roman centurion feel himself undeserving to have Jesus in his house? The issue cannot be his social status: he was socially more highly placed of the two. It’s possible that he feels some sense of personal inadequacy at a moral and spiritual level because he recognizes the majesty and authority of Jesus, which lifts him above everything human.
That is why I did not even consider myself worthy to come to you. But 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" (Luke 7:7-8).
What a remarkable understanding of Jesus. His experience in the military gave him a unique perspective on authority. He knew that he exercised considerable control over his soldiers. He understood that Jesus commanded that kind of authority over everything.
HOW ASTONISHING
When Jesus heard this, he was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd following him, he said, "I tell you, I have not found such great faith even in Israel” (Luke 7:9).
This is the only time the New Testament describes Jesus as being astonished about someone’s faith. When you think about the events of Jesus’ life, it is significant that this is the only time he is astonished. Think about it: his followers left their chosen professions; the friends of the lame man busted through the roof of a building; Peter gets out of the boat on a storm-tossed lake and walks on water.
None of these steps of faith astonish Jesus -- but this officer of the Roman Army with his audacious trust astonishes Jesus.
Then the men who had been sent returned to the house and found the servant well. (Luke 7:10).
You see, we American Christians are way too civilian.
Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me” (Matthew 28:18).
When Jesus says, “you are forgiven,” do you believe him? Do you understand the audacious authority that he has? When Jesus says, “God is your true Father and you are his true child,” do you believe him? Do you have faith in his authority to make such a declaration? When Jesus says, “you were loved and chosen before the world was created,” do you buy that? When Jesus says, “your every sin is atoned for, you are ransomed, delivered from the kingdom of darkness and transferred to God’s kingdom, your old self put to death, your heart circumcised unto God, and every claim being made against you is canceled and disarmed,” do you understand the eternal difference that makes in your life?
In short, do you believe the words of Jesus? Because that makes all the difference.
