Healing the Centurion’s Servant

Throughout Jesus’ earthly ministry, He performed various miracles to demonstrate His divine power. The miracle we are discussing here was Jesus healing the centurion’s servant. As we study this miracle, as with every Bible passage, it is important to understand the context. This miracle teaches us certain things about Jesus and provides an important lesson for us.

The Context

• Prior to this, Matthew recorded Jesus’ sermon on the mount (Matthew 5-7) – in it, Jesus described the character of a disciple, one who would be part of His kingdom
• The sermon ended with a point about authority – we must do the will of God to enter His kingdom (Matthew 7:21-23), not practice lawlessness; we must build on the rock (Matthew 7:24-27), we do this by hearing and doing what the Lord said
• Jesus performed a miracle just before this – healed a leper (Matthew 8:2-3); He told him not to tell anyone (Matthew 8:4); evidently word somehow got out anyway because the centurion knew to ask
• The centurion was an officer in the Roman army – he had a command over 100 men; he was not a Jew, yet he was willing to come to Jesus and Jesus was willing to help

The Miracle

• The centurion came to Jesus and made a request on behalf of his servant (Matthew 8:5-6) – he showed a concern for this man that others may not have had
• Jesus said He would come and heal him (Matthew 8:7) – yet the centurion said he was unworthy for Jesus to come under his roof (Matthew 8:8), which showed his humility despite his position; he told Jesus to say the word and his servant would be healed (Matthew 8:8); he believed this would happen
• The centurion then explained WHY he believed Jesus could do this with a word (Matthew 8:8) – he understood the concept of authority; at the word of the one with authority, others obey; he did not see Jesus as a great doctor who figured out how to cure people with different ailments; he saw Jesus as God who had authority over everything, including whatever was afflicting his servant; Jesus marveled at this (Matthew 8:10), and used his example to make the point that His kingdom would be open to all (Matthew 8:11)
• Jesus healed the centurion’s servant with a word (Matthew 8:13) – it happened instantly; this means that the servant would have been better when the centurion returned to his home

The Lesson

• Jesus marveled at the statement, “I also am a man under authority, with soldiers under me” (Matthew 8:9) – this miracle proves that Jesus does have authority (cf. Matthew 28:18); it also shows that because He has authority, we are to obey His word (cf. John 2:5; Matthew 28:19-20)
• To have “great faith” (Matthew 8:10), we need to recognize and respect the authority of Christ – following a different word than His means we are deserting Him (Galatians 1:6-7); we are not at liberty to add to His words or take away from them (Revelation 22:18-19); we simply need to do all things by His authority (Colossians 3:17); everything in our lives must be built upon Him (Matthew 7:24-27)

Conclusion

• Jesus healed the centurion’s servant after he showed love, humility, and an understanding of authority – we need the same characteristics if we want to be healed of our sins
• Jesus can save us today – but we need to have faith in Him and obey His will