Matthew 8:5-9

In Matthew and Luke, we read about Centurion, who approaches Jesus with a great need. His servant is lying paralyzed at home, in desperate need of healing.  

The Centurion was an employee of the Roman Empire. He had access to the Roman political machine, yet in his hour of need, he first goes to the man he heard about: the one who’s setting people free from demonic oppression, the one who’s multiplying food, the one who’s healing.

Think about it. This pagan Centurion, serving a pagan king in a pagan empire, comes to Jesus as his first resort when he’s in need. Immediately, we see an indictment on Israel. Jesus begins his ministry in his hometown a few chapters earlier, in front of his own people, and he’s rejected. This man comes to Jesus first.

Despite his rugged outward appearance, we know he was moved with compassion. He wanted his servant to be made whole.

He has great authority, yet his approach is with all humility.

Pause for a moment to consider the position this man is in. He’s powerful. His political position could’ve caused him to become proud, thinking that just because he could command his soldiers around, he could do the same with Jesus. The Pharisees were in a similar office of power. Yet their entitlement and pride caused them to miss the Son of God unleashing the Kingdom of God right before their own eyes. 

We live in a self-centred, individualistic culture. Everything is pointed inward to self – “my truth.” We’re more offendable and focused on “what’s in it for me“. On top of that, we’re a society that has instant access to any and all information. We know more than we ever have in human history. We position our titles, roles, and gifts above others to appear superior.

Yet scripture tells us otherwise.

1 Corinthians 1:8

This “knowledge” puffs up, but love builds up.

Don’t let entitlement stop you from accessing the blessing of God in your life. Positionally, we are in Christ, and we can go boldly before the throne of grace to find help in times of need – but we do not command God around, nor do we command fellow believers around.

James 4:6

 “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

This Centurion humbly acknowledges Jesus’ holiness and his power.

8 But the Centurion replied, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof, but only say the word, and my servant will be healed.

But he doesn’t stop there.

9 For I too am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes, and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”

He’s not comparing his authority to Jesus. He’s saying, “I can speak a word, and people do as I say. But you, speak a word, and disease is gone”. A humble approach enables us to encounter Jesus powerfully. Our accolades and achievements don’t draw us closer to Christ. We boldly approach only because we’ve been justified through faith in Jesus.

We’re entitled to nothing – but that sets us up to access the kingdom in a way the entitled never could.

Matthew 5:3

“Blessed are the poor in spirit,

    for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

2 Corinthians 12:8-10

“And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”

We learn something important from this encounter:

The less we’re full of ourselves, the more we can be filled with the power of God. In our reliance, we become strong – not in our strength, but in the power of the living God.

When we humbly go before God, we’re able to access the kingdom in a way being entitled never could allow for.