There is a great deal about which I marvel when I look at the Lord Jesus. There are things for which I have no explanation, because of their complexity. He is God. On the other hand, there are things about which I am confused because of their simplicity. For example, there is a word used in verse 9, which in the context, puzzles me. How is it possible for the Lord Jesus to MARVEL at things? Can the Son of God cast aside His omniscience to be caught off-guard even for a moment? Of course not!
Actually, the Bible describes Christ as “marveling” on two very different occasions. In Mark 6:6 we read that Christ marveled at the UNBELIEF of the people of Nazareth. Doesn’t that imply surprise or astonishment – can these people be so spiritually insensitive? Perhaps the problem is that our modern definition of “marvel” misleads us just a little bit. The Greek is “thou-mad-zo” and it literally means “to admire.” But then how could the Lord ADMIRE the unbelief of the Nazarines? And then, what exactly does the word mean in the context of the Centurion’s faith? I think in this case it actually does speak of Jesus’ admiration. He was not surprised by his great faith, He esteemed it very highly.
And this being true, shouldn’t the admiration of servant match the admiration of Master? What do you admire in the saints that you know? Is it their faithfulness to the house of God, even when the preaching is so poor? Is it their generosity despite their relative poverty? Is it their faith? Is it their ability to interject the gospel into their conversation with the lost? The only thing at which Christ marveled, in God’s Word, was related to faith. Well in that case, does the Lord ever marvel at us? And if so, Is the Lord’s marveling good, or is it the concerned kind of marveling? Let’s think about the man about whom the Saviour marveled in the positive way.
We begin with the man himself.
There is not a lot we know about this man, but we can assume some things. We know that he was a Roman, and not a Jew. So we assume that he was probably raised in idolatry of some form or other. He did not have the blessing of the Jewish fathers, the Word of God, the Promises, or the Law. Religiously he was at a decided disadvantage in comparison to the Jews.
We know that this man was a soldier. In all likelihood he knew what it was to be a soldier of a lower rank before he became a Centurion. He could give orders, and he could take orders. Probably he was as stern and abrasive as command sometimes required. He expected obedience from his men, and he could inflict punishment when it was deserved.
He also appears to be wealthy. In some fashion he had helped to finance the building of a synagogue in Capernaum. Even if others helped to contribute, he certainly supplied the lion’s share. So perhaps he continued to be a soldier by choice, and not out of necessity. And with that we might assume he probably took his military responsibilities very seriously. Remember “it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of Heaven.”
So he was rich, but he was also a man of character. He had at least one slave or servant, but that man was not just a beast of burden to him. He loved that man; the original language says that he was precious or valued to him. Also, this Centurion had learned to love Israel – which was not an easy thing to do. So, I would assume that he had become a proselyte to Judaism. But why and how? Was he a proselyte intellectually or because of the grace of God? Was this a mental choice or a truly spiritual choice? My guess would be the latter, and I hope to meet him one day in Glory to ask him about his conversion. In many ways, I would say that this foreigner, this alien, was at the very least good man. But character, charity, citizenship and concern do not make a person a child of God.
The Lord Jesus marveled at the man’s GREAT FAITH.
And it should be the desire of every person here tonight for that same thing. What the Lord admires, we should admire. If it is something possible to possess, then we ought to pursue it.
What sets this man’s faith apart from the faith of so many others? Let’s start with it’s source. The man was not a Jew, and thus to possess this faith was spectacular. Unlike Timothy, he didn’t grow up with his mother and grandmother reading to him the stories of the faith of Abraham, Gideon and David. He hadn’t, as a child, memorized those promises which God guaranteed to keep. His faith came out of nowhere – out of the blue. But isn’t this actually the place from where all faith comes? Sure, one person may have the Bible upon which to base his faith. But the fact is – true faith is the gift of God usually produced through the ministration of the Word. And there are thousands of young people raised in church who do not have saving faith. The man’s great faith obviously was not related to any past privileges. That means that no matter who we are, we too could have faith which the Lord admires.
But that man’s faith did parallel some expert reasoning. The man was a thinker, and apparently had come to accept the Jewish scriptures. The Bible is not illogical; it is not a collection of myths and fables. Any honest study of God’s Word, would profit anybody. I wonder if perhaps at this point he is a stronger child of Abraham than the children of Abraham. I wonder if his faith was better thought through than the average Jew. When he made a comparison between his authority & Christ’s authority it gave evidence of thought. That is what enlisted Jesus’ admiration. He showed an acknowledgment of Jesus authority. And Christ’s ability to heal sick servant was not in doubt. The man had explicit faith in the power of Christ.
And upon what was that faith built? “Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God.” That Roman proselyte may not have had the New Testament like you and I do – in his hand. But he had at least some of the New Testament given to him by word of mouth. He was convinced that this Man, standing before him, could heal his servant. Did he, at this point, believe that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of God? I’m not sure. But to continue his current train of thought would eventually lead to that conclusion. At this time, the man had a logical, rational, and accurate faith. And Jesus marveled.
The Centurion’s faith was encased in great humility. “Lord, I am not worthy to take away your time or that you should visit my home.” “Lord, I am convinced that if you’d just speak the word and my servant shall be healed.” Some commentaries say that this sounds over done – syrupy, insincere. I think that it couldn’t possibly be more sincere and genuine. He really didn’t think he was worthy to be in the presence of the Lord Jesus. And of course he was absolutely right. This certainly set him in the major leagues of humility compared to Jews who looked down at the Lord. Humility paves the way for faith, like John the Baptist in wilderness. Where there is pride about something there is going to be an absence of faith; they cannot co-exist. Nothing chokes down the grace of God like pride. Perhaps this is why the Lord hates pride so much.
Another ingredient of this man’s great faith was a great need. He was not afraid to ask for something miraculous. It may have not been unheard of, but it was previously unusual before Jesus’ arrival. But desperate times call for desperate measures. I would venture to guess that there was no medical hope for the servant’s recovery. But the Lord loves the challenge presented to Him by great faith.
Adding these ingredients together, truly we see a great faith. But it needs to be remembered that faith, whether great or small guarantees nothing. Faith is not the end; it is only the means. Faith is like the sail on a great clipper ship. It may look beautiful, and it could be expensive. But the sail itself cannot propel the vessel. The sail is dependent upon the breath of the Lord.
The man’s faith was nothing without a GREAT SAVIOUR.
The Lord Jesus was an extremely busy man, but never too busy to admire or bless great faith. And he is “the same today, yesterday and forever.” When the Jewish delegation came requesting the presence of the Saviour, He went with them. He condescended to the request of the Jews, but even more to that of the Gentile soldier. But doesn’t the Lord stoop whenever He meets any of us in our needs? The Lord doesn’t owe any of us sinners a moment of His time – none. Yet the Lord is so wonderfully gracious. Years ago, I read in a church bulletin of a man who fell into a deep pit and couldn’t get himself out. A Christian Scientist came along and said: “You only think that you are in a pit.” A Pharisee said to him: “Only bad people fall into pits.” An IRS man asked if he was paying taxes on the pit. A Charismatic said: “Just visualize and believe yourself out of that pit.” An Optimist said: “Things could be worse!” A Pessimist said: “Things will get worse!” A Fundamental Baptist said: “You probably deserve to be in that pit or you wouldn’t be there.” But Christ Jesus, seeing the man, took him by the hand and lifted him out of the pit. In this chapter, both the soldier and his servant had a great Saviour.
Christ worked a MIRACLE in healing the sick man. We worship a Saviour who is not confined to the laws of nature – He created them. My Saviour can call on the rocks and stones to sing praises to His Name. He can bring a feast out of a few fish and bread. He can and will call the dead out of their tombs. He can give eternal life to souls as dead and decayed as a nine hundred year-old corpse. Every miracle in the New Testament is a picture of how Christ re-creates sin-dead souls. Every miracle should say to you: “How can you go on without the Lord Jesus?” Every miracle says, “The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life.”
The Lord marveled at the Centurion. It was not his biographical background which pleased the Lord. It wasn’t his wealth or what he had done with his wealth. It wasn’t his new relationship with the Jews. It was the man’s faith at which the Lord marveled. May Christ marvel at us in a similar way.