New Thoughts (9/6/06-9/10/06)
It is striking that Jesus opts to do a service for this man who is not only a Gentile, but a commander amongst those armies which popular expectation assumed He had come to overthrow. When I think about His response to the Phoenician woman who later approached Him, His response here is all the more surprising. There is no hesitation, no insistence that He must reserve Himself for the Jews. There is not even a suggestion of aiding and abetting the enemy. It is simply, “I will come.” I wonder if the Apostles, when they considered Peter’s surprising response to another centurion, were put in mind of this very circumstance. If Jesus has been willing to enter the centurion’s house and help him, how could they rebuke Peter for having done so? If Jesus had been so willing to bring the kingdom to this Roman soldier, how could they refuse anybody?
It is not said whether there were any amongst those following Him who found cause to grumble at this action. Certainly, there were many in Israel who could not have brought themselves to look upon any Roman, however honorable and respectful, with favor. They were the enemy plain and simple. Those looking for a victorious military Messiah would doubtless be at least a little nonplussed by this action. It strikes me that there is a certain lesson for our present circumstance in this. We have been at odds with the Muslim nations of the Arabs for so long that, as was pointed out in Table Talk this morning, we tend to forget that they, too, are candidates for receiving the Gospel of the kingdom of God. Never mind the fact that there are Christian communities dwelling in many of these same nations, and suffering for it. Their salvation is already sure, or ought to be. It is those who remain captive to God’s enemy and ours who ought to have our concern.
No, they ought not have our angry condemnation. This is, I know, our typical response. We see some gathering of the Muslims, or even the Hindus or Buddhists, and our first reaction is to pray battle prayers. The error is not in praying battle prayers. The error is in the fact that we tend to turn those prayers upon the people we see, not the spirits to whom they are enslaved. The people are not the enemy. People are never the enemy. People are always to be seen as candidates for the kingdom. There is not a single human being we shall ever come across who is not a potential son of God, at least so far as we could ever hope to determine it. God, of course, decides who shall be His sons and who shall not, but that is His decision and His alone. Our decision must be to obey the command of our God and King: Go ye therefore to all the nations and make disciples.
With that, let me turn my attention to this centurion whom Jesus did not reject. From Luke’s account, we learn that this man was one who had shown respect and support for the Jewish community. He had paid to have a synagogue constructed in Capernaum, which impressed the locals greatly. As I have noted elsewhere, this alone would not necessarily indicate faith on the part of the centurion. He might well have simply been covering all bases. Yet, there was something in him which caused him to turn to Jesus when opportunity came to meet his need.
Before I consider this man’s faith, though, I need to look upon the little we learn of him beyond that faith. We meet him coming to Jesus on behalf of a favorite slave. This man was soldier, a captain in the Roman army. This has implications for the sort of slaves he might be expected to have. It would be common practice in that time to enslave those captured in war. Those captured were likely to have been military men themselves. The centurion’s slave, then, was quite likely a former opponent. Yet some degree of respect had been established between them such that the slave was not only a slave, but a particularly well favored slave. He had apparently accepted his lot and excelled in it. He had shown himself trustworthy, and the centurion appreciated this effort.
A slave, to one such as the centurion, was property. The owner was within his legal rights to treat the slave as well or as poorly as he chose, just as we are within legal rights to care for a chair as well or as poorly as we choose. If the chair is broken, we may opt to fix it, or we may opt to simply dispose of it. The centurion, faced with an extremely sick slave, had the same options before him. He could fix the slave or dispose of him. His actions show quite clearly that he chose to see the slave fixed. Indeed, his approach to Jesus would indicate that he had already done everything in his power to fix that slave, but to no avail. He displays a certain desperation, the desperation of one who has exhausted every possibility and yet would crave a miracle.
I dare say that it is a rare man who would go to these extremes for a mere possession. I wonder how much this centurion was placing at risk to approach Jesus. He had a certain reputation with his men which must be preserved if his ability to command was to be preserved. He had established a certain standing with the community, and particularly with the religious leadership of the community. That there was opposition to this Jesus amongst that leadership was perhaps becoming clear already. So, to approach Jesus, who did not bear the Temple seal of approval, might well have jeopardized all he had managed to accomplish amongst the Jews. All this for a piece of property? All this for a slave? The centurion was displaying a willingness to risk himself on behalf of this slave. That, too, bespeaks a certain faith that he would have a good response. It also gives reason for that good response from our Good Shepherd. In this man’s actions, Jesus could see somewhat of a mirror image of His own coming actions. Here was one who would sacrifice himself to see another saved. He came to One who would sacrifice Himself to save many.
Now, as interesting as it is to speculate on what motivated this centurion, and what was going through his mind as he came to speak to Jesus, the simple declaration of Jesus really tells us everything we need to know: he had faith. That faith is evident in his clear confession of Jesus’ authority. “You need only speak, and it will be done.” That was more than just an understanding of authority. It was an understanding of Who Jesus is. It’s one thing to understand the principals of authority. It is quite another to recognize just how much authority was His. “I have men under my authority, and I am under the authority of other men,” says the centurion. “I order my men, and they do as I have ordered.” Yes, this is the way with authority. But, now he turns to the authority that is Jesus. “You need not come to my house, for if You but say the word, such powers are Yours to command that healing must surely happen.” It is an acknowledgement of the greater Authority. I command men, but You command heaven and earth. Oh! There is faith indeed!
That recognition displays the faith which so impressed Jesus. Demons had already confessed as much before Him, but this was not pleasing in His sight. “I know Who You are,” they said, and He silenced their insolence. This centurion is saying much the same. “I know You are Authority. I know You are God.” But, here, it is faith instead of fear. Here, it is life and hope. Here, the motivation is not self-preservation, but the preservation of another, the preservation of life. How else could the Source of Life respond, but to honor that man’s request?
I would have to say that the most fundamental lesson we can take from this section is found in the centurion’s understanding, the understanding of authority and command. He understands that even though he is under authority, he carries authority. He understands that even though his authority is of this lesser sort, still it is obeyed without question where it applies. He understands that in Jesus, He has met a much greater Authority than those under whom he serves. He understands that in this relationship, his is to obey without question, even as he understands that even spirits and non-volitional bodily functions must obey without question. He understands what it means to act upon a command both from his own response to his superiors and from the response of those he commands.
This is surely recorded for us so that we can likewise understand how we ought to respond to God and to His Christ. He is our Lord. We are forever declaring Him so. Well then, He is our Commander and we should surely respond to our Commander as we would to our sergeant, were we privates. One does not question the command of the sergeant. One simply does what he commands – immediately and to the best of one’s abilities. There is no debate in the face of command. There is only action. This is the only appropriate response to Authority. This is the least God deserves. This is the request we make when we pray, “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” This is the thing we need constantly to be praying for ourselves, because it is sadly not the way we behave yet.
Somehow, we keep forgetting that Daddy is our King, that our brother Jesus is our Lord Messiah. We get too comfortable in the family relationship, so when the command comes, we feel as though we have the right to discuss it a bit, offer our viewpoints, suggest alternative approaches. As parents, we face this all the time. I’ve faced it just this morning. My daughter comes seeking permission to do thus and such during the day in spite of her battling a cold, and when the command that she shall not do comes, I am given a series of reasons why perhaps I ought to answer differently. My friend says… I feel fine. Really. Ignore the cough and the obvious congestion. No, no. I’m not congested at all. C’mon, Dad!
This is exactly what we do with God’s commands. We forget that it is our Lord and King speaking, and respond like the strong-willed children we are. Proud and stiff-necked is the way God usually describes our condition. We are so full of ourselves, so cock-sure of our genius, that we proceed to declare ourselves wiser than Wisdom! God, I’ve got a better plan. Truth be told, I don’t even have a plan, just a desire to do something other than what You say, but I’ll claim it’s a better plan. It’s not really sin, in spite of the obvious unrighteousness.
When God says, ‘do,’ what business do we have saying, “OK, but later”? Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. In heaven, there’s not a single angel who would dare to look to God on the throne and say, “OK, but later.” It’s not going to happen. In heaven, there’s none of that human habit of doing as one pleases and then seeking permission after the fact. That is as much an act of insubordination as refusing the command of the King. How dare we, who have been made a little bit lower than the angels in the order of things, think we have the right of refusal that we know they don’t have?
Yes, we have the privilege of coming to Him with our requests. This is a privilege I am not certain even the angels enjoy, yet we are given that privilege as sons of the kingdom. But, what do we do with it? As often as not, we play the game of asking after the fact. Lord, I’ve done this, would You kindly bless it, now? Worse still, we come to Him with insistence. I know You’re King and all, but I’m going to tell You what to do. What understanding of Authority is there in that? What parent among you would allow such insolence in your children?
Isn’t it interesting, in light of this, that Jesus looks upon this man’s understanding of His authority and sees faith? Wow!
If I, from a position of authority, can say and it is done, then You, as the Source of all authority, can surely expect Your Word to be accomplished. Indeed, it shall not return to You without accomplishing all Your will! That is Your word, after all. My God, who am I that I so often put You off? Who am I that I insist on my own wishes when You have so clearly told me to do the opposite? Father, forgive me. Bring me to the place of obedience. Bring me to the place of hearing and acting, not hearing and debating. Let me behave as a son of the kingdom, obeying the King of the kingdom in all things. Let me be so pleased to do as You will that I know and act upon Your command even before it is given. For, You have said that we are not merely slaves but friends – made aware of Your plans and Your purposes. Why else, but that we may pursue them? Oh, Lord! Let that be my story! Let me come to You with reason to expect that I shall hear You say, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”
And, what shall we say of this servant? For him to have been so highly favored by one who owed him no favors speaks volumes about him. If I continue in the assumption that this one who is now a slave was once a soldier, that this one who had the centurion’s favor had once fought against him, I must recognize that he has experienced and accepted a radical change of status. We, who grew up on the Hollywood version of World War II, know full well that the captured soldier’s first responsibility is to attempt escape. I’m sure it would have been quite common for such a captive to seek escape where it was possible. At the very least, he would be likely to be as unhelpful as he could get away with. There might be obedience, but a grudging, minimal obedience; only enough to avoid punishment and nothing more. Such behavior would hardly lead the servant to be favored, though; tolerated perhaps, but not favored. This man has chosen another course.
He has accepted what has been handed him as his lot, and chosen to excel at what he has been given to do. He has not bothered himself with plotting and scheming. He has not sought to escape his current situation, lowly though it is. Instead, he has embraced his position and put his all into being the best he can be in that position.
Too many of us cannot say the same thing. If we are lowly, we are plotting and scheming after promotion. If we are in positions of authority, we oft times find it a burden rather than a blessing. This man found the path of righteousness. It begins with contentment. As Paul said, he was content with much and he was content with little. Whatever God had for him at the moment was fine, and he would not only accept it, he would use it to fullest advantage for the kingdom. Think about this for a minute. This slave, no matter how well he did his job, was not accomplishing anything for himself, at least not directly. His best effort would still do nothing but accomplish what his master wanted. It would all be done for somebody else’s gain. That is a kingdom mentality! Whatever I have, I shall use it to the fullest. Whatever talent I possess, I will exercise until it is the best it can be. I shall excel to the utmost of my ability, ever seeking to improve my ability that I may excel the more. And all of this, I shall do not for my own gain, but for the kingdom. Thy kingdom come and Thy will be done.
Here’s my lesson from the slave. Apart from being content with who he was and the lot he had been given, he could never excel. If we are forever discontented with who we are, all our energy goes into complaining about it and trying to change our situation. All our energy goes into escape. For us, that may mean we devote all our time to mindless entertainments: television, internet, whatever will take our minds off of the real situation. Until we are content with where we are, we cannot focus our energies on excelling in what we do. The flipside of this is that we cannot expect contentment to last if we are not doing our utmost to excel in our position. If we think that our contentment is an excuse for lethargy, if we decide to be satisfied with our current capabilities, contentment will slip away. It will slip away for the simple reason that we know that we are capable of doing better. It will slip away because we know we have been unwilling to do what it takes to excel in our contentment.
Thank You, Lord. This is what You were talking to me about last week. I’m only now beginning to understand it. Am I willing to do what it takes? This is what You’re asking. Am I going to excel with those things You have given me, or am I going to pretend I’m satisfied with what I can do now? Am I going to stagnate or grow? Holy Spirit, let me be energized to excel, to improve and to put that new excellence into Your service.
One more lesson I would take from this passage, and that is found in the centurion’s confession: Just say the word, and it shall be as You say. What the centurion confesses with this declaration is belief. He believes, and believing, he understands the implications. He is not trying to flatter Jesus, here. He is simply expressing what he knows to be true. As he explains, he knows from personal experience how authority is responded to. By this, he makes clear that he knows, too, that Jesus is Authority. Look at that confession! Jesus, You don’t need to be bothered with defiling Yourself by coming to my house. Just issue the command and it will be done. Your authority is that great.
See, belief understands that the will of God will be done. Belief understands that such an Authority as this One cannot be inconvenienced by distance, or by anything else, for that matter. “I am convinced that neither death nor life; neither angels nor demons; nothing here now, nor nothing to come; no height, nor depth; no created thing whatsoever can separate us from God’s love in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Ro 8:38-39). What God has willed, no power on heaven or earth can counter. That is the great understanding of faith. Speak but the word… For us, this belief is the greatest of blessings. The rebels may connive and complain of their lack of freedom but faith understands the greater liberty of knowing we are in accord with His good pleasure.
It is the difference between the slave who labors only because he has no option and that one who has willingly joined himself to the household of his master. I think of Abraham’s servant, that one who was sent to select Isaac’s bride. This man clearly did not find his servitude a burden to be endured until escape became possible. No, he was devoted to that household of his own accord, and considered the plans and purposes of that household as though they were his own. That is the understanding we ought to have with regard to our relationship with our Father the King. We have willingly and gladly joined ourselves to His household, set our ear to the doorjamb, as it were, and accepted the mark upon us that sets us apart as His for eternity. It is no loss of freedom to be in His service, it is the great liberty of knowing our boundaries. It is the great joy of knowing our own purpose as we find it in His.
The very simple Truth of the matter is that His will will be done, with or without us. He has spoken the Word, He has sent the Word forth, and the Word did not return to Him until He had accomplished all that He was sent to do. His Word is now in heaven at His side, but the Word is not in any way inconvenienced by the distance. He is still able to minister to your point of need today. He is still addressing the diseases of sin, the sickness of rebellion. He is still willing that you should be healed, and His promise remains that all who ask shall receive. Forgiveness and salvation await. You have but to ask. Ask, then! He will surely speak, and it will be done!
Thank You, Father, for You have indeed spoken the Word, and He has been revealed as our Brother. Thank You, Father, that You in Your holiness have made provision for me to come before You. You have provided for my cleanliness, that I might not offend. You have given me access to Your throne and to Your heart, and how shall my love for You not grow daily? Blessed be the Lord God Almighty, Who has done this marvelous thing for such as I! Blessed be the holy God of Israel, Who alone has done great things. I thank You in advance, my King, for all that You will surely provide today – as surely as You have always provided. I thank You for the questions You raise, and the answers You provide. All praise be to Your name!
