A Sunday School teacher was making the point with her class that God is “omnipotent” and that he can do anything because he is all-powerful. She asked her class, “Is there anything you can think of that God cannot do?” There was silence for a moment. Then, one little boy held up his hand. The teacher said, “Yes, Jimmy, what is it that God cannot do?” The boy replied, “Well, he can’t please everybody!”
That is so true. God cannot please everyone. But the problem here is not with God, but with us. We are the problem. We are the ones who are unhappy and dissatisfied with what we see around us. We think things should be different. We are not pleased with what we see around us. We know how things ought to be, and how people ought to act.
We think to ourselves, “If only people were more like me, this would be a better world!” Such thinking reveals our pride, hubris and self-conceit. We think we know it all. We have all the answers. We are in control of our lives.
Today we meet a remarkable man. He can teach us about faith and humility. What is surprising is that this man was a foreigner to God’s people. He was a Roman centurion serving in Capernaum. But he knew about the God of Israel, and he had a knowledge of God’s promises of the Messiah to come. He was an active worshipper at the local synagogue. By the time of Christ, many of the people of the Roman Empire had grown tired of the endless gods and goddesses of the Greek and Roman mythologies. These petty and weak gods left the people empty and without hope. They longed for something better.
Those who turned from the old gods began to seek something else. Some turned to the occult, witchcraft, horoscopes and astrology. Some tried the strange cults of Egypt and Persia. Some followed any latest fad or bizarre religious movement. Some of these seekers even turned to the religion of Israel.
Many Romans were drawn to the teaching of the Old Testament. They were drawn to the worship of the one true God who was the Creator of all things. This God had the power and authority to work miracles and help his people. This God gave clear guidance about how we ought to live and treat others.
This Roman centurion was such a seeker. He was a student of the Law and Prophets. And he even went so far as to help finance the building of the synagogue in Capernaum. The local people thought very highly of him. Luke tells us that this centurion had a servant who was very sick and about to die. He had heard about Jesus being in town, and so he sent messengers to ask the Lord to come and heal his servant.
These messengers were the Jewish leaders of the synagogue in Capernaum. They describe how the centurion “loves our nation and has built our synagogue.” They say to Jesus, “He deserves to have you do this.”
However, before Christ could come to his house, the centurion sent a message to him. He said, “Lord, do not trouble yourself. I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. And I do not consider myself worthy to come to you. But say the word and my servant will be healed.” When Jesus heard this, he was amazed. He turned to the crowds that were following him, and said, “I tell you, I have not found such a great faith even in Israel!”
Our Lord is amazed at the centurion’s faith. Notice how he calls it “a great faith.” It is great because it confesses that it is unworthy of God’s grace. There is no pride here, or any self-conceit. This centurion demonstrates a real humility. “I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. I am not worthy to come to you.”
Faith always confesses that we do not deserve to have Jesus come under our roof. We are not worthy of his gifts. We are sinners and we have no merit or worthiness that will impress God.
A great faith also confesses that God has the power to do all things. Faith understands the Law and the Prophets. It believes God’s promises, which say that he will help and save those who seek him. Faith believes in the power and authority of God’s Word. “Say the word and my servant will be healed.” “Speak, O Lord, and it will come to pass.”
This Roman centurion knew that the power of the Almighty Lord God was present in Jesus of Nazareth. He knew that here was God’s Messiah: Here was the divine Savior that God had promised to send to the people of Israel.
This centurion had faith in Jesus Christ, even though he had never met him in person. He had heard about Christ through the testimony of others. He had heard about the miracles of God’s Messiah. He had a total confidence that if Jesus simply spoke his Word, it would come to pass. That is amazing!
Here, I am reminded of another remarkable centurion. This was a man who did personally meet the Lord Jesus. This Roman centurion was present as Christ suffered the passion. At the end of it all, he stood at the foot of the cross, watching it all unfold. He heard Jesus speak. He witnessed how he suffered. He watched him die.
This centurion heard Jesus cry out, “Father, forgive them! For they know not what they do.” He heard Jesus pray for those soldiers who were nailing him to the cross. He hears Christ praying for him.
He also heard the two criminals yelling at Jesus as they all hung on the cross. One criminal came to his senses and confessed his guilt. He said, “We are getting what we deserve, but this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he cried out to Jesus, “Remember me, when you come into your kingdom.” And Jesus said to him, “Today, you will be with me in paradise!”
The centurion also heard how the religious leaders of Israel mocked the suffering Jesus. During their taunts, they specifically called him, “The Christ of God,” “The Chosen One,” “The Son of God,” and “The King of Israel.” The centurion watched the Christ of God suffer, bleed and die for the sins of the world. He saw how the King of the Jews wore a crown of thorns. He saw how the Messiah of Israel died for lost sinners. He witnessed the love of God’s Chosen One being poured out like a drink offering.
This Roman centurion stood at the foot of the cross and witnessed all these things. And when Jesus finally breathed his last and died, the centurion cried out, “Surely, this was the Son of God! This was a righteous man!” This, too, is a great faith. Such a great faith confesses that this crucified man is the Son of God. He is the Righteous One who dies for the unrighteous. Faith stands before the cross and it says, “I do not deserve God’s forgiveness. I am not worthy of his love. I do not deserve this gift. I am not righteous, but my Lord Jesus is.” Faith says, “I am a sinner. I deserve to be punished, not Jesus.”
But a great faith also says, “Surely, this is the Son of God who died for me! This is my Savior! His blood washes me clean of all my sins. Say the word, Lord, and I will be saved!” That is the good news today: Christ does say his Word to us. He speaks and it comes to pass. He says, “Take heart, your sins are forgiven!” He says, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Do not be afraid, for, lo, I am with you always. I will never leave you or forsake you.” He says, “Do not give up, but believe that I will help you in your time of need.”
Our Lord says, “Whatever you are facing in your life right now, trust that I have the power to heal, to help and to save. Trust in me!” That is the key: Have faith and trust that the Christ of God has the power and authority to heal, to help and to save. He is your King and Savior. He is the promised Messiah who brings life and salvation to those who are perishing.
In many ways, we are in the same situation as this centurion from Capernaum who had the sick servant. We have never seen Jesus. We have never physically met him. We have only heard about him from others. We have the testimony of other people who saw Jesus. We have the eyewitness accounts of the apostles. We have the direct testimony of all those people who heard Christ and witnessed his mighty works. Yet, we believe in him. We trust that he has the authority to speak God’s Word and the power to do God’s work. We know that the Son of God can do all things. “But say the word and your servant will be healed.”
The apostle Peter wrote his first letter to new converts to Christianity, to people who lived far away from the land of Israel. He wrote to people who never saw Jesus or had ever met him. Peter says, “Though you have not seen him, you love him. And even though you do not see him now, you believe in him, and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith – the salvation of your souls.”
And so it is for us. We believe in Christ as our Savior and we love him. We have joy and hope because we believe his Word. The written Scriptures deliver Jesus right into our hearts and souls. The Holy Spirit creates faith through the Word of God. The Lord speaks and it comes to pass. “Say the Word and your servant will be healed.”
Therefore, let us put our faith in Christ and listen to his teaching. Let us trust in our Savior and receive his gift. Then, the Spirit of Christ will create in us a great faith that confesses his goodness and grace. We will be filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy. We will cry out with joy and thanksgiving, “Surely, this is the Son of God!” Amen!