{"id":513,"date":"2014-12-26T12:00:25","date_gmt":"2014-12-26T12:00:25","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/forbiblestudynerds\/?p=513"},"modified":"2014-12-12T23:01:53","modified_gmt":"2014-12-12T23:01:53","slug":"matthew-85-13-the-faith-of-the-centurion-theological-commentary","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/forbiblestudynerds\/2014\/12\/matthew-85-13-the-faith-of-the-centurion-theological-commentary.html","title":{"rendered":"Matthew 8:5-13; The Faith of the Centurion (Theological Commentary)"},"content":{"rendered":"

When Jesus healed the centurion\u2019s servant, he did more than a miracle. He demonstrated for everyone something that the centurion had already recognized: Authority. More specifically, Jesus demonstrated that he possessed the absolute authority of God incarnate<\/em>, the authority that only a Creator has over his creation.<\/p>\n

Theologian Lawrence Richards explains this concept of God\u2019s absolute authority by saying, \u201cHere we see a reflection of Christ\u2019s deity: Jesus demonstrated on earth that he had God\u2019s own unrestricted freedom of action.\u201d The healing of the centurion\u2019s servant is just one of many proofs that this is true.<\/p>\n

First, he demonstrated authority over time and space\u2014what we call omnipresence\u2014by healing the servant from miles away. Jesus, standing in Capernaum, didn\u2019t have to find out where the servant lived and lay. He didn\u2019t have to be physically present with the servant. He didn\u2019t have to send a token of himself (such as his robe or a cloth) to the servant. He didn\u2019t even speak a verbal command of healing. He simply made a promise to the centurion and\u2014bam!\u2014healing happened instantly in time, across miles of geographical space.<\/p>\n

Second, Christ demonstrated full, divine authority over the physical being of anyone and everyone. The servant\u2019s body was paralyzed and in great pain. With only a thought, Jesus reversed the biological weaknesses in that randomly selected servant. He literally \u201cmade it all better,\u201d restoring the servant to complete health as only a Creator can do.<\/p>\n

Third, Jesus demonstrated divine authority over eternity and the ultimate fate of all humanity. Historians tell us that in Jesus\u2019 time, particularly in the \u201cstronghold of observant Judaism\u201d of Capernaum, non-Jews (gentiles) were \u201cgenerally viewed as enemies to be eliminated.\u201d Jews looked toward a day of Messianic victory culminated by a great feast \u201cwith Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven\u201d\u2014and in their minds, gentiles would be forcibly excluded from that eternal bliss. Not so, according to Jesus. Not only did Jesus respond to the gentile centurion\u2019s request, he showered God\u2019s favor on gentiles by performing a miracle in the centurion\u2019s household. Then Christ followed up this miracle by stating clearly that multitudes of gentiles from all over the earth would be included in God\u2019s eternal kingdom.<\/p>\n

Somebody say Amen!<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Works Cited<\/a>:<\/p>\n

[RBD, 114; VGG, 55]<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u2126\u2126\u2126<\/p>\n

About: For Bible Study Nerds\u2122<\/a><\/p>\n

About: Mike Nappa<\/a><\/p>\n

Copyright \u00a9 2014 to present by\u00a0Nappaland Communications Inc<\/a>. All Rights Reserved.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

When Jesus healed the centurion\u2019s servant, he did more than a miracle. He demonstrated for everyone something that the centurion had already recognized: Authority. More specifically, Jesus demonstrated that he possessed the absolute authority of God incarnate, the authority that only a Creator has over his creation. 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