COMPASSION OF CHRIST CONTINUES
Matthew 8:5-17
Chapters 8, 9, and 10 of Matthew contain various historical accounts that demonstrate the authority and power of our Lord Jesus Christ. These chapters follow immediately after the most famous sermon Jesus ever preached, namely the Sermon on the Mount. And the end of chapter 7 Matthew said, “When Jesus had finished these words, the crowds were amazed at His teaching; for He was teaching them as one having authority, and not as their scribes.”
For Matthew he is not satisfied simply to record the most powerful preaching of Jesus. He also wants his readers to know that Jesus is not only powerful in his preaching, but simply, he is the most powerful person. And the way Matthew demonstrates how powerful Jesus is, the three chapters show that Jesus has power and authority over various diseases and demonic powers. In other words, though the Sermon on the Mount demonstrates the authority and power of Jesus, Matthew further wants to demonstrate that by the supernatural acts of Jesus to show that Jesus is indeed the Messiah, the King, the God-man. And tonight our text is found in that context.
Following the story about Jesus healing a leper, which we’ve looked at last Sunday, tonight we’ll look into two more accounts of his healing. From these two separate stories I want to draw out five critical implications.
I. When you plea to the Lord, be persistent.
I get this from verse 5, which says, “…a centurion came to Him, imploring Him.” Various translations such as “imploring” in NAU, “beseeching” in KJV, “pleading” in NKJ, or “appealing” in ESV, have all attempted to be faithful to the original word because when you parse this verb in Greek it is present active participle, which depicts the centurion making his request continuously.
I also find it interesting that this verb has the same parsing in Greek as the verb “said” in verse 2. It is very unfortunate that the New American Update translated “said” while KJV, NKJ, NAS, and ESV have all correctly rendered it “saying.”
Now, those technical nuances don’t mean much to you (and rightfully so), but to expositors who want to proclaim a proposition or meaning that derives faithfully from a biblical exegesis, grammatical nuances do matter. That is why for me I just want to be faithful to Second Timothy 2:15, which says, “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.”
I say all this to point out from those two verbs that both leper and centurion didn’t just plea to the Lord once, but they kept asking and pleading. In other words, both leper and centurion were persistent in pleading.
Sometimes in our prayer, persistency is much needed. In fact First Thessalonians 5:17 says, “Pray without ceasing.”
It is often true that when we come to Christ begging, he gives us more than what we ask. This is true with this centurion. When he came to Christ, all he said was that his servant was sick. He didn’t even ask Jesus to come to his house. In fact he didn’t want Jesus to come to his house. But we read that Jesus offered to come and heal this man’s servant. Jesus said in verse 7, “I will come and heal him.” In other words, the centurion received more than what he requested.
- NAU Ephesians 3:20 Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us.
II. When you plea to the Lord, make sure you understand who you are and who he is.
A centurion was a Roman army officer that is equivalent to today’s a company commander. As you know the term century means a hundred, and a centurion generally had about 100 soldiers under his leadership. There is no doubt that this army officer had heard of Jesus. After all, the popularity of Jesus was well spread by this time. And no doubt this army officer knew that a good Jew would not associate with a Gentile, let alone to a military presence that was occupying the Jewish territory. Yet Jesus not only had an open dialogue with what many Jews considered an enemy state but he was even willing to come to the centurion’s house. At this gracious gesture by the Lord the centurion responded in verse 8, “Lord, I am not worthy.” The centurion felt unworthy for Jesus to go much trouble for him and his slave. Furthermore, the centurion did not want Jesus to break the Jewish tradition by entering the house of a Gentile. Such attitude and action portrays humility of this soldier, which is a bit irony for military personnel to possess. People don’t naturally equate humility to a soldier, especially, one who holds an authoritative position.
This phrase “I am not worthy” (ouk eimi hikanos) was used exactly the same by John the Baptist back in Matthew 3:11 in which he said, “As for me, I baptize you with water for repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, and I am not fit to remove His sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” It is also expressed by Paul in 1 Corinthians 15:9, “For I am the least of the apostles, who am not fit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.”
Martin Luther said, “God creates out of nothing. Therefore, until a man is nothing, God can make nothing out of him.” Likewise, in his book Humility C.J. Mahaney writes, “Humility is honestly assessing ourselves in light of God’s holiness and our sinfulness.”
The problem with many of us is that we don’t see ourselves unworthy, but worthy. When we say things like we don’t deserve this, or we deserve more and better, it just goes to show that we missed the point. Such expression only reveals that we see ourselves worthy, not unworthy. The person who truly understands he/she is unworthy sees that the only thing he/she deserves is hell and eternal punishment. Hence such person is amazed why he/she is getting what they don’t deserve and not getting what they really deserve. That is the heart of a person who truly understands God’s grace.
When we loose focus on the cross and the gospel we then become ungrateful, unhappy, and unrealistic. You show me a Christian who is grateful, happy, and realistic, I’ll show you someone who lives cross-centered and the gospel-driven life. But you show me a person who does not live cross-centered and the gospel-driven life, I’ll show you a person who is ungrateful, unhappy, and unrealistic. The key to thanksgiving, realistic and joyful life is found in rightly understand who you are in light of the cross of Jesus Christ and the gospel. Like the hymn “Blessed Assurance” by Fanny Crosby:
Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!
O what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God,
Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood!
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior all the day long.
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior all the day long.
If you want to live a life full of thanksgiving and joy, fix your eyes on the cross of Jesus Christ and grow in the saving knowledge of the gospel. In his book With Christ in the school of Prayer Andrew Murray wrote, “God is a God who hides himself to the carnal eyes. As long as in our worship of God we are chiefly occupied with our own thoughts and exercises, we will not meet him, who is a Spirit, the unseen one.”[1]
This centurion not only understood who he is in the presence of Jesus, but also understood who Jesus is. The centurion recognized that all power and authority are in the hands of God and that Jesus had such God-given authority just as the centurion was given the authority by Rome. He understood that when he speaks, Rome speaks; and when Jesus speaks, God speaks. Just as he had authority and power to take away people’s lives by his military power, he understood that Jesus had greater power to take away sickness and diseases.
When you make your plea to the Lord, please keep in mind that he is sovereign. That means God does not answer your request whenever and however the way you want. God is not some cosmic genie or your beck-and-call. God is God. He answers when and how the way he wants to.
I say all this because there is a popular and dangerous teaching today that you should demand God to answer your prayer. They say that that is your rights. In fact they say that you can claim your health and wealth. If you want sickness and diseases to depart from you, all you need to do is to simply command such things to be gone. They say that you have such power within you. It is in the power of your imagination and positive thinking.
May I say to you that such teaching is a lie that comes from the pit of hell? Such view is the reinvention of a god that is not according to the Bible, but fallen man and the devil. Such view makes man to be sovereign, not God.
When we request or plea to God, we always need to be mindful that God is sovereign. That means God is not obligated and accountable to man, but man is obligated and accountable to his creator. We need to always keep in mind that there is undeniable relationship between the sovereignty of God and prayer. God has three answers when we request or plea, namely yes, no, or wait.
Perhaps one of the wonderful illustrations of the sovereignty of Jesus in this narrative and the past narrative is the way Jesus heals the sickness. Meaning, in the stories of a leper and this centurion, Jesus does not heal the sick individuals exactly the same way. With the leper, Jesus touched; with the centurion’s servant, Jesus simply commanded with his word. The point is the Lord Jesus is sovereign in the way he healed.
Also, as we were so powerfully reminded last week from the story of a leper, the question is not whether Jesus can heal, but is he willing to heal. In the same way, when you are requesting or pleading to God, the question is not about can God do this since nothing is impossible with God, but is God willing since God’s will is sovereign, meaning God is free to do anything he wills for his glory or chooses not to do for his glory. God’s will is sovereign that he can grant your request or deny your request.
But what’s even more important for us to keep in mind is how we respond to God’s answer, namely when he denies our request. Just as there is undeniable connection between God’s sovereignty and prayer, there is also undeniable connection between God’s sovereignty and our contentment. As you heard last week, when the leper said, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean” that implies that this leper was willing to remain a leper if that was the Lord’s will. Such attitude is what I’m praying for you and I to have – a life that is joyfully surrendered to the sovereignty of God.
I am praying that you and I would grow to trust God joyfully for all circumstances. I am praying that we would not follow God only when it’s sunny and breezy, but we would joyfully follow him even when it’s uncomfortable for us to bear. I am praying that we would learn to trust and obey God even when he tests us. I am praying that we would learn to say “It is well with my soul” even when God would allow a great sorrow and/or suffering. I am praying that we would not abandon our trust in the Sovereign God even if he would allow one of our loved ones to perish. I am praying that we would not question his sovereignty even if he would allow us to have a terminal illness. I’m praying that our life would be built on the solid rock that even when the rain falls, the floods come, and the winds slam against us, we would not fall. I am praying that we would learn to be content with whatever condition God would put us. I am praying that God would grant us such strong faith to stand. But I want you to know that we do not obtain such strong faith without experiencing the loss, suffering, and enduring pains.
I have been thinking a lot about suffering lately. I can assure you that this is one subject I was not going out of my way to seek and experience. Rather, the Lord’s been laying this subject on my heart repeatedly through my Bible reading, praying, various sermons, books, and other promptings. I don’t know what this all means. But one thing I am clear about is for me to tell you to get ready. The question is not if sufferings should come, but when. And when sufferings come I can assure you that the only thing that Christians are going to cling on is this doctrinal understanding of God’s sovereignty. You will battle in your mind whether God is truly sovereign. So you better study up and begin desperately to plea to God to grant you a glorious and transcendent view of God soon. This is because if you don’t resolve this theological issue about God soon, you’re going to struggle big time later and chances are, you’ll walk away from God bitter, angry, and even abandoning faith altogether.
And I want our children and young people to develop, cultivate, and be trained to have a big and high view of God. I also want our young adults to be taught to have a high view of God. I feel so urgent about this now than more than ever because the current statistics of 18 years-olds leaving for college never come back to their mother church after they’re done with college is just staggering and it deeply concerns me. One of the main reasons for this is because they leave their youth group ministries with such a low view of God and devoid of any solid theological training that when they leave home and encounter all sorts of problems and errors, they’re not trained to discern and to withstand. Young people, please be diligent to know the God of the Bible. Aim to know the true and the living God, because soon or later you’re going to have to make a decision that would affect your whole life and it would be based on whether God is truly sovereign or not.
Part of me is so excited about our upcoming Foundations of Faith class, which will begin in May when we get to seriously study and learn about the great doctrines of God. I’m praying that it would be a time of strong foundation building for all of us individually and corporately as a church.
III. Much is given and much is required.
The people of Israel boasted of their national identity. After all, they were God’s chosen people to become a unique nation. In fact, Apostle Paul points out the advantage or uniqueness for being a Jew. With that in mind, would you please turn your Bible with me to Romans 3? I’d like to draw your attention to verses 1 and 2.
Unlike anybody else in the face of the earth, the people of Israel were given the oracles of God. In other words, God gave them the truths. Moreover, it was to the people of Israel that God made covenants. For instance Leviticus 26:12 in which God says, “And I will also walk among you and be your God, and you shall be My people.” All God required was obedience. As you know the people of Israel repeatedly sinned against God, yet God was patient with them and showed numerous mercies by calling them to repent. Yet they continued to sin against God.
Because God is the covenant keeping God and though the people of Israel rebelled, he was faithful in saving those whom he has called (Jews and Gentiles), hence he sent his son Jesus to die on the cross to bring God’s election to its fruition. Yet, the Bible says Jesus came to his own people but they did not welcome him. As a result of their rejection to their Messiah, God brought about judgments against them, which demonstrates that much is given and much is required (cf. Luke 12:41-48).
IV. Your response to God’s touch is through your service.
This is not a means of earning any merit with God, but a response of your gratitude. Here’s a case in point: verse 15. When Christ touched and healed Peter’s mother-in-law, what do we find her doing? She served Christ.
Anyone here this evening as a result of God’s touch? If so, then you ought to be serving Christ today! Ask yourself, how are you serving Christ today? If not, then why not?
This is applicable to all ages. You’re not too young to serve Christ; and you’re not too old to serve Christ. If you can breathe, then you can serve Christ.
Young people, you can serve Christ by telling your friends at school about the real Jesus. Instead of telling your friends about your new toys or new outfits, why not tell your friends what a wonderful time you had at church. Tell them what you learned and how that affects your life. I can assure you that your friends don’t usually hear stuff like that from other kids. Learn to praise God and honor God even when you’re at school with your friends. Tell others about what an awesome God you’re learning, and pray for your friends so that they too can learn about the true God of the Bible.
Now adults, as you just heard what I said to our young people, I hope you understand implications for your own influence zone or your own circle of influence. Serve Christ there by opening your mouth. Speak the glorious truths of God. Find ways to bring attention to some truths of God, Christ, and the gospel. Here’s a good practice for you. Try to explain the gospel in five minutes, because that’s the likelihood of time most strangers would give you before they head for the door or come up with excuses to leave your presence.
V. The compassion of Christ is not limited to a certain social-class, race, or gender.
I intentionally said that in that specific order because that’s from the Bible, namely from 8:1 to 8:17 with three individuals that Jesus healed. First, Jesus demonstrated his compassion to a leper who is from the lowest of all human social class. Second, Jesus demonstrated his compassion to someone who is not a Jew. And third, Jesus demonstrated his compassion to a woman. You see the compassion of Christ is not limited to a certain social-class, race, or gender.
- NAU Galatians 3:26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to promise.
According to verse 11 Jesus says that many will come from east and west and to join three famous Jewish patriarchs in the kingdom of heaven. And the people from east and west are reference to the Gentiles. And such saying historically does not go very well with the Jews who think that the kingdom is only for the Jews.
What is more shocking is not only the Gentiles will be present in the kingdom, but that many descendants of the Jewish people will not be in the kingdom. This truth that Jesus says here gets reiterated in John 1:11, perhaps one of the saddest verses in the Bible, where it says that Jesus Christ “came to his own, and his own people did not receive him.” For that reason, the people of Israel have forfeited God’s saving blessings over to the Gentiles.
- NAU Galatians 3:26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to promise.
