This Soldier Understood Authority

One of the things I admire about Jesus is his habit of talking to people whom religious people considered undesirable. Jesus frequently talked with the beaten up, the bedraggled, the broken. Jesus talked with Roman solders, small children, shady ladies, people of other religions and people of other colors.

To Jesus there was no color. To Jesus there was no race or culture. To Him there was no social class. To Him there was no down and out or up and out. To Him there was no age preference. To Him there was no gender bias. To Him there was so scar, stain or sin that conditioned or affected in anyway His desire and ability to give His undivided attention, his love, acceptance and forgiveness to those who came to Him.

Now here in Matthew 8:5-13 comes a Roman soldier...a stranger...publicly asking Jesus to heal his paralyzed servant. Jesus did not see a Roman Soldier...he saw a person who just happened to be a Roman soldier.

There are only 2 times in the Bible where it says that Jesus was astonished at something. Here in Matthew 8 Jesus was astonished at the faith of the centurion and in Mark 6:5, Jesus was astonished at the lack of faith of the people in his hometown.

This soldier understood authority. When Jesus offered to come to his home and heal is servant, the centurion said that Jesus did not have to do that. He told Jesus, "just say the word". He knew that if Jesus were to give the command, it would happen. All Jesus needed to do was just say the word.

Question: What do you believe about God's authority? Let's talk about it Sunday morning at 9:45 at East Unaka Christian Church, 1201 E. Unaka in Johnson City. I'll be teaching on "Just Say The Word" from The Gospel of Matthew 8:5-13. I hope to see you Sunday.

Forward and upward,

Wayne

(423) 434 2930

www.euchurch.org