This morning we meet a military officer who knows all about authority, what it is, how to use it and how not to use it. When he meets Jesus, he knows who Jesus is and also about Jesus’ authority. Read Matthew 8:5-13

Jesus has just finished His great Sermon on the Mount. His conclusion in that message is to challenge to His hearers to put what He has been preaching into practice. But, as Jesus enters his home base of Capernaum it is not the Jews who approach Him. Rather, it is a Gentile Roman centurion.

A centurion was a military leader in the Roman army - comparable to a lieutenant. As his title suggests, he was in charge of one hundred men. A Roman historian Polybius, describes the qualifications of centurions to be: not so much “seekers after danger-but as men who can command, steady in action, and reliable; they ought not be over anxious to rush into the fight; but when hard pressed must be ready to hold their ground and die at their posts.” These are the backbone of the Roman army. They know what it to be under authority as well as to exercise it. They are not cogs in a machine. They are trained to think and to show initiative.

The New Testament speaks of several centurions and all in favorable terms. (1) Matthew, Mark and Luke all tell us of the centurion at the Cross at Christ’s crucifixion, who proclaims his faith that Jesus is the Son of God, or possibly a son of a god (Mt 27:54; Mk 15:39; Lk 23:47). (2) Cornelius, of Acts 10-11, demonstrates full faith in Jesus. He and his house receive the Holy Spirit and all are baptized. (3) Julius, in Acts 27, guards Paul on the way to Rome. He is both reasonable and fair. (4) Only one centurion, in Acts 22:25-26, could be viewed as a villain. He is about to flog Paul. But he is just doing his job. He stopped when he learned that Paul was a Roman citizen.

While not a centurion, but when I worked for Fidelity Federal Bank in the residential loan department I “had the power to make things happen” with staff, loans and for customer. I earned and was given this authority after time and training in policies, procedures, loans, and management. Although I had authority to make loans, the buck really never stopped with me. That’s because I was also under authority. We are each under authority and many here have authority to one degree or another over others.

Now, one of the extraordinary insights we learn from this miracle is from the sister passage to this story. Luke 7 gives us details of what happens before the centurion approaches Jesus. He sends a contingent of friends. Actually they are Jewish elders. This contingent approaches Jesus on behalf of the centurion and his servant. Luke points out another thing about this particular soldier. He loves the Jewish people. He has helped to build their meeting place right there in Capernaum - possibly with much of his own Gentile money.

I have been to Capernaum, as have some of you. There is a Synagogue there. Archaeologists have found that it was originally a private house that was rebuilt to serve as a meeting place, for the Jewish people. Later, it was completely rebuilt as a formal place of worship. The ruined 4th Century synagogue today was built on the ruins and foundations of the meeting place of the ancient synagogue. It is highly likely that the original synagogue was built by this particular centurion. Because of this noble act, and no doubt his attributes and character, the Jewish elders deem this Roman soldier worthy to have Jesus grant his request.

Many of the people we meet in the Bible who approach Jesus do so for themselves. But not this centurion. He comes to Jesus, probably first through the Jewish elders, then personally, on behalf of his paralyzed servant, who, we are told, “is suffering great pain.” This fact in and of itself tells us yet something else about this soldier. He has a completely unusual attitude about his servant.

In his day a servant was really a slave. In Roman law a slave was defined as a living tool. The slave had no rights. A master could physically and emotionally abuse and even kill the slave if the master so chose. A Roman writer on estate management recommends the farmer to “examine his implements every year and to throw out those which are old and broken, and to do the same with owned slaves.” You see, normally when a slave was past working ability they were thrown out to die.

In more modern times, it has been said you can tell a lot about a person by how they care for their tools. This centurion cared deeply for this tool. He loved this servant-slave like a family member...no matter what. He would go to any trouble to save him.

And hear Jesus’ response. It is one that overwhelms this seeker-centurion. Jesus says, “I will come and heal him.” Just like that. No questions. No hesitation. No withdrawing from this Gentile soldier. Jesus says, “I will come and heal” the servant.

And what comes next is just as amazing. Immediately this centurion points out why Jesus should not come into his home. He says of himself that he is not fit, that he is not worthy for Jesus to come under his roof. This one statement emphasizes what we already know. This centurion has an extremely unusual attitude toward the Jews. In that day, the Jews despised the Gentiles. The Gentiles hated the Jews. The Romans called the Jews a filthy race, a barbarous superstition and much more and worse. Orthodox Jews would have considered the centurion unclean because of his race. The unclean came from the thinking that the Gentiles had aborted fetuses in their drains. The Jews would have despised this centurion all the more as a symbol of Roman oppression. But this soldier knows and understands and respects the customs and traditions of his Jewish friends. Perhaps he does not want Jesus to have the “unclean” stigma of entering a Gentile home, even though he knows his drains are just fine.

And yet he continues to argue his point from his experience. This is a soldier’s soldier. He knows what authority is. He knows what it is to be under authority. He knows that when he says to one of his soldiers, “Go!” that one goes. And when he tells another, “Come!” that one comes. He knows that one word from authority is enough. He also knows that if he is taken out, his troops are trained to carry on and do their job. They also have been trained to think and be responsible.

Another group that is trained and thinks in our church’ Session. At our last Session meeting, earlier this month, it was Rod Menzel’s turn to share for “Something Different.” Something Different is the very important segment during the meeting that breaks up the business part of the night with something for learning about each other and personal growth - and the all important snacks. It is the time of “those who work and play together are together. Rod Menzel shared a quote from a person by the name of Dee Cook - we don’t know who he is - but we know who Rod is. The quote: “Simple, clear purpose and principle give rise to complex and intelligent behavior. Complex rules and regulations give rise to simple and stupid behavior.”

For the most part my staff and I experienced simple and clear purpose and principle at Fidelity Federal. The woman serving the governor of Massachusetts, while quite clear in her purpose, could have been creative and suggested an extra helping of potato salad. The centurion and his soldiers understand their purpose and act with complex and intelligent behavior. It’s the same with the Presbyterian Church. We have our Book of Order to guide us. But when any of us, the church included, is too rule driven, creativity and thinking is stifled. That is not the way God created us to be.

The centurion understand and he Jesus, not just as a man with the gift of healing, but as one who has enormous Authority. He registers all he sees in his own frame of reference - within the hierarchy of governmental power. In and through that knowledge he understands Jesus perfectly. This Gentile Roman soldier knows, without a doubt, what Jesus later says about Himself, “All authority is given unto Me in heaven and in earth” (Matthew 18:18).

The centurion knows and sees all this about Jesus even though Jesus’ authority is of a very different realm. He understands this and knows in his heart, even without the familiar badges that he has known throughout his military career. This man comes with that perfect confidence which looks up and says, “Lord I know You can do this. I know the power of God that is Yours. Just say the word.” This Gentile soldier knows he speaks to the Commander-in-Chief.

Then Jesus translates the matter of authority in terms of faith. It seems that this soldier is the only one who understands Jesus in this very full and powerful way. Scripture tells us Jesus “marveled” at this centurion. Only twice in scripture is Jesus said to have marveled at people: this centurion, because of his faith; and the other time was at the people in His own home town of Nazareth. They are the very people who should have been among His greatest support and encouragement. But that is not the case. Mark 6 tells us Jesus marvels because of their UNbelief. It is truly significant the impact this man, and his faith, have made on Jesus! Jesus turns to those who are following, to make sure they do not miss this point. Jesus says, “Truly I say to you, I have not found such great faith with anyone in Israel.........”

And to the centurion, Jesus says, “Go home. Let it be done as you have believed.” The fact that the servant was healed that very same hour verifies Jesus’ authority and also the centurion’s faith.

From this story we know that Jesus Christ meets the needs of everyone - Gentile, Jew, rich, poor, leader, follower, young, old, ruler or slave. Jesus is the One who bridges the gaps, prejudices, and divisions between person and person, nation and nation.

This is our assurance that Jesus does the same for you and me. He does want to help. He comes to us, or to another, for whom we are praying. We but need tell Jesus. Then He responds - in His way and timing. And perhaps, with us, as with this servant and his master, the answer can be greater than our asking. Do you recognize that Jesus has authority over the things that concern you?

The one essential for securing Jesus’ help is faith. This is one opportunity that we don’t want to miss either. We must learn that responding to God’s authority means doing just what He says. And like this centurion we must know Jesus personally. Our authority comes as a result of a personal relationship with Him. Out of that can come great faith. Great faith cares deeply for people. It feels unworthy in approaching Jesus Christ. Yet it is not deterred. Great faith seeks God. Great faith is centered in Jesus Christ. Great faith stirs the great power of Jesus Christ.

Jesus said, “Why call me Lord and not do what I say?” Do you recognize that Jesus has authority over you to send you where He wants to send you; to carry out His commands? Can He trust you to do what He wants even if there is no one else watching? Can He trust you to trust Him even when it seems He is hands-off?