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Northwest Church of Christ 3904 38th Street NW Canton, Ohio 44718 330-492-5523 Fax: 330-493-7119 |
“Two Stories of Faith” |
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I. Introduction.
A. Jesus’ earthly life, and work, involved Him in a variety of
encounters with people of all different backgrounds and
with different problems and needs.1. Such contacts also called for a variety of styles, and
methods, of teaching.2. On some occasions, He addressed large crowds. At
other times, He spoke to only a few people. Then,
there were the one-on-one encounters as well.B. As Matthew 8 begins, Jesus has just concluded the
“Sermon On The Mount.” Now, from the large crowd
(“great multitudes”) of 8:1, we shift to scenes of
involvement with two individuals: a leper and a centurion.
(Theirs are two stories of faith.)1. From the great spiritual truths taught to many, we
move to dealing with the problems of the world, and
of living in the world.2. Those problems – and needs they represented –
disturbed Jesus. How He confronted them provides
lessons for us as His followers.C. Very first thing Jesus always did was to focus His attention
upon a person’s greatest need.1. First man to come to Him was a leper. In Jesus’
time, could be no one with a greater physical
problem. (Dread nature of disease of leprosy).a. No one, outside of Jesus, could help – or
heal – this man.b. The leper acknowledged this and came,
worshipped, and appealed to Jesus – with
confidence and faith. (Re-read last part of
verse 2). In responding to the man’s faith,
Jesus touches the untouchable; He embraces
the outcast; He shows compassion to one
who is the object of peoples’ fear and
loathing.2. Then, the second man is the centurion who comes,
not for himself, but for his servant. He, too,
proclaims a great, remarkable faith in Jesus’ power:
(Re-read verse 8).a. This is not a Jew, but a Gentile who makes
this statement. And, not just any Gentile,
but a representative of a hated, foreign,
conquering government.b. Any good Jew should have looked at this
man with scorn, not as one to be helped.
Besides that, he was asking assistance for
his slave – and a slave was nothing more
than a human tool.c. Jesus responds to this man whom His
kinsmen hated, and for the slave whom
people despised.D. We need to also include a fourth individual in these stories
of faith and Jesus’ response. That’s me – and you. My
needs disturb Jesus, too. Your needs are on His mind. We,
too, are in need of healing and we, too, must come to the
“Great Physician” for it – come in faith, believing Jesus is
the answer for us as He was for these men.II. The Faith That Heals.
A. In both the case of the leper and the centurion, we must
note two elements: first, these men’s approach to Jesus,
then, Jesus’ response to them.B. In the case of leper (verses 2-4), his approach to Jesus
was confident, but humble and reverent.1. His statement in verse 2 tells us of his confidence:
“You can make me clean.” How unusual was this
circumstance? No leper would ever think to come
near a “Rabbi.” He knew too well he’d be stoned
away. But, still this man comes near Jesus – with
confident faith.2. But, he came, also, with humility. He didn’t
demand healing; he appealed for it.a. “Lord, if you are willing . . .” It’s as though
he said: “I know I don’t matter. I know
others will run from me and shun me. I
know I have no right to demand anything of
you.”b. It’s the humble heart, the recognition of
one’s own weakness and unworthiness, that
finds its way to Jesus, that takes the path of
faith.3. But, this man of faith and humility came to Jesus
reverently – he “worshipped Him.”a. The Greek verb here is used only to denote
reverence and respect – peoples’ feelings
and actions in the presence of divinity. In
the presence of Jesus, he was in the presence
of God.B. Now apply these characteristics to ourselves. No one need
ever feel too “unclean”, too sinful, to come to Jesus Christ.
Our disease of the soul is not incurable when we are in
contact with the divine. When we come to Jesus, we’re
met with the love and power of Almighty God.C. How did Jesus react to the leper? How does He react to us,
who are spiritually unclean?1. First with compassion: “. . . Jesus put out His hand
and touched him, saying, ‘I am willing; be
cleansed.’ ” (verse 3)2. For Jesus, there was only one obligation in life –
to help. There was only one law – love.3. Second, Jesus responded with a command.
(verse 4). (Re-read underlined portion.)a. Palestine was an occupied country and
the Jews were a proud people. They never
stopped dreaming of the day when their
divine deliverer, the Messiah, would come
and, through power and conquest, free them
again.b. In this volatile situation, if the leper had
gone and broadcast what Jesus had done for
him, there would, no doubt, have been a
rush to install Jesus as a political leader and
military commander. Much the same way
we react to extraordinary leadership today.c. But, Jesus’ purpose was to change peoples’
minds, to enable them to see that His power
was love, not force.d. Jesus compelled silence upon those He
helped so as not to be used to make peoples’
dreams come true, but for them to wait for
God to work in His Own time.4. Jesus told the man to meet the requirements of the
Law. After the healing, there were obligations to
be fulfilled, and responsibilities to be carried out.
Here, too, there’s application for us. When we’re
freed from the slavery of sin we are told not to
continue in our past, sinful ways, to show gratitude
to God in our service, to continue to learn and
expand our spiritual life.D. The faith-motivated person cooperates with the unlimited
grace of God. So it was with the centurion as well.1. It’s interesting that every centurion mentioned in
the New Testament is spoken of with honor.2. This centurion stands out because of his attitude
toward his servant. He was upset about his
servant’s illness, and suffering, and was determined
to do everything in his power and to save him.3. The centurion also stands out because of his faith.
a. According to Jewish law, a Jew, like Jesus,
could not enter the house of a Gentile – a
place considered “unclean.” But, Jesus says:
“I will come and heal him.” (verse 7).b. Jesus, in effect, tests the centurion’s faith.
And, here, that faith reached a peak
(Re-read verse 8).c. Here’s the faith that unlocks access to God
and His blessings.4. The passport to God is not who we are or what we
are – it’s submissive faith. (Re-read verse 10).E. What about us? How great is our faith? How active is our
obedience? Will we sit down at the heavenly feast, or be
cast out because we thought too much of ourselves and too
little of God?III. Conclusion.
A. The leper was cleansed “immediately.” And, the servant
was healed “that same hour.” Would either have thought
to reject their healing?B. If we suffer from the “disease” of unforgiven sin, the
Master says: “be healed.” Will you delay the cure, or
reject it entirely? Or, will you come in faith and be
“. . . born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor
of the will of man, but of God.” (John 1:13).C. Like the centurion, lay self aside and come to Jesus. Like
the leper, become whole again and take on a new life.