Saturday, December 22, 2012

"CENTURION"

 

Luke 7:1-7

 

1.After Jesus had finished all that He had to say in the hearing of the people [on the mountain], He entered Capernaum.


2 Now a centurion had a bond servant who was held in honor and highly valued by him, who was sick and at the point of death.

3 And when the centurion heard of Jesus, he sent some Jewish elders to Him, requesting Him to come and make his bond servant well.

4 And when they reached Jesus, they begged Him earnestly, saying, He is worthy that You should do this for him,

5 For he loves our nation and he built us our synagogue [at his own expense].

6 And Jesus went with them. But when He was not far from the house, the centurion sent [some] friends to Him, saying, Lord, do not trouble [Yourself], for I am not [a]sufficiently worthy to have You come under my roof;

7 Neither did I consider myself worthy to come to You. But [just] speak a word, and my servant boy will be healed.
 
 
Matthew 8:5-13





As Jesus went into Capernaum, a centurion came up to Him, begging Him,
6 And saying, Lord, my servant boy is lying at the house paralyzed and distressed with intense pains.
7 And Jesus said to him, I will come and restore him.
8 But the centurion replied to Him, Lord, I am not worthy or fit to have You come under my roof; but only speak the word, and my servant boy will be cured.
9 For I also am a man subject to authority, with soldiers subject to me. And I say to one, Go, and he goes; and to another, Come, and he comes; and to my slave, Do this, and he does it.
10 When Jesus heard him, He marveled and said to those who followed Him [ ALL who adhered steadfastly to Him, conforming to His example in living and, if need be, in dying also], I tell you truly, I have not found so much faith as this with anyone, even in Israel.
11 I tell you, many will come from east and west, and will sit at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven,
12 While the sons and heirs of the kingdom will be driven out into the darkness outside, where there will be weeping and grinding of teeth.
13 Then to the centurion Jesus said, Go; it shall be done for you as you have believed. And the servant boy was restored to health at that very moment.

 

 HUMILITY
 
8 But the centurion replied to Him, Lord, I am not worthy or fit to have You come under my roof; but only speak the word, and my servant boy will be cured.

LOVE TO MAN5

 For he loves our nation and he built us our synagogue [at his own expense].

MASTER'S LOVE

Now a centurion had a bond servant who was held in honor and highly valued by him, who was sick and at the point of death.

SERVANTS OF CENTURION

For I also am a man subject to authority, with soldiers subject to me. And I say to one, Go, and he goes; and to another, Come, and he comes; and to my slave, Do this, and he does it. "I am  a Roman soldier," and he knew his servant was a "soldier of Christ."

When Jesus heard him, He marveled!

DEAR PRECIOUS BELIEVER; DOES JESUS MARVEL OVER YOUR FAITH IN HIM?

THE CENTURION, A MAN UNDER THE RULE AND AUTHORITY OF THE MOST POWERFUL EMPIRE ON EARTH, RULED BY A RUTHLESS DICTATOR AND HIS GOVERNORS.

THE CENTURION;  A FOOT SOLDIER, MOSTLY LIKELY A GREAT WARRIOR IN BATTLE, LOYAL TO CAESAR, AND TO ROME. A SOLDIER WHO TOOK MANY LIVES IN THE NAME OF THE ,"GLORY OF ROME." THIS MAN WAS NOTICED BY COMRADES SOLDIERS, GOVERNORS AND SENATE, AND MOST OF ALL, "CAESAR HIMSELF."

PROMOTED TO POSITION OF CENTURION, RULED OVER 100 SOLDIERS. THIS MAN MOST LIKELY HEARD CHRIST SPEAK, WITNESSED HIS MIRACLES. HE IN FACT HAD A PERSONAL EXPERIENCE WITH JESUS. "BUT HOW?"

IN THIS MORNINGS MEDITATIONS, LET US DIG DEEPER AS THE HOLY SPIRIT MOVES UPON OUR HEARTS, AND IN JOY REVEALS THOSE THINGS WHICH MAY BE HIDDEN TO US.

COULD THE CONVERSION OF THE CENTURION HAVE COME FROM ONE OF THE MEN HE RULED OVER AS MASTER?

COULD IT HAD BEEN THE VERY SERVANT WHO WAS SICK TO THE POINT OF DEATH, AND WHOM HE LOVED?

COULD THIS SERVANT HAVE BEEN A  CONVERT, WHO BECAME A WITNESS AMONG THE 99 SOLDIERS INCLUDING THE CENTURION. THIS SERVANT'S OBEDIENCE TO THE HOLY SPIRIT, SEIZED THE ATTENTION, THE VERY HEART OF HIS MASTER?

THIS SERVANT I DECLARE,was A GREAT WARRIOR (a soldier of Christ) , PERHAPS THE REASON WHY THE CENTURION DISPLAYS SUCH PASSION TO HIM. HE WAS LIKE HIM. HE WITNESSED HIS SERVANT'S TRANSFORMATION.

HE WON HIS MASTER'S HEART. HIS MASTER MARVELED AT HIS FAITH.

THE SERVANT'S SICKNESS, MOVES THE CENTURION TO SEEK OUT THIS JESUS FOR HIMSELF. WE MUST DO THE SAME. HE LEAVES THE 99, FOR THE ONE. FAMILIAR? I THINK SO.

THE CENTURION'S TRANSFORMED LIFE COULD BE DUE TO THE WITNESS OF HIS SERVANT, AND NOW HIS DEEP LOVE FOR his servant, the Centurion seeks out JESUS. IT IS IN THIS MOMENT, WE WOULD DO WELL TO CAPTURE THE DIVINE EXCHANGE.

 WHEN FINDING Jesus, HE MAKES HIS HEART FELT REQUEST. PRODUCING THE DIVINE RESPONSE THAT  TRANSFORMS US ALL.

10 When Jesus heard him, He marveled and said to those who followed Him [who adhered steadfastly to Him, conforming to His example in living and, if need be, in dying also], I tell you truly, I have not found so much faith as this with anyone, even in Israel.

SO I ASK YOU. DOES JESUS MARVEL OVER YOUR FAITH IN HIM?

SELAH,(THINK ON THESE THINGS).


 
 

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