The account of Jesus healing the centurion’s servant (Matthew 8:5-13) delivers a seismic theological shift in understanding kingdom citizenship. At its climax, Jesus declares that “the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into outer darkness” (v. 12), contrasting Jewish religious presumption with a Gentile soldier’s extraordinary faith. This essay examines the linguistic roots of “sons of the kingdom” and “cast out,” revealing how Christ redefines divine election around faith-driven allegiance to His lordship.
Linguistic Foundations
The phrase “sons of the kingdom” (οἱ υἱοὶ τῆς βασιλείας) employs:
υἱός (huios): Denotes legal heirs, implying covenantal privileges assumed by Jews as Abraham’s descendants.
βασιλεία (basileia): God’s reign, historically tied to Israel’s Messianic expectations.
“Cast out” translates ἐκβάλλω (ekballō), a forceful term meaning to “expel violently” or “thrust away.” Used for exorcisms and agricultural purging, it connotes irreversible exclusion from divine favor.
Theological Implications
Jesus’ warning dismantles three presumptions:
Ethnic Entitlement: First-century Jews believed biological descent from Abraham guaranteed salvation. Christ decouples genealogy from election, mirroring John the Baptist’s warning.
Religious Ritualism: Temple practices and Torah adherence became substitutes for heart-level faith, a theme Jesus amplifies in the Sermon on the Mount.
National Exclusivity: The centurion—a Gentile and Roman oppressor—embodies the “many from east and west” who inherit Abraham’s blessings through faith.
The “outer darkness” symbolizes total separation from God’s presence, combining Jewish apocalyptic imagery with Greco-Roman banquet customs where unworthy guests faced expulsion into night streets.
Christological Fulfillment
As Messiah-King, Jesus exercises divine authority to:
Rewrite Covenant Terms: The centurion’s confession (“Lord, I am not worthy”) mirrors Davidic humility, contrasting Jewish leaders’ arrogance.
Enact Cross-Cultural Inclusion: By healing a Gentile’s servant, Jesus fulfills Isaiah’s vision of a “light to the nations.”
Judge False Assurance: Christ’s warning prefigures the Temple’s destruction, where unfruitful Israel faced national exile.
Transformative Power for Believers
This passage demands:
Active Faith: The centurion’s trust in Jesus’ spoken word models kingdom access through spiritual reliance, not ritual.
Eternal Perspective: While ultimate kingdom consummation awaits Christ’s return, believers now experience His reign through surrendered obedience.
Urgent Evangelism: Paul later echoes this text, urging disciples to graft Gentiles into God’s story while warning against Jewish complacency.
Conclusion
Matthew 8:5-13 proclaims Christ as the cosmic threshold of God’s kingdom—a King who excludes the self-assured and welcomes the penitent. By wielding ἐκβάλλω as both surgical scalpel and royal decree, Jesus dismantles human meritocracy, establishing cross-centered faith as the sole passport to His eternal reign. For modern believers, this narrative compels radical dependence on Christ’s finished work, vigilant humility, and zealous proclamation of His inclusive lordship.
A Disciple-Makers Short Story
Nationality or Faith
The aroma of freshly baked bread mingled with the savory scent of roasted beef and potatoes as Arthur’s house church gathered around the long wooden table. The room was alive with the sounds of laughter, clinking dishes, and heartfelt conversation. It was a weekly rhythm: a shared meal followed by a time of open discussion about faith, life, and Scripture. Tonight’s gathering felt particularly warm, the kind of evening where hearts seemed ready to receive.
Arthur, a soft-spoken man in his late forties with kind eyes and a weathered Bible resting on his lap, leaned back in his chair. He loved these moments—ordinary yet sacred. As plates were cleared and cups refilled, he cleared his throat to signal the transition to their Q&A time.
“Alright,” he began, his voice steady but inviting, “who’s got something on their heart tonight?”
Travis, a young man with an earnest demeanor and a slight furrow in his brow, raised his hand hesitantly. “I’ve got one,” he said, leaning forward. “It’s been bugging me all week.”
Arthur nodded. “Go ahead.”
Travis shifted in his seat, clearly replaying something in his mind. “So, I was sharing the gospel with this guy at work—just trying to talk about Jesus—and I asked him if he was a Christian. And he looked at me like I’d insulted him or something and said, ‘I’m an American, aren’t I?’” Travis paused, shaking his head. “I didn’t even know what to say. It caught me so off guard.”
A murmur rippled through the group as others processed the story. Arthur leaned forward slightly, his expression thoughtful.
“So,” Arthur asked, “what do you guys think? How should Travis have responded? Or… what does that even mean?”
The room grew quiet for a moment as everyone considered the question. Finally, Sarah, a middle-aged woman with a sharp mind for Scripture, spoke up. “It sounds like he’s equating being American with being Christian—like it’s part of his identity by default.”
“Yeah,” chimed in Marcus, a retired teacher known for his practical wisdom. “It’s not an uncommon mindset. Some people think being born into a certain culture or nation automatically makes them part of God’s kingdom.”
Others nodded in agreement, but Arthur remained silent, letting the conversation unfold naturally. After several more comments, he raised his hand slightly to signal he had something to add.
“Let’s take this back to Scripture,” Arthur said gently. “Travis’ experience reminds me of something we’ve been studying recently—Matthew 8:5-13.”
He opened his Bible and began reading aloud the story of the centurion who approached Jesus on behalf of his paralyzed servant. The church listened intently as Arthur’s voice carried the words: “…‘Truly I say to you, I have not found such great faith with anyone in Israel… but the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into outer darkness.’”
Arthur closed the Bible softly and looked around the room. “This passage is powerful because it challenges assumptions about who belongs in God’s kingdom. The centurion wasn’t Jewish—he was a Roman soldier, an outsider by every cultural and religious standard of that time. Yet Jesus marveled at his faith.”
He paused for emphasis before continuing. “Now contrast that with Jesus’ warning about ‘the sons of the kingdom.’ He’s talking about people who assumed they were part of God’s family simply because of their heritage or status—because they were Israelites by birth. But Jesus makes it clear: faith is what matters.”
Travis leaned forward, visibly intrigued. “So… you’re saying it’s kind of like that guy I talked to? He thought being American automatically made him Christian?”
“Exactly,” Arthur replied with a nod. “It’s easy for people to confuse cultural identity with spiritual reality. But Jesus teaches us that being part of His kingdom isn’t about where you’re from or what label you wear—it’s about faith in Him.”
Sarah chimed in thoughtfully, “And not just any faith—a faith like the centurion’s. Humble. Trusting. Recognizing Jesus’ authority.”
Arthur smiled warmly at her comment before addressing Travis directly. “Next time you encounter someone like that coworker, you might gently point them back to this truth: God isn’t looking for national pride or cultural affiliation; He’s looking for hearts that trust Him fully.”
The group sat quietly for a moment, letting Arthur’s words sink in. Then Marcus broke the silence with a chuckle. “Well,” he said wryly, “I guess that means none of us can just coast on our church attendance either!”
Laughter rippled through the room as everyone nodded in agreement.
As the evening wound down and people began gathering their belongings, Travis approached Arthur privately.
“Thanks for that,” Travis said earnestly. “I’ve been feeling like I failed that conversation—but now I see it differently.”
Arthur placed a reassuring hand on Travis’ shoulder. “You didn’t fail,” he said gently. “You planted a seed—and now you’re learning how to water it better next time.”
Travis smiled faintly but sincerely. “I want to be more like Jesus—to be able to see people who have faith and respond with wisdom to those who don’t.”
Arthur nodded approvingly. “That’s what it’s all about.”
As Travis walked out into the cool night air, he felt more confident about sharing his faith—like he’d caught a glimpse of something deeper than himself: a kingdom not built on borders or traditions but on faith that moves mountains and changes lives.
Welcome Back! Today, we’ll be combining the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke to see how Jesus handled opportunities that might appear to be distractions.
When Jesus returned and had again crossed by boat to the other side, a large crowd gathered around Him beside the sea and welcomed Him for they had all been waiting for Him.
While Jesus was speaking to them, a synagogue leader named Jairus came and knelt before Him. He begged urgently for Him to come to his house because his only daughter, who was about twelve, was dying. He said, “My little daughter is near death. Please come and place Your hands on her, so that she will be healed and live.”
So Jesus got up and went with him, along with His disciples and a large crowd followed and pressed around Him. And a woman was there who had suffered from bleeding for twelve years. She had borne much agony under the care of many physicians and had spent all she had, but no one was able to heal her. Instead, her condition had only grown worse.
When the woman heard about Jesus, she came up through the crowd behind Him and touched the fringe of His cloak. For she kept saying, “If only I touch His garments, I will be healed.” Immediately her bleeding stopped, and she sensed in her body that she was healed of her affliction. At once Jesus was aware that power had gone out from Him. Turning to the crowd, He asked, “Who touched My garments?” But they all denied it. His disciples answered, “You can see the crowd pressing in on You, and yet You ask, ‘Who touched Me?’” But He kept looking around to see who had done this.” Peter said, “Master, the people are crowding and pressing against You.” But Jesus declared, “Someone touched Me, for I know that power has gone out from Me.”
Then the woman, seeing that she could not escape notice, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell down before Him trembling in fear, and Jesus turned and saw her. She told Him the whole truth and in the presence of all the people, she explained why she had touched Him and how she had immediately been healed. “Daughter,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be free of your affliction.” And the woman was cured from that very hour.
My Thoughts
As disciple makers, how do we handle interruptions and distractions in our ministries? We see how Jesus did. A woman with enough faith to reach out and just touch His clothes stopped Him in His tracks. But why? He was on a mission. He had no time to lose, the little girl was dying! Besides, it’s first come, first serve, right? How does the dad feel when Jesus suddenly stops and is wondering “who touched Him.” Doesn’t He have bigger fish to fry?
But Jesus not only stops, He is taking precious time to acknowledge a secret believer and affirm her faith. Jesus is like that. He is the “Good Samaritan.” He doesn’t just walk by the wounded guy (or lady) like a Pharisee or Scribe because He’s got more “religious stuff” to do. He takes the time not only to find the lady in the crowd but to announce to all, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be free of your affliction.”
Disciple makers must balance focus with flexibility. While maintaining dedication to the core mission is crucial, it’s equally important to remain attuned to divine opportunities that arise unexpectedly.
Discerning distractions from opportunities requires developing spiritual sensitivity through a deepening relationship with God and cultivating guidance from the Holy Spirit. This discernment is honed through practice and experience in discipleship, allowing us to refine our ability to identify situations that align with our mission to glorify God. While maintaining focus on the primary goal of making disciples, it’s crucial to remain flexible and open to unexpected ways God may work. Jesus exemplified this balance by recognizing apparent interruptions as divine appointments to demonstrate God’s love and power. As His followers, we should pray for the Father to develop this same perceptiveness, enabling us to stay committed to our mission while remaining responsive to divine interventions and opportunities to serve.
My Story
As I have mentioned many times and even in my last post, Deb and I love going to Fort Sam every Sunday to share the gospel with soldiers, sailors, and airmen. Every Sunday, one of the guys who waits tables, engages us with a friendly chat. His name is Andrew and he has an intellectual disability. Andrew has responded to our friendliness by making it a custom to greet Deb and I and then fill us in on the latest Batman comic. “Do you know who the Joker is?” Andrew asked. Then he will very briefly bring us up to speed on the “Caped Crusader’s” activities. Although extremely friendly, he lacks the social skills and awareness to know when is a good time to approach people and when not to.
On several occasions, Andrew has interrupted me while I’m sharing the gospel with our young military members. Usually, I’ve already had a chat with Andrew and I can simply say, “Andrew, I’m talking to these people now. I’ll catch up with you later.” I’m always gentle but firm and Andrew has never responded in an inappropriate way.
Even during my meeting with Mike on Monday, one of the men I mentor, Andrew “interrupted” us. I seized that opportunity to model for Mike how to respond with kindness and navigate so-called “interruptions.”
We started talking to Andrew about our favorite “superhero” named Jesus. Deb and I are going to give him a little New Testament and ask what he’s learning about our King. Andrew’s interruptions are not a curse, they are a blessing.
Our Action Plan
Now it’s time for application. Here’s some ideas.
Reflect on past “interruptions.” How did you handle them?
Pray and ask God for wisdom and discernment
Model how to handle these “interruptions” with those you are discipling
Ministry interruptions often present divine opportunities to demonstrate Christ’s love and compassion in unexpected ways. By remaining sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s guidance and flexible in our approach, we can turn apparent distractions into powerful moments of discipleship and spiritual growth.
¡Bienvenido! Hoy vamos a combinar los Evangelios de Mateo, Marcos y Lucas para ver cómo Jesús manejó las oportunidades que podrían parecer distracciones.
Así que empecemos.
Mateo 9:18–22, Marcos 5:21–34, Lucas 8:40–48
Pasando otra vez Jesús en una barca a la otra orilla, se reunió alrededor de él una gran multitud; y él estaba junto al mar. Y vino uno de los principales de la sinagoga, llamado Jairo; y luego que le vio, se postró a sus pies, y le rogaba mucho, diciendo: Mi hija está agonizando; ven y pon las manos sobre ella para que sea salva, y vivirá.
Así que Jesús se levantó y fue con él, junto con sus discípulos, y una gran multitud le siguió y se apretó a su alrededor. Y había una mujer allí que había sufrido hemorragias durante doce años. Había soportado mucha agonía bajo el cuidado de muchos médicos y había gastado todo lo que tenía, pero nadie pudo curarla. En cambio, su condición solo había empeorado.
Cuando la mujer oyó hablar de Jesús, se abrió paso entre la multitud detrás de Él y tocó el borde de su manto. Porque ella seguía diciendo: “Si tan solo toco sus ropas, seré sanado.” Inmediatamente su sangrado cesó y sintió en su cuerpo que estaba curada de su aflicción. Jesús se dió cuenta enseguida y volviéndose hacia la multitud, preguntó: “¿Quién tocó mis ropas?” Pero todos lo negaron. Sus discípulos respondieron: “Podéis ver a la multitud presionándose, y sin embargo preguntais: ‘¿Quién me ha tocado?'” Pero no paraba de mirar a su alrededor para ver quién había hecho esto.” Peter dijo: “Maestro, la gente se está amontonando y presionando contra Ti.” Pero Jesús dijo: Alguien me ha tocado; porque yo he conocido que ha salido poder de mí. Entonces, cuando la mujer vió que no había quedado oculta, vino temblando, y postrándose a sus pies, le declaró delante de todo el pueblo por qué causa le había tocado, y cómo al instante había sido sanada.Y él le dijo: Hija, tu fe te ha salvado; ve en paz.
Mis Pensamientos
Como hacedores de discípulos, ¿cómo gestionamos las interrupciones y distracciones en nuestros ministerios? Vemos cómo lo hizo Jesús. Una mujer con suficiente fe como para tocar Su ropa le detuvo en seco. ¿Pero por qué? Estaba en una misión. No tenía tiempo que perder, ¡la niña se estaba muriendo! Además, es por orden de llegada, ¿no? ¿Cómo se siente el padre cuando Jesús de repente se detiene y se pregunta “quién le tocó”? ¿No tiene Él asuntos más importantes que hacer?
Pero Jesús no solo se detiene, sino que se toma un tiempo valioso para reconocer a una creyente secreta y afirmar su fe. Jesús es así. Él es el “Buen Samaritano.” No pasa simplemente junto al herido (o la señora) como un fariseo o un escriba porque tenga más “cosas religiosas” que hacer. Se toma el tiempo no solo para encontrar a la dama entre la multitud, sino para anunciar a todos: “Hija, tu fe te ha sanado. Ve en paz.”
Los hacedores de discípulos deben equilibrar el enfoque con la flexibilidad. Aunque mantener la dedicación a la misión central es crucial, es igual de importante estar atento a las oportunidades divinas que surgen inesperadamente.
Discernir distracciones de las oportunidades requiere desarrollar una sensibilidad espiritual a través de una relación más profunda con Dios y cultivando la guía del Espíritu Santo. Este discernimiento se perfecciona a través de la práctica y la experiencia en el discipulado, permitiéndonos perfeccionar nuestra capacidad para identificar situaciones que se alinean con nuestra misión de glorificar a Dios. Mientras mantienes el enfoque en el objetivo principal de hacer discípulos, es fundamental mantenerse flexible y abierto a formas inesperadas en que Dios pueda actuar. Jesús demostró este equilibrio al reconocer las aparentes interrupciones como citas divinas para demostrar el amor y el poder de Dios. Como Sus seguidores, debemos orar para que el Padre desarrolle esta misma perspicacia, permitiéndonos mantenernos comprometidos con nuestra misión mientras seguimos siendo receptivos a las intervenciones divinas y a las oportunidades de servir.
Mi Historia
Como he mencionado muchas veces e incluso en mi última publicación, a Deb y a mí nos encanta ir a Fort Sam cada domingo para compartir el evangelio con soldados, marineros y aviadores. Cada domingo, uno de los chicos que sirve de mesa inició una charla amistosa. Se llama Andrew y tiene una discapacidad intelectual. Andrew ha respondido a nuestra amabilidad haciendo una costumbre de saludar a Deb y a mí y luego ponernos al día sobre el último cómic de Batman. “¿Sabes quién es el Joker?” preguntó Andrew. Luego nos pone al día muy brevemente sobre las actividades del “Activista Encapuchado”. Aunque es extremadamente amigable, Andrew carece de las habilidades sociales y la conciencia para saber cuándo es buen momento acercarse a la gente y cuándo no.
En varias ocasiones, Andrew me ha interrumpido mientras compartía el evangelio con nuestros jóvenes militares. Normalmente, ya he hablado con Andrew y puedo simplemente decir: “Andrew, ahora estoy hablando con estas personas. Te alcanzaré luego.” Siempre soy amable pero firme y Andrew nunca ha respondido de forma inapropiada.
Incluso durante mi reunión con Mike el lunes, uno de los hombres a los que mentoreo, Andrew, nos “interrumpió”. Aproveché esa oportunidad para mostrarle a Mike cómo responder con amabilidad y navegar las llamadas “interrupciones”.
Empezamos a hablar con Andrew sobre nuestro “superhéroe” favorito llamado Jesús. Deb y yo le vamos a dar un poco del Nuevo Testamento y preguntarle qué está aprendiendo sobre nuestro Rey. Las interrupciones de Andrew no son una maldición, son una bendición.
Nuestro Plan de Acción
Ahora es el momento de la aplicación. Aquí van algunas ideas.
– Reflexiona sobre las “interrupciones” pasadas. ¿Cómo los manejaste?
– Ora y pide a Dios sabiduría y discernimiento
– Modela cómo manejar estas “interrupciones” con aquellos que estás discipulando
Las interrupciones del ministerio suelen presentar oportunidades divinas para demostrar el amor y la compasión de Cristo de formas inesperadas. Al mantenernos sensibles a la guía del Espíritu Santo y ser flexibles en nuestro enfoque, podemos convertir distracciones aparentes en momentos poderosos de discipulado y crecimiento espiritual.
When Jesus concluded His discourse in the hearing of the people, He came down from the mountain, and large crowds followed Him. He went to Capernaum. There a highly valued servant of a centurion was sick and about to die. When the centurion heard about Jesus, he sent some Jewish elders to ask Him to come and heal his servant. [1] They came to Jesus and pleaded with Him earnestly, “This man is worthy to have You grant this, for he loves our nation and has built our synagogue.” He requests, “Lord, my servant lies at home, paralyzed and in terrible agony.”
So Jesus went with them. But when He was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends with the message: “Lord, do not trouble Yourself, for I am not worthy to have You come under my roof. That is why I did not consider myself worthy to come to You. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell one to go, and he goes; and another to come, and he comes. I tell my servant to do something, and he does it.”
When Jesus heard this, He marveled and said to those following Him, “Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone even in Israel with such great faith. I say to you that many will come from the east and the west to share the banquet with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. But the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Then Jesus said to them, “Go! As you have believed, so will it be done for you.” (His servant was healed at that very hour.) And when the messengers returned to the house, they found the servant in good health.
My Thoughts
What was different about the Centurion’s faith and the faith of all those in Israel? Jesus points out that there’s a major disparity between this Roman Commander and even His own disciples. He declares “I have not found anyone even in Israel with such great faith.” So what did Jesus see in this soldier? And what did the soldier see in Jesus?
Let’s start with the Centurion. As he states, he sees authority from a military point of view. If he tells someone to do something, it’s as good as done. As a commander he was used to people following his orders. And if they didn’t, well, everyone knows that’s not going to end on a positive note. He also knew what it meant to obey the authority placed over him. When they said “jump” the only question he had was “How high?” He was used to the chain of command in the military. And based on his understanding of Jesus, he saw Him as a Superior Authority. Jesus just needed to say the word and it was as good as done.
And notice Jesus’ response. He applauds his faith. In fact, He was impressed! He hadn’t found this kind of faith in any of the Children of Israel. But here’s this pagan, Gentile, occupier, a symbol of everything distained by the Jews, and he gets first place in the faith race. And Jesus didn’t downplay what his faith was based on; his understanding of authority. He doesn’t say; “Oh, you don’t have to elevate Me like that friend. I’m just a nice guy doing nice things for confused people who don’t know I’m the King.” No, Jesus essentially affirms the Centurions view of His rightful authority over sickness, people, and everything. And Jesus calls this great faith!
I’m not sure in modern Christianity that we would so quickly associate Jesus’ authority with faith. Usually it’s coupled with knowing the right things. Normally we connect believing correct doctrine with the giants in the faith. But is that all Jesus is looking for? I think the Centurion’s understanding of authority and Jesus’ position over him led to a particular posture of faith. He was quick to submit to that authority and thereby believed that Jesus was able to command healing into his servant. “You’re the King, You say it and it’s done.”
The Centurion’s faith was not just data, it was an understanding and submission to a power. Jesus had rulership over a kingdom. He has control over all creation. Sure the Centurion would have to intellectually ascend to these facts but he put the knowledge into action by placing himself under that authority. Which he did, unhesitantly and absolutely.
I think this is part of what James is alluding to when he writes;
For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead. (James 2:26)
My Story
When I was a private in the Army, I was sent to Recondo school. It was a very demanding three week course in the basics of reconnaissance. I graduated at the top of the class so the Corps Commander, a three star general, pinned on my Recondo badge and said; “Son, if there’s anything I can do for you, come and see me.”
A couple of months later I was running into all kinds of red tape in trying to get an assignment to a Ranger unit so I decided to see the General. Now if you’re as unfamiliar with the military as I was as a lowly private, you probably don’t know that if a General tells you to come and see him, he’s probably just being nice or at the very least you need to go through the proper channels. But not me, I took him at his word and marched right up to the XVIII Airborne Corps Headquarters and asked to see General Warner. His secretary very kindly asked if I had an appointment, knowing that I didn’t. I said no and explained my situation and the invitation the general had given me. She smiled and said, “The General is not in now, but I’m sure the Corps Sergeant Major will see you.” I was way out of my depth and didn’t have a clue. But everyone was playing along with this bodacious private who had the nerve to take the General up on his offer.
The Sergeant Major invited me in and kindly listened to my plight, which is not normal for Sergeant Majors, I guarantee it! He said, “Let me see what we can do about this. If you want to be an Airborne Ranger, there’s no reason we shouldn’t be able to make that happen.” Then he gently instructed me on how to use the chain of command in the future to solve my problems. 🙂
Now I didn’t quite understand the military protocol as well as the Centurion but I understood enough that persons in high command can get things done. And very much like the Centurion, I was bold enough to ask. As disciple makers are we painting faith in Jesus this way? Are we teaching people that our King says, “Son, if there’s anything I can do for you, come and see me.” He’s not just being nice. We don’t have to go through channels to see Him and make our request. We can boldly go to the throne of Grace like the Centurion and Private Wood and lay our petition before Him. The kind of faith Jesus is looking for believes and submits to His power and authority.
Our Action Plan
Now it’s time for application. Here’s some ideas.
Consider the faith of those you are discipling. Are they bold and bodacious?
Use stories of Bible characters to bolster their faith.
Do or pray something BIG together as a church.
Timidity and faith do not go together. Let’s “gird up our lions” so to speak and have a soldier’s kind of faith believing in God’s power and authority.
[Footnote 1]: Differences between Matthew and Luke’s Account of the Centurion – In Matthew’s account it appears that the Centurion came to Jesus in person whereas in Luke’s account, the Centurion sends emissaries. I like the two options Dr. Robert C. Newman gives on the website linked below;
OPTION #1. The Centurion came AFTER sending emissaries. While the centurion originally felt shame in approaching Jesus (Lk. 7:6), it’s possible that he could have come out to visit him after sending his servants. Remember, Jesus was “not far from the house” (Lk. 7:6), so this is entirely possible. Poythress observes, “Human motivations and decision making are complex and often include some wavering or change of mind.”[1]
OPTION #2. The emissaries represented the Centurion. When Matthew records that the centurion was “imploring Jesus,” it never says that this was “face to face” or “in person.” Of course, the centurion did implore Jesus, but this was via a messenger or representative. We would use this same language today, when a newspaper states, “The President told the Prime Minister to support his foreign policy.” We don’t expect that the two people actually spoke to one another. They may have, or maybe the President sent his ambassadors to do it for him.
Elsewhere in the gospels, we read, “Pilate took Jesus and scourged him” (Jn. 19:1; cf. Mt. 27:26; Mk. 15:15; Lk. 23:16). Of course, this doesn’t necessarily mean that Pilate held the whip himself, but rather, the order came from him to have Jesus scourged.
¡Bienvenido! Hoy, combinaremos los Evangelios de Mateo y Lucas para ver qué tipo de fe impresiona a Jesús.
Así que comencemos
Mateo 8:1, 5–13, Lucas 7:1–10
Cuando Jesús concluyó su discurso a oídos de la gente, bajó de la montaña, y grandes multitudes lo siguieron. Fue a Capernaum. Allí, un siervo muy apreciado de un centurión estaba enfermo y a punto de morir. Cuando el centurión oyó hablar de Jesús, envió a algunos ancianos judíos para pedirle que viniera a sanar a su siervo. Se acercaron a Jesús y le rogaron fervientemente: «Este hombre es digno de que te concedas esto, porque ama a nuestra nación y ha edificado nuestra sinagoga». Él pide: “Señor, mi siervo yace en casa, paralítico y en terrible agonía”.
Así que Jesús fue con ellos. Pero cuando no estaba lejos de la casa, el centurión envió a sus amigos con el mensaje: “Señor, no te molestes, porque no soy digno de que entres bajo mi techo. Es por eso que no me consideré digno de venir a Ti. Pero solo di la palabra, y mi siervo será sanado. Porque yo mismo soy un hombre bajo autoridad, con soldados a mis órdenes. Le digo a uno que se vaya, y se va; y otro por venir, y él viene. Le digo a mi siervo que haga algo, y lo hace”.
Al oír esto, Jesús se maravilló y dijo a los que le seguían: «En verdad os digo que ni siquiera en Israel he encontrado a nadie con una fe tan grande. Os digo que vendrán muchos del oriente y del occidente para compartir el banquete con Abraham, Isaac y Jacob en el reino de los cielos. Pero los hijos del reino serán arrojados a las tinieblas de afuera, donde será el llanto y el crujir de dientes”. Entonces Jesús les dijo: «¡Id! Como habéis creído, así se hará por vosotros”. (Su siervo fue sanado en esa misma hora.) Cuando los mensajeros regresaron a la casa, encontraron al siervo en buen estado de salud.
Mis Pensamientos
¿Qué había de diferente en la fe del centurión y en la fe de todos los que estaban en Israel? Jesús señala que hay una gran disparidad entre este comandante romano e incluso sus propios discípulos. Él declara: “No he encontrado a nadie, ni siquiera en Israel, con una fe tan grande”. Entonces, ¿qué vio Jesús en este soldado? ¿Y qué vio el soldado en Jesús?
Empecemos por el Centurión. Como él mismo afirma, ve la autoridad desde un punto de vista militar. Si le dice a alguien que haga algo, es como hecho. Como comandante estaba acostumbrado a que la gente siguiera sus órdenes. Y si no lo hicieron, bueno, todo el mundo sabe que eso no va a terminar con una nota positiva. También sabía lo que significaba obedecer a la autoridad que se había depositado sobre él. Cuando le dijeron “saltar”, la única pregunta que tenía era: “¿A qué altura?” Estaba acostumbrado a la cadena de mando en el ejército. Y basado en su comprensión de Jesús, lo vió como una Autoridad Superior. Jesús solo necesitaba decir la palabra y estaba como hecho.
Y fíjense en la respuesta de Jesús. Aplaude su fe. De hecho, ¡quedó impresionado! Él no había encontrado este tipo de fe en ninguno de los Hijos de Israel. Pero aquí está este pagano, gentil, ocupante, un símbolo de todo lo que los judíos han desdeñado, y éste obtiene el primer lugar en la carrera de la fe. Y Jesús no minimizó en qué se basaba su fe; o su comprensión de la autoridad. Él no dice; “Oh, no tienes que elevarme como ese amigo. Solo soy un buen tipo que hace cosas buenas por personas confundidas que no saben que soy el Rey”. No, Jesús esencialmente afirma el punto de vista de los Centuriones de Su legítima autoridad sobre la enfermedad, las personas y todo. ¡Y Jesús llama a esto una gran fe!
No estoy seguro de que en el cristianismo moderno asociemos tan rápidamente la autoridad de Jesús con la fe. Por lo general, se combina con saber las cosas correctas. Normalmente conectamos la creencia en la doctrina correcta con los gigantes en la fe. Pero, ¿es eso todo lo que Jesús está buscando? Creo que la comprensión del centurión de la autoridad y la posición de Jesús sobre él llevaron a una postura particular de fe. Se sometió rápidamente a esa autoridad y, por lo tanto, creyó que Jesús podía ordenar la curación a su siervo. “Tú eres el Rey, lo dices y ya está”.
La fe del Centurión no era solo en datos. Era un entendimiento y una sumisión a un poder. Jesús gobernaba un reino. Él tiene control sobre toda la creación. Claro que el Centurión tendría que ascender intelectualmente a estos hechos, pero puso el conocimiento en acción colocándose bajo esa autoridad, lo cual hizo, sin vacilar y absolutamente.
Creo que esto es parte de lo que Santiago está aludiendo cuando escribe;
Porque como el cuerpo sin espíritu está muerto, así también la fe sin obras está muerta (Santiago 2:26).
Mi Historia
Cuando era soldado raso en el Ejército, me enviaron a la escuela Recondo. Fue un curso muy exigente de tres semanas en los conceptos básicos de reconocimiento. Me gradué como el mejor de la clase, así que el Comandante del Cuerpo; un General de tres estrellas, me puso la insignia de Recondo y dijo; “Hijo, si hay algo que pueda hacer por ti, ven a verme”.
Un par de meses más tarde, me encontré con todo tipo de trámites burocráticos al tratar de conseguir una asignación para una unidad de Rangers, así que decidí ver al General. Ahora bien, si usted no está familiarizado con el ejército como yo lo estaba cuando era un humilde soldado raso, probablemente no sepa que si un General le dice que vaya a verlo, probablemente solo esté siendo amable o al menos tenga que pasar por los canales adecuados. Pero yo no; le tomé la palabra y me dirigí hasta el Cuartel General del XVIII Cuerpo Aerotransportado y pedí ver al General Warner. Su secretaria muy amablemente me preguntó si tenía una cita, sabiendo que no la tenía le dije que no y le expliqué mi situación y la invitación que me había hecho el General. Ella sonrió y dijo: “El General no está aquí ahora, pero estoy segura de que el Sargento Mayor del Cuerpo te atenderá”. Estaba fuera de mi alcance y no tenía ni idea. Pero todo el mundo le seguía el juego a este soldado raso que tuvo el descaro de aceptar la oferta del General.
El Sargento Mayor me invitó a pasar y amablemente escuchó mi situación, lo cual no es normal para los Sargentos Mayores, ¡lo garantizo! Él dijo: “Déjame ver qué podemos hacer al respecto. Si quieres ser un Ranger Paracaidista, no hay ninguna razón por la que no podamos hacer que eso suceda”. Luego me instruyó gentilmente sobre cómo usar la cadena de mando en el futuro para resolver mis problemas. 🙂
Ahora bien, yo no entendía muy bien el protocolo militar tan bien como el Centurión, pero entendía lo suficiente que las personas en el alto mando pueden hacer las cosas. Y al igual que el Centurión, me atreví a preguntar. Como hacedores de discípulos, ¿estamos pintando la fe en Jesús de esta manera? ¿Estamos enseñando a la gente que nuestro Rey dice: “Hijo, si hay algo que pueda hacer por ti, ven a verme”? No solo está siendo amable. No tenemos que pasar por canales para verlo y hacer nuestra petición. Podemos ir audazmente al trono de la Gracia como el Centurión y el Soldado Wood y presentar nuestra petición ante Él. El tipo de fe que Jesús está buscando, cree y se somete a su poder y autoridad.
Nuestro Plan de Acción
Ahora es el momento de la aplicación. Aquí tienes algunas ideas.
– Considera la fe de aquellos a quienes estás discipulando. ¿Son atrevidos y atrevidos?
– Utilice historias de personajes de la Biblia para reforzar su fe.
– Hagan u oren por algo GRANDE juntos como iglesia.
La timidez y la fe no van de la mano. “Ciñamos nuestros lomos”, por así decirlo, y tengamos el tipo de fe de un soldado, creyendo en el poder y la autoridad de Dios.
[Nota] Diferencias entre el relato de Mateo y el de Lucas sobre el centurión – En el relato de Mateo parece que el centurión vino a Jesús en persona, mientras que en el relato de Lucas, el centurión envía emisarios. Me gustan las dos opciones que da el Dr. Robert C. Newman en el sitio web vinculado a continuación;
OPCIÓN #1. El Centurión llegó DESPUÉS de enviar emisarios. Si bien el centurión originalmente sintió vergüenza al acercarse a Jesús (Lucas. 7:6), es posible que pudiera haber salido a visitarlo después de enviar a sus siervos. Recuerde, Jesús “no estaba lejos de la casa” (Lucas 7:6), así que esto es completamente posible. Poythress observa: “Las motivaciones humanas y la toma de decisiones son complejas y, a menudo, incluyen alguna vacilación o cambio de opinión”. [1]
OPCIÓN #2. Los emisarios representaban al Centurión. Cuando Mateo registra que el centurión estaba “implorando a Jesús”, nunca dice que esto fue “cara a cara” o “en persona”. Por supuesto, el centurión imploró a Jesús, pero esto fue a través de un mensajero o representante. Usaríamos este mismo lenguaje hoy, cuando un periódico dice: “El Presidente le dijo al Primer Ministro que apoyara su política exterior”. No esperamos que las dos personas realmente se hablaran cara a cara. Es posible que lo hayan hecho, o tal vez el Presidente envió a sus embajadores para que lo hicieran por él.
En otra parte de los Evangelios, leemos: “Pilato tomó a Jesús y lo azotó” (Juan 19:1; Mateo 27:26; Marcos 15:15; Lucas 23:16). Por supuesto, esto no significa necesariamente que Pilato sostuviera el látigo él mismo, sino que la orden de azotar a Jesús vino de él.
ToBeLikeJesus 