Why do we honor veterans? Not just because its mandated as a holiday, and not contingent on some favorable outcome. There’s something about those who have decided to put their lives on the line for others. We admire those who are willing to sacrifice time, energy, lives for the benefit of others… - It's a sacrifice. Because of their unique experience they can relate to certain things differently.  

Matthew 8:5 When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help. 6 “Lord,” he said, “my servant lies at home paralyzed, suffering terribly.” 7 Jesus said to him, “Shall I come and heal him?” 8 The centurion replied, “Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. 9 For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” 10 When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him, “Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith. 11 I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. 12 But the subjects of the kingdom will be thrown outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” 13 Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go! Let it be done just as you believed it would.” And his servant was healed at that moment.

Jesus had just finished The Sermon on the Mount - teaching us about a way of life that upset the power structures & turned the norms of our world upside down. By saying things like its the meek who will inherit the earth. Or tells us to refuse to buy into the culture of lust around us, challenges us to love your enemies, pray for those who persecute you and reject the seduction of store up treasures on earth. When he finishes He comes down the mountain, and heals a man with leprosy - reached out and touched the man! We would be hesitant to touch a leprous person but not Jesus - Gives him what he so badly lacked, not just healing but a touch, human connection, some affection.

Then a soldier comes to Jesus. He’s an officer in the Roman army, responsible for 100 soldiers. A centurion.

How do conqured people treat those who conquered them?

Jesus’ nation, Israel, has been taken over, occupied, and under the rule of Rome, no longer independent or free. So we can imagine the anger many Jews had towards these Romans soldiers who were there to keep them in line. Most felt powerless, at the mercy of the emperor, whose control was enforced by his soldiers. Many treated these soldiers with contempt. So to our great surprise one of them, a centurion comes to Jesus asking for help.

His servant is paralyzed, suffering greatly. This is a person he cares for, the word servant "pais" here closely associated with son, so maybe theres more going on in his heart than we can know. All we know is that this person is suffering terribly and the centurion driven by compassion or maybe even love is looking for help. He’s all out of options and is now coming to the Rabbi from Nazareth hopeful that he will help. Why?

He’s has reached the end of his own power, He has the humility to recognize, I need help. I tell my servant do this and he does it - but I can’t just tell his servant to heal. He’s at the end of his authority, of what he can control and command. He has no power over this. For many of us It’s only when we reach the end of what we can do, of what we have power over that we can notice our need for Jesus. There’s things in your life you can’t control. And this morning some of you are Suffering due to those things. (Health issues, Sin, breakdown in relationships with family/ friends, maybe the pain of thinking of a loved one won't be at thanksgiving. There's disappointment, confusion, sorrow, or maybe you’re looking out and seeing the terrible suffering of others and you feel powerless) You’re at the end of what you can do. You’ve come to realize you can’t fix it. You can give up, become cynical or Turn to Jesus - What's Jesus’ response? 

Jesus offers to go to heal the servant. Shocking response. He will go into the house of a Roman centurion and become unclean! He places no conditions, I’ll go if you…Nothing, Jesus is willing to go. We expect to hear the centurion order: “yes … come”. In fact the soldier could probably force Jesus. But his response shows he’s truly come to the end of himself. I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. The Centurion doesnt feel entitled. Because he has an understanding of power and authority he knows his place - I dont deserve it, You have the power, the Authority. From a far you're obeyed. He recognized the authority of Jesus. 

Who holds the authority in your life?

The Centurion submits to Jesus. Submits to him freely. He recognizes that Jesus' power and authority comes from a different place. That's the Faith that Jesus calls for. Faith is not believing in Jesus, it's a submission to the authority of Jesus in every part of your life. It’s that faith, giving over full authority and power that Amazes Jesus. It’s uncommon, its rare - in fact he had not found anyone in Israel with such great faith. The outsider, in this case the centurion, has the right faith, and along with many from the the outside will take their place in the kingdom, while the insiders, those who feel entitled, who think they deserve Gods presence or can control God, will be thrown out!

Does your faith amaze Jesus or is it the lukewarm watered down faith so prevalent in the Christian world?

Now Jesus works with your faith no matter where it’s at. Maybe you have doubts, you have Questions, thats a fine place to start but maturity means we accept that we have no RIGHT to force, coerce or bend God to our will. Instead we bend our lives to his authority. Submitting to Him. God has all power and with just one Word all can change. But Jesus has the Power! The centurion says a word too. "Lord" - is not meant to be a title but a description of Jesus' authority over your life. Submit to his authority! What we Speak, think, write, see, our attitude, what we listen - give All control over to him. Why because your wrong, being a Disciple doesn't mean you got everything Right but instead that you’re aware of the areas where you’re wrong. And because of the suffering we cause. So Jesus wants authority for 1 reason to - to Heal us Jesus

Matthew 8:17… He took up our infirmities and bore our diseases. Power, just say the Word, when we don't have control, strength, authority - come to the end of ourselves. Buried, can’t carry the weight, we’re broken and need his healing. In darkness but with just one word we see a new day dawning. A glorious Day. Just one Word faith amazes. Whatever you’re going through today He knows, he cares and he has a plan. Lets learn from the centurions amazing faith, submitting to the authority of Jesus because we believe in his Power to do incredible things.