Authority: The Centurion’s Servant

00:00:00 Speaker 1: When Jesus heard this, he marveled and said to those who followed him, Truly, I tell you, with no one in Israel have I found such faith Matthew Aten, Heavenly Father, our hearts are deeply moved. This testimony of unwavering belief in your power challenges us to examine the depth of our own faith. Lord, inspire within us a faith that astonishes, a trust in You that does not waver in the face of trials and uncertainties. May our belief in your goodness, your love, and your omnipotence be as profound and unwavering as that of the centurion. Grant us the courage to believe in the impossible, to see beyond our limitations, and to trust in your perfect will for our life. Convict us, O God, to live lives that do not seek you in moments of need, but that consistently walk in the assurance of your presence and promises. Let our faith be a beacon of hope and inspiration to those around us, testifying to the greatness of your power and love. In Jesus' name, Amen, thank you for praying with me today. You're listening to the Jesus Podcast Stories of hope, love, and divine intervention. We're glad you found us. Be sure to follow this podcast so you never miss an episode. Doing so will also help others find us so we can spread the story of Christ to everyone. Marcus rode atop his horse with a hundred soldiers marching behind him in perfect sink. His armor shown brilliantly in the afternoon sun. His polished blade and colorful helmet was a shimmering symbol of his authority. A cloud of dust followed them, like a signal fire of Caesar's rule through them. Directly behind Marcus was a carriage carrying his wife and newborn daughter. She cradled the baby, comforting her as they traveled along the bumpy road. Marcus was returning from Rome, where he stood before Caesar himself. His soldiers reported admirably, gaining him more favor and status among Caesar's elite. However, the trip had left him and his family exhausted. Tierro, their family servant, sat outside the carriage, writing a. 00:02:52 Speaker 2: Report, ZIERO, I don't want my wife to endure more travel than necessary. When we returned to the Peronium, escort her to the villa while I attend to my men. 00:03:04 Speaker 1: Yes, of course, Tiero bowed his head and wrote something down. 00:03:08 Speaker 2: And don't forget to have it. 00:03:10 Speaker 3: Have the servant draw her a bath and take the child to the nurses quarters. 00:03:16 Speaker 1: Tiro interrupted with a smile. Marcus smirked and gave his servant a nod of approval. 00:03:24 Speaker 2: Yes, thank you, Tiero. 00:03:26 Speaker 1: The legion of soldiers rounded the path to the gates. They stopped at the barracks. Marcus's wife stepped out of the carriage with the child to stretch. But as she stepped out, Tierro noticed a snake slithering through the cracks in the camel stone. One of the horses, startled by the serpent, rose its hoofs into the air, poised to strike her and the child. Tiro sprung into action and swung them both around, covering them from the horse's blow with his back. Its hooves made a direct right to his spine. Every soldier could hear the crack, followed by a lemon thump on the floor Ziero. Marcus shouted, dismounting his horse and running to his aid. Tiro wasn't moving, his eyes were wide with pain. They dragged the servant inside. Marcus held Tiro in his arms, holding his hand. 00:04:23 Speaker 2: Squeeze my hand, Tyro, can you feel anything? 00:04:27 Speaker 1: Silent tears streamed down Tiro's cheeks. His throat clenched to say something, but nothing came out. Tiro was paralyzed, clearly writhing in agony from the waist up, but unable to say anything. Each breath was strained, like he was fighting through pain simply to breathe. His body was bound up in wired, spiked mesh, burrowing painfully into his skin. Any moment could his last. 00:05:02 Speaker 4: If you've ever heard someone captivate a room with a speech, you know a fraction of what people felt when they heard Jesus. You often heard people say that Jesus spoke with authority as the word of God. Jesus's words struck the hearts and minds of listeners with striking power and weight. Today, we have the privilege of having God's word available to us at any given moment if we come to Him in faith. The possibilities of what He might do in our lives is endless. This is the Jesus Podcast, a year of stories showcasing the depth of Christ's love and the glory of God's truth through cinematic storytelling and honest reflection. I'm Zach your host frompray dot Com. It's great to have you here with us for another marvelous miracle of the Messiah. Be sure to follow the podcast so you don't miss out on all of Jesus's exciting adventures. As the Jews of Jesus's time awaited the Messiah, they had come to long for one who would break them free from the oppression of the Roman Empire. They longed to be free from the rule of Caesar and hailed their own king that would establish Israel as a great nation, just as David did when he walked the earth. What they found in Jesus defied their very expectation, though, but just because Jesus didn't stand out in his earthly appearance, the ministry messages in miracles he brought demonstrated that he was one who held great authority. In today's miracle, we'll see a juxtaposition between earthly and heavenly authority as a Roman centurion, one with authority to command a hundred soldiers, seeks out the man he believed to be even greater than himself. As we learn about another miracle, we'll discover how our faith in God will always prove to be a better option than holding on to faith in anything of this world. 00:06:47 Speaker 1: Marcus waited by the corner of the market, beside the wheat and barley stand. He sifted a few grains from one poem to another, nervously looking around people hustled by him, unaware of who he was good. He wore plain clothes, not his usual decorated uniform. He wanted to blend in. At the right moment, he would reveal himself. If he had worn his uniform, silver badges and the royal sash, he might never curry the favor of a certain Jew he was looking for. He was Roman, after all. The Jews followed commands when they saw the sword and seal of Caesar. But Marcus hadn't come to bark orders. He needed a favor. This under cover mission was not political. It wasn't about him at all. It was about Tyrro. Marcus shut his eyes, unable to drown out the memory of his servant's pain laden eyes. He couldn't stand the thought of Tiro dying. The market screamed and bustled around him, but he heard none of it. He was caught in the meleey of guilt and anxious expectation. He looked around, growing paranoid that some one would recognize him. Where are you, Marcus whispered. He strained his neck forward, looking around for any sign of the healer called Jesus. This was his best answer to help his servant a miracle. Marcus was not a spiritual man. He was not a philosophical type either. No, he left that to others. The world, according to the centurion, was quite simple, law, order and authority. Any sliver of religious devotion was given to Caesar or Mars, the god of war, the one whom Marcus was named after. 00:08:59 Speaker 5: It. 00:09:00 Speaker 1: Yet no prayers to Caesar or Mars had done Tyro any good. Although Marcus was not a spiritual man, he knew the meaning of authority. He commanded a league of soldiers, a hundred men under his care. He was a conductor of law, order and battle. His life was that of conquest and command. This was his realm. He might not understand the spiritual realm of the Jews, but it was clear that Jesus did just as Marcus could command soldiers. Jesus had authority regarding healing. He was the master of his world as Marcus was of his Jesus was the ruler of this kingdom of God he had spoken about. That was the kingdom he needed. Now, nothing the Roman Empire had done had helped. Marcus looked far down the road. A crowd had formed around a particular man. This man was calm among the chaos around him. He wasn't distracted by the market place venders or flustered by the onslaught of questions. He was secure, steady, like a man with actual authority. There you are, Marcus said, with wide eyes and a smirk. The centurion slowly, calmly waded through the crowd to meet him in the street. He reached the center of the crowd and met jesus gaze. Marcus wasn't sure what to do at this moment. He was used to commanding the Jews, not begging them for something. He didn't know whether to kneel or to draw his blade. He was suspended in an awkward space between desperation and pride. Finally, to marcus surprise, he stretched his hands and bowed his head. 00:11:12 Speaker 2: Lord. 00:11:13 Speaker 1: Now there was a title Marcus didn't expect to use. Marcus, a Roman centurion, calling this Jewish carpenter, Lord king, but he was a king. Anyone who could heal lepers and restore sight to the blind was certainly a king of something. Marcus continued, allowing his heart to speak without a filter. 00:11:40 Speaker 2: Lord, My servant is paralyzed at home. He's suffering, and I am helpless to bring him any comfort. 00:11:50 Speaker 1: Marcus's voice cracked slightly. He cleared his throat and bowed to his knees. As Marcus spoke to Jesus, his confidence in him grew. 00:12:01 Speaker 2: My servant needs healing, he needs a miracle. 00:12:05 Speaker 1: Jesus took him in with a clear, steady gaze. The centurion's sincerity, the honorable way he addressed him, the trustworthiness in his expressions. Here was an honest man, an honest gentile man. The Jewish men around him began to chatter, isn't that the centurion? 00:12:29 Speaker 3: Why is he here? 00:12:31 Speaker 2: And shouldn't he ask wrong to help him? 00:12:33 Speaker 3: Can't he go to his own heelers? Does he think he's a jewel? 00:12:38 Speaker 1: Jesus ignored their murmurs and stepped forward. He looked down at Marcus earnestly and. 00:12:44 Speaker 5: Smiled, of course, I will come with you immediately. 00:12:48 Speaker 1: Marcus could sense the sneers of the men all around him their disapproval. 00:12:53 Speaker 2: Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof, but only say the word and my servant will be healed. 00:13:03 Speaker 1: Marcus stood to his feet and gestured to the crowd. 00:13:06 Speaker 2: I know what it would do to your reputation to be in a Roman official's home. But I know you don't have to visit my home to heal my servant. I'm also a man of authority. I have soldiers under me. When I say to one go, he goes, and I say to another, come, he comes, and to my servant, do this, and he does it. All you have to do is say the word, and my servant will be healed. You're a man of authority. 00:13:43 Speaker 1: Jesus cocked his head to the side and smiled. His eyes revealed surprise and shock, a look not often shown by the son of Man. 00:13:54 Speaker 5: What a marvel you are. 00:13:56 Speaker 1: Others called him rabbi or teacher of the Pharisees called him a sinner and demon, but this Roman called him Lord. His understanding of authority and the Kingdom of God rivaled anyone in Judea. Jesus own people who followed the prophecies of old, who professed to understand spiritual things had no understanding. Instead, they glared at the centurion. The Kingdom of God was not what they thought. It had nothing to do with their religious rituals or lip service. They who professed to have abundant knowledge, had no faith, no willingness to see the things of God at all. They could not see the darkness inside their hearts. They were blind to the hate inside them. In due time, their true motives would be revealed, their true desires. They craved death more than life. They had no belief. Yet this man, a Centaurian, had grasped the depth of Jesus' true identity. He was more than a teacher. He was more than a prophet. He was a lord. Jesus turned to the men abruptly. 00:15:21 Speaker 5: Truly, I tell you, with no one in Israel have I found such faith. 00:15:26 Speaker 1: Some of the men made awkward head gestures. One of them muttered. 00:15:31 Speaker 2: Him, he is a gentile. We other people who deserted. 00:15:35 Speaker 1: Listen to me, Jesus interrupted, I tell you. 00:15:39 Speaker 5: Many strangers will come from the east and West and recline at the table of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the Kingdom of Heaven. But many sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness. In that place, they will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 00:15:58 Speaker 1: Jesus turned back to the centurion, Go let it be done for you as you have believed. The centurion turned away, relieved, and slowly took the path home. Hours later, he ducked under the portico of his home and peered into the window inside. His servant was sitting up drinking some broth, surrounded by the other attendants in his house. His wife rushed up to him, wrapped him in a white shawl, with their child on her hip. 00:16:31 Speaker 3: Marcus, you missed it. 00:16:33 Speaker 5: The most amazing thing has happened. 00:16:37 Speaker 4: He's broken out of his shell. 00:16:39 Speaker 3: He isn't paralyzed anymore. 00:16:41 Speaker 1: Marcus held her and rocked her a bit, curled her long brown hair over her shoulder, and kissed her forehead. 00:16:49 Speaker 2: I know. 00:16:50 Speaker 1: She pulled back from him, and he took their daughter in his arms. 00:16:54 Speaker 4: You knew. 00:16:54 Speaker 1: He nodded, walked past marble archways and sculptures, and stood among his servants. 00:17:01 Speaker 2: A man with greater authority than I did this. I have a feeling we will be hearing of many more miracles like this. 00:17:09 Speaker 1: The servants stood. When Marcus approached, he bowed, tears forming in his eyes. 00:17:16 Speaker 3: Saine is gone, and why can move freely? I'm ready to serve you again, Master Marcus. 00:17:23 Speaker 1: Tyro couldn't help but laugh and patted his legs. 00:17:28 Speaker 3: It's like I was never paralyzed at all. Why it broke all at once? Just an hour or so. 00:17:35 Speaker 1: Ago, the centurion exchanged a glance with his wife. 00:17:39 Speaker 2: Right on time. 00:17:48 Speaker 4: Whether we've been in a place of authority or have to submit to someone who was, we've likely had our share of good experiences and bad, from parents to teachers to bosses. Authority is a natural part of any area of our lives. For the Jews during Jesus's time, authority was a touchy subject. After the Roman Empire's expansion to include the Israelites, authority was most often associated with oppression and subjugation in an unfair rule. This is why it seems startling that a Roman centurion, a commander who had authority over a hundred Roman soldiers, would make himself subject to a Jewish rabbi. However, while many came to Jesus for healing out of desperation or marvel at his miracles. The Roman centurion came with a much different heart. After he makes his request known to Jesus, the Lord notes him as being a man of faith. His faith in the miraculous powers of the Messiah ran so deep that even Jesus was moved by the centurion's words. We read in Matthew eight. 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. How could a man with no Jewish background or upbringing have such a profounding faith in Jesus. Well, it began by recognizing authority as a man of authority himself. The centurion understood that the works Jesus was doing commanded more than just fellow men. Jesus was commanding creation itself. By just his words, the teacher from Nazareth could give sight to the blind, healed the lame, and reverse the effects of disease. The authority of Jesus was simply different. What made Jesus' authority different from anyone else's is the source. His authority didn't come from an earthly kingdom or power. It was not bestowed upon him from mankind or given to him through conquest. His authority came directly from heaven, from the Father. As Jesus is praying from the garden of Gsemine on the night that he would be betrayed. He praised this in John seventeen. Father, the hour has come, glorify your son, that your son may glorify you, for you granted him authority over all people, that he might give eternal life to all those that you have given to him. This type of authority meant not only did Jesus have the right to rule, but he was empowered to do so in such a way that would glorify the Father in heaven. The magnitude of Jesus's rule is unprecedented, but not only that, it means the nature of his authority is as well. Maybe you think about authority and think about someone having the power to make others do what they want. Sometimes this comes with force or severe consequences for those who don't listen. But this isn't how Jesus exercised authority during his earthly ministry. His authority was always used for the good of people. We have plenty of reasons to question people of authority in this world as we learn about leaders who used it for personal gain or at the detriment of others. Perhaps we even have concerns about people in authority today and elected offices who abuse their power for the sake of greed or avarice. But we never have to worry about that with Jesus. The nature of his authority is not to dominate over people for personal gain. This is because Jesus's authority is meant to you to accomplish the good plan of the Father, which means it will always be for the good of those who submit themselves to his rule. The use of Jesus's authority flows from his compassion for people and is always seen as being used to love others and protect them from the corruption of this world. This means that we should never be worried about submitting ourselves to the authority of Jesus, wondering if he'll abuse or submission. His authority means we can live in safety, security, and care under the Kingdom of God, at least in the small ways he could understand without knowing the centuries of prophecies about the Messiah, this centurion understood the goodness of God. He had this knowledge that if he sought Jesus out for healing that he would receive it. He knew that Jesus's authority was distinct and different from that of Caesar's. This left the centurion feeling unworthy to even have Jesus in his home, But this also opened his mind to believe that Jesus could do anything with his authority, including heal his servant from a distance at just a word. We should view Jesus as a already with some sense of awe. The worst thing we could do is put limits on Jesus's authority by telling ourselves he's not capable of something. We should never demand Jesus to do something specific for us. We should never fall prey to the thought that there's something he can't do. 00:22:14 Speaker 1: Either. 00:22:15 Speaker 4: We should never put Jesus in a box that only contains our expectations or our understandings. A good way to test if we're putting Jesus in a box is by reflecting on our prayer life. Are the requests we make only the ones we consider to be reasonable or or request that we can actually do on our own, or are we willing to bring even the most unbelievable an absurd request to the God who can do anything. Ask God big things and expect him to do something radical in response. Jesus is bigger than any box we could create for him. One thing we like to reflect here at pray dot com is when is the last time you pray to prayer that was so big that it actually required the strength of God and the power of God and the miracle of God to make it happen. While we may see the ups and downs of earthly authority, Christ's heavenly authority is something to celebrate. We can find peace in knowing Jesus is in full control from the throne room of heaven. We can find strength in knowing our King is in his rightful place and is ruling us with his good right hand. We can find hope in knowing that his kingdom is growing, and that one day, when he comes back, he will make all things new, and we will be his citizens under his good rule forever