Savoring God’s Word
Matthew 8:5-13
This devotion is designed to guide you through a passage of Scripture in prayerful meditation with God. Although it is technically a Bible study, the goal is not the dissecting of Scripture for information, but the entering into the passage as a means of communion with God. Use as much or as little of the guide as you like during this time of prayer. If you come across a question or a section in which nothing comes to your mind; it’s ok, simply move on in your time with God. Stop between each section to rest and reflect.
WARMING UP
Before you begin, get in a comfortable position, relax your body, and spend a few moments in silence. If distractions interrupt your silence, turn each one over to God as they come, and return to silence before Him.
EXAMINING THE PASSAGE
Read silently the passage printed below along with the notes of explanation. Spend a few moments with the questions that follow.
The Faith of the Centurion
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.
Notes
- Matthew is the first of four gospels and of the three synoptic gospels, which includes Mark and Luke. Synoptic can be seen as parallel or harmony. Matthew writes from a strong Jewish perspective with a focused aim on newly-converted Jewish Christians; although, the message is still universal.
- Matthew frequently quotes the Old Testament and puts great stress on Jesus as the fulfillment of the promised Messiah-a Messiah for all people.
- Think of this passage as the “meat” in a sandwich about those marginalized by society. The centurion is a non-Jew. Matt. 8:1-4 tells of the healing of the leper, considered impure. Matthew 8:14-17 tells of healing Peter’s mother-in-law showing Jesus’ compassion for women, who were so low on society’s ladder. It says quite a bit about Jesus.
- A centurion was a Roman military officer in charge of one hundred soldiers. He was used to being a man of authority. That is what makes his humility so incredible. His humility echoes what Jesus expressed in Matt. 5:4 as the poor in spirit. This is someone who acknowledges the helpless, sinful state of his soul.
- In Jesus’ day, servants became close family members. Pay close attention to how the centurion’s part of the dialogue reveals his love for his servant, his compassion and his humility.
To Consider:
1) If you have been a believer for some time, you may find it tempting to take the healing of your sins for granted. How do you restore a humble state of mind and heart?
2) The Sermon on the Mount shows that Jesus is Messiah in word; the healing accounts of Matthew 8 show that He is Messiah in deed as well. Ponder and list ways in which Jesus has revealed Himself as yourMessiah in both word and deed.
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3) Jesus commends the centurion’s humble faith veryfavorably in Mt. 8:10-12 (ugh! Gnashing of teeth sounds horrible, doesn’t it?) Examine the centurion’s words in vs. 8. They express extreme humility and extreme trust. What holds you back from one or both of these elements in your own life? Talk to the Lord about this now.
4) Capernaum was the perfect stage for Matthew’s story of the centurion’s servant’s healing. It was a large fishing village on the NW shore of the Sea of Galilee and close to the international trade route from Egypt to Syria called the Via Maris. It was about a six-acre square. News of the healings would have travelled fast-locally andglobally. How ready and willing are you to share your story of Jesus’ healings in your life? What holds you back from ‘spreading the news’ to others in your sphere of influence? Pray about this and be honest with the Lord. Seek His help.
PICTURING THE PASSAGE
Prior to reading the passage again, consider the image below to reflect on. Use this image and the passage to reflect on what God might be showing you.
Imagine your life being symbolized by a small to medium-size glass jar. Picture yourself dropping pea-size pebbles into the jar to represent the people and things that are important to you. (spouse, children, friends, church relationships, work, home & possessions, etc) Get your jar very full in your mind’s eye! Now add pebbles for your reputation, your influence, your feelings, your positive characteristics-all the things that make you you, and that others see of you. Your jar might be close to overflowing.
Now, read the centurion’s words in vs. 8 again-aloud. Compare it to Philippians 2:5-8. The RSV use the phrase, emptied Himself, in vs. 7.
Pick up your imaginary jar with your hand. Picture Jesus’ hand on top of yours as you pour the jar out and empty it completely. Envision the Holy Spirit’s presence filling the empty jar. Contemplate on the intense truth that the centurion ‘got’ it. God’s presence is enough. We must truly be emptied in order to give Him freedom to fill us. Too often, we just add Him to the jar like another pebble and then wonder why we do not feel His peace, His joy, His love.
LISTENING TO GOD
This is an opportunity to allow God to speak to you in a specific way through His Word. Read the passage slowly again. Consider reading it two or three times, and/or reading aloud. While reading, consider this question: Is there a word or phrase within the passage that speaks to you, stands out, or stays with you? After a few moments, write the word or phrase.
Word/Phrase:______
Take time to meditate on this word or phrase with God. What does it make you feel? How does it relate to your life?
GOING FORWARD
God may be offering you something to reflect on over the next few days through this reading. It might be a challenge, an encouragement, a reminder, etc. Take a moment to quietly examine one or more of these questions. What is it that I need to know from this passage? What do I need to understand more completely? What do I need to remember? What do I need to work on?
PRAYER
Take some time to pray with God. This is your opportunity to communicate with God about all you have seen and heard while working through Scripture. Talk with Him about what you’ve heard or felt, and even what you think you might have missed. Ask for help, ask questions, and give thanks.
REST
Close your time with God in the same way you started. Try setting everything in your mind aside, sit quietly, and rest with God. As John would say in 15:9, “remain (abide) in my love”. There is no set timeframe for this step, and there is no rule for how it is to look. Simply do what you think “remaining in God’s love” might look like in this moment.
JOURNAL
Either now or at a later time in your day, take a few moments to journal about your time with God.