1)\u00a0 The Healing of the Centurion’s Servant (Kyle Pope)
2) “They Shall Never Perish” (Joe R. Price)
——————–<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/luke7_9_NASB.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n-1-<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Healing of the Centurion’s Servant<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Kyle Pope -2-<\/p>\n\n\n\n Joe R. Price 27 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. 28 And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father\u2019s hand (John 10:27-29, NKJV).<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n Jesus is the good shepherd who gave His life for His sheep (Jn. 10:11). He knows His sheep and is known by them (Jn. 10:14). Jesus used the language of Ezekiel to explain His relation to His followers: \u201c\u2018You are My flock, the flock of My pasture; you are men, and I am your God,\u2019 says the Lord God\u201d (Ezek. 34:31). 1) Hear\u00a0<\/strong>the gospel — for that is how faith comes (Rom. 10:17; John 20:30-31). Tebeau Street Sunday: 9 a.m. <\/strong>Bible Classes and 10 a.m. <\/strong>Worship Service.\u00a0 We also have a Congregational Song Service<\/strong> at 5 p.m. for every first Sunday of the month.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Wednesday: 7 p.m. <\/strong>for Bible Classes<\/p>\n\n\n\n evangelist\/editor:\u00a0<\/strong><\/strong>Tom Edwards (912) 281-9917 “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations…teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:19-20, NASB).——————– Contents: 1)\u00a0 The Healing of the Centurion’s Servant (Kyle Pope)2) “They Shall Never Perish” (Joe R. Price) ——————– -1- The Healing […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2287","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","post-preview"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2287","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2287"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2287\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2290,"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2287\/revisions\/2290"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2287"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2287"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2287"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
Matthew 8:5-13 records a remarkable healing which Jesus performed for a most unlikely person. The account begins, \u201cNow when Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him, pleading with Him\u201d<\/strong> (8:5, NKJV). A Roman centurion, lit. \u201can archos<\/em> of one hundred,\u201d was a position of great military authority. \u201cThey were the representatives of Roman law and order and were men of force of character\u201d (A. T. Robertson, Commentary,<\/em> 121). We are not told how this man learned about Jesus, but it is clear that he had a good relationship with the Jews of Capernaum. Luke records that he built their synagogue and loved their \u201cnation\u201d<\/strong> (Luke 7:5). Perhaps the centurion had heard from the Jews things that Jesus had done. However he came to learn about Jesus, this non-Israelite would demonstrate greater faith than many of the Jews had up to that point in Jesus\u2019s ministry.
Matthew records that the centurion \u201ccame to Him\u201d<\/strong> and was \u201cpleading with Him.\u201d\u00a0<\/strong> Luke informs us that this inquiry actually came through the elders of the Jews whom the man had approached after hearing about Jesus. The elders came to Jesus and, \u201cbegged Him earnestly, saying that the one for whom He should do this was deserving\u201d<\/strong> (Luke 7:4b-5). At this word Jesus went with them (Luke 7:6). Modern critics have argued that this difference between Matthew and Luke is a contradiction, but we contend that both accounts are given by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit (2 Tim. 3:16) and contain no elements that cannot be harmonized with one another.
The message which the centurion brought was simple, \u201cLord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, dreadfully tormented\u201d <\/strong>(8:6). Matthew uses a word for \u201cservant\u201d <\/strong>(pais<\/em>) that can mean either child<\/em> or servant.<\/em> The parallel account in Luke uses a word for \u201cservant\u201d<\/strong> (doulos<\/em>) which would not be applied to one\u2019s child (Luke 7:2). The affection and concern for the servant as one \u201cdear to him\u201d <\/strong>(Luke 7:2) may explain Matthew\u2019s use of the more familial term. Luke adds the fact that the servant \u201cwas sick and ready to die\u201d <\/strong>(Luke 7:2). Our English word \u201cparalytic\u201d is derived from the word Matthew uses here which the KJV rendered \u201cpalsy.\u201d<\/strong> Most translations of this century and the last transliterate the word or refer to the servant as \u201cparalyzed.\u201d<\/strong> The centurion\u2019s servant in our text was not only paralyzed but was also \u201csuffering great pain\u201d<\/strong> (NASB).
In response to the request from the centurion, Jesus replied, \u201cI will come and heal him\u201d <\/strong>(8:7). After the Jewish elders relayed the message, Jesus \u201cwent with them\u201d <\/strong>(Luke 7:6a). As He approached the house, \u201cThe centurion answered and said, \u2018Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof. But only speak a word, and my servant will be healed\u2019\u201d<\/strong> (Matt. 8:8). This discourse is also relayed to Jesus, but by friends of the Centurion. Luke records, \u201cwhen He was already not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to Him\u201d <\/strong>(Luke 7:6b). The words the centurion relayed to Jesus represent some of the most humble and moving words ever spoken. It is striking that this powerful Gentile officer speaks to a simple Jewish carpenter\u2019s son, calling Him \u201cLord.\u201d<\/strong> Most commentators see in his reluctance for Jesus to come to him a demonstration of respect for Jewish separatism from Gentiles. Yet the centurion\u2019s declaration \u201cI am not worthy\u201d<\/strong> addresses more than ceremonial cleanliness. In Luke\u2019s account he relays to Jesus, \u201cI did not even consider myself worthy to come to you\u201d<\/strong> (Luke 7:7). The fact that the centurion immediately turns to issues of authority and rank make it more likely that the centurion, recognizing Jesus\u2019s miraculous authority, acknowledges his own deficiency in such matters.\u00a0
He then declares, \u201conly speak a word, and my servant will be healed\u201d <\/strong>(Matt. 8:8b). The centurion\u2019s statement reflects both faith and a respect for authority. As was true of his own rank he knew that one in a position of authority could command others and carry out his wishes through subordinates. Did the man expect Jesus\u2019s disciples to carry out the healing in His place, or did he understand that Jesus\u2019s authority extended beyond the material world? In either case he treats Jesus, not as an inferior in a conquered land, but one worthy of respect, with authority greater than his own. In our day, how badly we need more souls like this noble man\u2014souls who recognize that the power Christ possessed to \u201cspeak the word only\u201d<\/strong> and accomplish His will, still resides in that word which has been revealed. We are \u201cnot worthy\u201d<\/strong> to go beyond what has been spoken, so we must respect the authority of God which rests in His word.
The centurion continued, \u201cFor I also am a man under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to this one, \u2018Go,\u2019 and he goes; and to another, \u2018Come,\u2019 and he comes; and to my servant, \u2018Do this,\u2019 and he does it\u201d <\/strong>(Matt. 8:9). Jack Russell Shaffer thinks that part of this message may have been delivered by the centurion directly. He reasons, \u201cSeeing Jesus near his house and having already sent the second delegation, the centurion came personally to meet Jesus and restates the problem in more detail\u201d (\u201cA Harmonization of Matthew 8:5-13 and Luke 7:1-10.\u201d The Master\u2019s Seminary Journal<\/em> 17.1 (2006): 48). Whether Jesus personally spoke with the man or not, his faith and respect for authority impressed Jesus.
He identifies himself as a man \u201cunder authority.\u201d<\/strong> As a Gentile, this man may have known only a little about the God of Israel, but he understood well the nature of authority. Since the centurion had come to believe that Jesus had power to heal disease, he reasoned that Jesus\u2019s authority would function as his own authority did. He had power to command, and his word alone accomplished his will. Brother Kenneth Chumbley, in his commentary on Matthew offers the insightful analysis that \u201cthe centurion reasoned inductively that they were both under <\/em>authority. He understood that only those who can take orders are allowed to give orders\u201d (153). What a wonderful demonstration of faith that this man understood that Jesus could simply speak and his servant would be healed.
Those who would follow Jesus today must recognize that as servants of God we are \u201cunder His authority.\u201d No, we do not hear the voice of Jesus commanding us directly, but as His servants we are given instruction through His revealed word in Scripture. This word guides us through all that it contains, in its direct statements, its descriptions of what pleases God, and in the truths it infers. To presume to direct our own steps in matters of worship, teaching, or lifestyle is to reject the authority of God. To respect God\u2019s word is not \u201clegalism\u201d but a gesture of humble obedience and faith in the One who authored that word.
Jesus praised the man\u2019s faith and went on to foreshadow the inclusion of the Gentiles in the gospel message (Matt. 8:10-12). But what happened to the servant? The text records that Jesus said to the centurion, \u201cGo your way; and as you have believed, so let it be done for you\u201d<\/strong> (Matt. 8:13a).\u00a0 Matthew tells us, \u201chis servant was healed that same hour\u201d<\/strong> (Matt. 8:13b). Jack P. Lewis notes that the phrase \u201cthat same hour\u201d\u2014\u201cis for the Gospels a phrase unique to Matthew (8:13; 9:22; 15:28; 17:18)\u201d (Commentary<\/em> on Matthew 1.123). Jesus\u2019s healings were immediate. Luke records, \u201cthose who were sent, returning to the house, found the servant well who had been sick\u201d<\/strong> (Luke 7:10, NKJV). When Jesus spoke, the servant was healed. If this Roman centurion showed such great faith in and respect for the word of Jesus, should we show any less?
\u2014 Via Faithful Sayings,<\/em> Volume 25, Issue 5 (January 29, 2023)
——————–<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/john10_11_WEB.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n\u201cThey Shall Never Perish\u201d<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
Today\u2019s passage addresses the security of believers. The Shepherd has the power to protect His sheep; that is beyond question: (1) Jesus speaks to His sheep, 10:27; (2) Jesus knows His sheep, 10:27; (3) Jesus gives them eternal life, 10:28; (4) His sheep are secure in His hand and in the Father\u2019s hand, 10:28, 29. At the same time, His sheep make choices that contribute to their security in Christ: (1) His sheep hear His voice, 10:27; (2) His sheep follow Him, 10:27. Sheep are exposed to danger when they wander from the shepherd\u2019s care. The same is true of Christians who stray from hearing and following Christ\u2019s word (1 Tim. 4:1-3). Christians can fall away from Christ and be lost (Gal. 5:4; 1 Cor. 10:12). Falling away from Christ does not happen because Christ cannot save His sheep. It occurs when sheep refuse to hear and follow the Shepherd (1 Cor. 5:1-5). Hear and follow the voice of Jesus and be secure in Him.
\u2014 via The Spirit\u2019s Sword,<\/em> Volume 24, Number 30, September 18, 2022
——————–<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nThe Steps That Lead to Eternal Salvation<\/strong><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
2) Believe\u00a0<\/strong>in the deity of Jesus Christ, the Son of God (John 8:24; John 3:18).
3) Repent\u00a0<\/strong>of sins.\u00a0 For every accountable person has sinned (Romans 3:23; Romans 3:10), which causes one to be spiritually dead (Ephesians 2:1) and separated from God (Isaiah 59:1-2; Romans 6:23). Therefore, repentance of sin is necessary (Luke 13:5; Acts 17:30).\u00a0 For whether the sin seems great or small, there will still be the same penalty for either (Matt. 12:36-37; 2 Cor. 5:10) — and even for a lie (Rev. 21:8).
4) Confess faith\u00a0<\/strong>in Christ (Rom. 10:9-10; Acts 8:36-38).
5) Be baptized\u00a0<\/strong>in water for the remission of sins (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 22:16; 1 Pet. 3:21).\u00a0 This is the final step that puts one into Christ (Gal. 3:26-27).\u00a0 For from that baptism, one is then raised as a new creature (2 Cor. 5:17), having all sins forgiven and beginning a new life as a Christian (Rom. 6:3-4). For the one being baptized does so \u201cthrough faith in the working of God\u201d (Col. 2:12). In other words, believing that God will keep His word and forgive after one submits to these necessary steps. And now as a Christian, we then need to\u2026
6) Continue in the faith <\/strong>by <\/strong>living for the Lord; for, if not, salvation can be lost (Matt. 24:13; Heb. 10:36-39; Rev. 2:10; 2 Pet. 2:20-22).
——————–<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
CHURCH OF CHRIST<\/strong><\/strong>
1402 Tebeau Street, Waycross, GA 31501<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/strong><\/strong>Tom@ThomasTEdwards.com
<\/a>https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/go\/all.htm<\/a> <\/strong><\/strong>(This is a link to the older version of the Gospel Observer website, but <\/strong><\/strong>with bulletins going back to March 4, 1990.)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"