6 “Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed at home, suffering terribly.” 7 And he said to him, “I will come and heal him.” 8 But the centurion replied, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof, but only say the word, and my servant will be healed. 9 For I too am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes, and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” 10 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. 11 I tell you, many will come from east and west and recline at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven, 12 while the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” 13 And to the centurion Jesus said, “Go; let it be done for you as you have believed.” And the servant was healed at that very moment.

The centurion’s words reveal much concerning his view of authority.

1. He recognized Jesus had authority. That is very clear. The centurion knew that Jesus did not even need to come to his home to heal his paralyzed servant. Travel was unnecessary. All Jesus needed to do was speak a work – to give a command.

2. He recognized that Jesus’ authority, like his own, was delegated authority.

In ancient Rome, to disobey the centurion’s authority would have FAR reaching consequences. Rome stood behind the centurion. The centurion wore the uniform of Rome, having obtained Rome’s endorsement and backing. To disobey him would mean disobedience to Rome. To take on the authority of the centurion would have meant taking on all the power of the Emperor himself. The consequence of disobedience could be death.

It was because the centurion had delegated authority (authority derived from another) that he could say to soldiers under him “go, do this” or “go, do that” and he could expect all who heard his voice to obey. The centurion recognized Jesus having the exact same thing – a delegated authority. Jesus was not merely a man of power (and miracles), although He was that. He was a man of authority. He had authority because He was under authority.

Note the words, “I too am a man under authority…” Though the centurion does not mention “God” it is clear that he believed Jesus was under the authority of someone greater than Himself. Theologically, we can understand this. Jesus has the attribute of omnipotence, and yet, within the roles of the Godhead, serves His Father as the obedient Son. Jesus did not do or say anything in independence but was in all ways fully compliant with the will of His Father.

Just as the centurion was under authority (the authority of Rome) and therefore have all of Rome behind me when he gave a command, so he recognized that Jesus was also under authority (the implication being under the authority of God) and therefore had the full weight of heaven behind Him when issuing a command.

I think it is fair to say that in observing Jesus and seeing the miracles He was doing, most if not all would not have perceived what the Centurion did. While they would surely have observed Jesus’ power and authority and seen that clearly, they would not have perceived that Jesus was “under authority.” Seeing him as a man of authority? Oh, yes. For most would see that for sure! But “under authority”? No, that takes great perception. The Scripture records, “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.”” Jesus affirmed all that the Centurion said by being amazed at the insight he had and pointing to the unique nature of “such faith” among all in Israel.

A WORD OF APPLICATION

To make progress in the Christian faith, each Christian is to become more and more like Jesus. Christ was not a Lone Ranger type figure living as He pleased, doing what He liked, accountable to no one. Christ’s mission was to do the will of His Father (John 6:37-39). Christ was not more and more independent as time went on. He was obedient always, even to the point of death on a cross, as Philippians tells us. The Lord Jesus Christ proved Himself to be the obedient Son. And… it was precisely because He was obedient to the will of His Father even in death that God highly exalted Him and bestowed on Him the name that is above every name…

Advancement in the Christian life will be characterized by greater and greater conformity to Christ, marked by greater obedience to Christ. This will be observed by the way the Christian submits himself to Christ commands AND by his submission to those placed over him in the Lord. Christ, through His word commands us, “Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.” (Hebrews 13:17)

Of course, Christ does not call us as His sheep to submit to tyrannical shepherds who wish to exploit the sheep for their own ends. Shepherds (pastors or elders) are supposed to be “under authority” too. They are to submit their lives and teaching to the word of God also. If elders teach a false Gospel or tell those under them to do things in opposition to God’s word, the sheep have every right to disobey. Disobey they should and disobey they must. They are to obey God rather than men. However, the general rule is for the Christian to obey those over them in the Lord, to seek and to submit to counsel, rather than to say, with the spirit of this age, “no one is ever going to tell me what to do.” Rebellion of spirit is never the work of the Holy Spirit.

REBELLION V. REFORMATION

But didn’t the Protestant Reformers rebel? Actually no, they did not. The Protestants did not call for a rebellion or revolution. They called the professing Church back to obedience and submission to Christ, in and through and by His revealed word (the Holy Scriptures). That is why historians call it the Protestant Reformation, not the Protestant Rebellion.

At the diet of Worms, Martin Luther said, “Unless, I am convinced by sacred Scripture or by evident reason, I will not and cannot recant. For my conscience is held captive by the word of God and to act against conscience is neither right nor safe. Here I stand. I can do no other. God help me.”

His heart cry was this: Show me your teachings and commands in the word of God and I will gladly comply. Show me this and you will find me to be the most submissive fellow alive. Yet in opening up the Scriptures, I see Christ commands me to believe a gospel very different from yours. To submit to you would mean rebellion against Christ. I stand with Him. I have no other option.

WHO’S AUTHORITY ARE YOU UNDER?

For each of us as Christians the answer should be: Christ and his under-shepherds at ………………………….. (Local Church)

If you cannot say that now then (1) come under the rule of Christ by believing His word and gospel and (2) be diligent (pro-active) in finding a local Church where you can (in good conscience) submit.