In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.
They provide a study in contrasts: Naaman and the Centurion. Both are military men. Both are men of power. Both are men who were used to uttering commands and having them followed. They were men who battered down their enemies. Men who were used to being in control. For all of this I suspect they were rather similar.
The contrast came when they encountered events beyond their control and were suddenly faced with being unable to help themselves; to fix the problem before them.
For Naaman it was leprosy; a disease that caused skin-lesions and nerve damage. Our resident nurses and care givers can tell you – the bacteria has a long incubation period; its hard to know where and when someone contracted it.
Maybe Naaman’s wife first noticed the spot one day, or maybe he did. But it progressed, spread, and this mighty, powerful man, wealthy and in high favor with his king was confronted with the reality that he was unable to fix what ailed him. And even when the little servant girl directs him to Israel and the prophet of the Lord, you can still see a man who wants to be in control; hence the caravan of riches.
And when Elisha gives him an incredible, nearly ridiculous promise – Go and dip yourself in the Jordan seven times and your flesh will be restored, and you will be cleansed – he marches off, irate, pouting that the prophets wasn’t impressed by his large entourage and didn’t come and do wonders on the spot for such a mighty and important person such as himself.
We all have our own notions of how God can and should work. They are typically consistent with our personalities and tastes. We tend to ignore or overlook the mediocre means though which God has promised to work. Are not the rivers of Damascus better than the waters of Israel? It’s just another way of saying, “Are not modern fades and means better than the old ways of the Church?” “Has God limited Himself to Baptism, the Eucharist, Preaching, and the Liturgy?”
It took Naaman’s servants pleading with him to even give the prophet’s words a try. Maybe he did it to humor them; so he could say “See, I told you so.” Maybe he only stepped into the water and quickly dipped seven times, the syllables already on his tongue, “See.”
But of course, the Word of God in the mouth of His servant was the truth. The commander washed seven times and he came out of the water clean; his flesh like a baby’s.
He’d met there, in the water, the living God; the God of Israel for whom there is no problem too big, too hopeless. Naaman became a believer that day in the Jordan and confessed his faith before the man of God, Elisha. He now gave the wealth of his entourage as a gift, rather than a payment. That’s what faith does – naturally produces good works. And a man of power was dragged into the kingdom, fighting to the end, but finally overcome by grace. His evil pride and haughtiness were overcome by the goodness and mercy of our Father in heaven.
And then there’s the Roman centurion. His servant was lying paralyzed at home, suffering terribly. The man tells Jesus about it and our Lord, in His compassion, states that He will come immediately and help the poor man.
Yet behold the faith of the Centurion. Lord I am not worthy to have You come under my roof, but only speak the Word, and my servant will be healed. For I too am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. And they do what I tell them.
The crowds had marveled at Jesus’ teaching the Sermon on the Mount. But now He has come down and our Lord marvels at this powerful man who confesses that he is not worthy. It is written, If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself (Gal 6:2) And No one is to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measurement of faith that God has assigned (Rom 12:3). And again, Do not be haughty, by associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight.
The Centurion is not out to impress Jesus with his fine house, his wealth, his pomp and circumstance. He built the Synagogue in Capernaum, yet he knows that he is unworthy of what he’s asking. But it does not stop him; in faith He trusts the Word of Jesus. For true faith knows nothing else but Christ and His Word; despite all appearances. Only say the Word and my servant will be healed.
The faith that caused Jesus to marvel and commend the man, was not faith in itself; some quality of the man and his sincerity of heart. But it was faith in an object – always. The Centurion looked beyond his own frailty and unworthiness and clung to Jesus. If You, O LORD, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? But with You there is forgiveness, that You may be feared. I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in His Word I hope; my soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning, more than watchmen for the morning. (Ps 130:3-6)
Jesus’ Word is mighty and strong and gives exactly what it promises. It is not empty air like so many of our promises; His Word does what He says.
Naaman learned despite his skepticism and doubt. Sometimes it happens that way. The Centurion, though, trusted that Jesus could grant his petition. And Jesus praises this faith that marks the people of God in every age – the faith that lived in Abraham and Isaac, Jacob and Joseph, the faith that makes anyone a child of Abraham when he believes that the Word of God does what it says; that it can call into being things that are not and make them so. “Go; let it be done for you as you have believed.” And the servant was healed at that very moment.
Beloved in the Lord, Your God is a God of promises. A God who speaks His Word and it is so. Many times His Word tells you things that seem silly or ridiculous to prideful human beings – those like Naaman who think entirely too much of themselves and look down on what seems to be nothing but weakness – like the Jordan’s waters.
Recall that is in those same waters that our Lord plunged Himself, placing Himself among sinner, bathing in your wickedness and sin. And He emerged, anointed by the Father, to lay down His life for you; to give His righteousness and life in place of your sin and death.
Consider it: Your God tells you that the obedience and death of His Son IS your righteousness. That in Baptism is where His Word is joined to the water, He wraps you in the holiness of Christ and so YOU stand before Him spotless and without sin. That this good news, this Gospel, is His power to save you, to save everyone who believes – whether Jews like the leper or Gentiles like Naaman and the Roman centurion. And that by this faith – that He gives as His free gift – He credits YOU righteous in His sight.
Unbelievable? Illogical? Irrational? Marvelous. His Word is truth. And in Jesus His promises are all “Yea” and “Amen.” His death is your life. His life will destroy your death. Your sins are His, His holiness yours. He promises it to you by His Word.
And He goes on speaking promises today. By His servants He speaks you clean; touches you with His hand of Absolution. He is indeed willing. For this reason He came! He cleanses you of your leprosy of sin.
And He speaks His Word over bread and wine and He causes them to be exactly what He says they are: His Body and His Blood given and shed for you on Golgotha for the forgiveness of all your sin. He comes and heals you. He gives you to share in His own divine life; to sit at Table with the patriarchs and prophets before you.
For centuries the Church has put onto the lips of all her children coming to the Eucharist the words of the believing Centurion: “Lord, I am not worthy for You to come under the roof of my soul, but only speak the Word and Your servant will be healed.” It is entirely proper and pious for Christians to pray such before receiving the Holy Supper.
When you are up against the stuff you can’t control; when your strength is at its end, remember to Whom you belong. He waits to heal you, to embrace you, to set you free by His love.
Men of power and pride may scoff at how He chooses to love you, but men of faith learn to bow in humility before the Crucified and Risen One and confess His apparent foolishness wise than all our wisdom and His weak ways – water, bread, wine, words of promise – His weak ways stronger than all our strength. For He is indeed our Captain in the well fought fight. His victory is seeming defeat; His strength is made perfect in weakness. In Him you are more than conquerors.
Saint Paul writes, If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
Dear ones in Christ, You were once His enemy, but now a tender child of your heavenly Father. Come; for here He satisfies your hunger, here He slakes your thirst. And then go, freely pardoned, fully forgiven, knowing that it has been done for you as you have believed. Amen.
MHT: Pastor Wil Weedon
They provide a study in contrasts: Naaman and the Centurion. Both are military men. Both are men of power. Both are men who were used to uttering commands and having them followed. They were men who battered down their enemies. Men who were used to being in control. For all of this I suspect they were rather similar.
The contrast came when they encountered events beyond their control and were suddenly faced with being unable to help themselves; to fix the problem before them.
For Naaman it was leprosy; a disease that caused skin-lesions and nerve damage. Our resident nurses and care givers can tell you – the bacteria has a long incubation period; its hard to know where and when someone contracted it.
Maybe Naaman’s wife first noticed the spot one day, or maybe he did. But it progressed, spread, and this mighty, powerful man, wealthy and in high favor with his king was confronted with the reality that he was unable to fix what ailed him. And even when the little servant girl directs him to Israel and the prophet of the Lord, you can still see a man who wants to be in control; hence the caravan of riches.
And when Elisha gives him an incredible, nearly ridiculous promise – Go and dip yourself in the Jordan seven times and your flesh will be restored, and you will be cleansed – he marches off, irate, pouting that the prophets wasn’t impressed by his large entourage and didn’t come and do wonders on the spot for such a mighty and important person such as himself.
We all have our own notions of how God can and should work. They are typically consistent with our personalities and tastes. We tend to ignore or overlook the mediocre means though which God has promised to work. Are not the rivers of Damascus better than the waters of Israel? It’s just another way of saying, “Are not modern fades and means better than the old ways of the Church?” “Has God limited Himself to Baptism, the Eucharist, Preaching, and the Liturgy?”
It took Naaman’s servants pleading with him to even give the prophet’s words a try. Maybe he did it to humor them; so he could say “See, I told you so.” Maybe he only stepped into the water and quickly dipped seven times, the syllables already on his tongue, “See.”
But of course, the Word of God in the mouth of His servant was the truth. The commander washed seven times and he came out of the water clean; his flesh like a baby’s.
He’d met there, in the water, the living God; the God of Israel for whom there is no problem too big, too hopeless. Naaman became a believer that day in the Jordan and confessed his faith before the man of God, Elisha. He now gave the wealth of his entourage as a gift, rather than a payment. That’s what faith does – naturally produces good works. And a man of power was dragged into the kingdom, fighting to the end, but finally overcome by grace. His evil pride and haughtiness were overcome by the goodness and mercy of our Father in heaven.
And then there’s the Roman centurion. His servant was lying paralyzed at home, suffering terribly. The man tells Jesus about it and our Lord, in His compassion, states that He will come immediately and help the poor man.
Yet behold the faith of the Centurion. Lord I am not worthy to have You come under my roof, but only speak the Word, and my servant will be healed. For I too am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. And they do what I tell them.
The crowds had marveled at Jesus’ teaching the Sermon on the Mount. But now He has come down and our Lord marvels at this powerful man who confesses that he is not worthy. It is written, If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself (Gal 6:2) And No one is to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measurement of faith that God has assigned (Rom 12:3). And again, Do not be haughty, by associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight.
The Centurion is not out to impress Jesus with his fine house, his wealth, his pomp and circumstance. He built the Synagogue in Capernaum, yet he knows that he is unworthy of what he’s asking. But it does not stop him; in faith He trusts the Word of Jesus. For true faith knows nothing else but Christ and His Word; despite all appearances. Only say the Word and my servant will be healed.
The faith that caused Jesus to marvel and commend the man, was not faith in itself; some quality of the man and his sincerity of heart. But it was faith in an object – always. The Centurion looked beyond his own frailty and unworthiness and clung to Jesus. If You, O LORD, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? But with You there is forgiveness, that You may be feared. I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in His Word I hope; my soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning, more than watchmen for the morning. (Ps 130:3-6)
Jesus’ Word is mighty and strong and gives exactly what it promises. It is not empty air like so many of our promises; His Word does what He says.
Naaman learned despite his skepticism and doubt. Sometimes it happens that way. The Centurion, though, trusted that Jesus could grant his petition. And Jesus praises this faith that marks the people of God in every age – the faith that lived in Abraham and Isaac, Jacob and Joseph, the faith that makes anyone a child of Abraham when he believes that the Word of God does what it says; that it can call into being things that are not and make them so. “Go; let it be done for you as you have believed.” And the servant was healed at that very moment.
Beloved in the Lord, Your God is a God of promises. A God who speaks His Word and it is so. Many times His Word tells you things that seem silly or ridiculous to prideful human beings – those like Naaman who think entirely too much of themselves and look down on what seems to be nothing but weakness – like the Jordan’s waters.
Recall that is in those same waters that our Lord plunged Himself, placing Himself among sinner, bathing in your wickedness and sin. And He emerged, anointed by the Father, to lay down His life for you; to give His righteousness and life in place of your sin and death.
Consider it: Your God tells you that the obedience and death of His Son IS your righteousness. That in Baptism is where His Word is joined to the water, He wraps you in the holiness of Christ and so YOU stand before Him spotless and without sin. That this good news, this Gospel, is His power to save you, to save everyone who believes – whether Jews like the leper or Gentiles like Naaman and the Roman centurion. And that by this faith – that He gives as His free gift – He credits YOU righteous in His sight.
Unbelievable? Illogical? Irrational? Marvelous. His Word is truth. And in Jesus His promises are all “Yea” and “Amen.” His death is your life. His life will destroy your death. Your sins are His, His holiness yours. He promises it to you by His Word.
And He goes on speaking promises today. By His servants He speaks you clean; touches you with His hand of Absolution. He is indeed willing. For this reason He came! He cleanses you of your leprosy of sin.
And He speaks His Word over bread and wine and He causes them to be exactly what He says they are: His Body and His Blood given and shed for you on Golgotha for the forgiveness of all your sin. He comes and heals you. He gives you to share in His own divine life; to sit at Table with the patriarchs and prophets before you.
For centuries the Church has put onto the lips of all her children coming to the Eucharist the words of the believing Centurion: “Lord, I am not worthy for You to come under the roof of my soul, but only speak the Word and Your servant will be healed.” It is entirely proper and pious for Christians to pray such before receiving the Holy Supper.
When you are up against the stuff you can’t control; when your strength is at its end, remember to Whom you belong. He waits to heal you, to embrace you, to set you free by His love.
Men of power and pride may scoff at how He chooses to love you, but men of faith learn to bow in humility before the Crucified and Risen One and confess His apparent foolishness wise than all our wisdom and His weak ways – water, bread, wine, words of promise – His weak ways stronger than all our strength. For He is indeed our Captain in the well fought fight. His victory is seeming defeat; His strength is made perfect in weakness. In Him you are more than conquerors.
Saint Paul writes, If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
Dear ones in Christ, You were once His enemy, but now a tender child of your heavenly Father. Come; for here He satisfies your hunger, here He slakes your thirst. And then go, freely pardoned, fully forgiven, knowing that it has been done for you as you have believed. Amen.
MHT: Pastor Wil Weedon
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