Captain Marvel – what moves Jesus. Matthew 8.5-13

marvel - be filled with wonder or astonishment

We do not know his name, but it doesn’t matter, because this man caused Jesus to marvel. Let’s call him Captain Marvel.

Marvel was not a religious person, in fact he was not even a Jew, but he seemed to be highly esteemed by Jesus, so we have something to learn from him.  Fact is, the man was a despised Roman, and a centurion in charge of a hundred men. Centurions were the long-service, regular soldiers of the Roman army, responsible for the discipline and morale of the regiment.¹ The centurions were the finest men in the Roman army, and commanded respect wherever they went.

One day, Captain Marvel went looking for help; he went looking for Jesus.

Matthew describes the scene:

“Now when Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him, pleading with Him, saying, “Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, dreadfully tormented.”

And Jesus said to him, “I will come and heal him.”

The centurion answered and said, “Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof. But only speak a word, and my servant will be healed. For I also am a man under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”

When Jesus heard it, He marveled, and said to those who followed, “Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!

Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go your way; and as you have believed, so let it be done for you.” And his servant was healed that same hour.”

Why was Jesus amazed by this Roman?  There were several reasons.  First, servants were property—in all actuality, they were slaves, little more than things.   Gaius, the Roman legal expert, wrote: "We may note that it is universally accepted that the master possesses the power of life and death over the slave."²

Yet here we have Captain Marvel taking time from his duties to come and seek out Jesus on behalf of his slave.  The centurion showed his heart and compassion for his slave by going to Jesus.

Second, in coming to Jesus, Captain Marvel showed his willingness to humble himself, even saying “Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof…” He recognized his inferiority to the stature of Jesus, and freely expressed it.  It is not always easy for men who have power, people who have means, to humble themselves, yet this man, demonstrated great humility.

Most importantly, he exhibited his faith in Jesus’ heart and ability to do the miraculous for his slave, “only speak a word, and my servant will be healed.”  And of course, Jesus immediately recognized the centurion’s great faith, marveled at it, and proclaimed it appreciative amazement for all those nearby who observed their encounter. 

Christian friend, I pray that you want Jesus to marvel at your great faith!  He can and wants to do the unlikely, the impossible, the not-to-be-believed things in our lives in response to our faith.  ‘But,’ you say, ‘I want to believe, I want to have more faith…how?’  Starting there, ask God to give you more faith.  Jesus said, “All things are possible to him who believes.”³ To which a sick boy’s father said, "I do believe; help my unbelief."⁴  Yes, we are to ask God to grow our faith in him, and he will.

Today I was talking to someone who commented that they never pray for themselves, only for other people.  My dear ones, Jesus said, ‘Ask, Knock, Seek,’⁵ and that includes for ourselves. Talk to God daily—tell him your needs, and thank him for his answers.  Ask him for wisdom.  Ask him to increase your faith.  He is always looking to marvel at the faith of his children… really.

Christine  

1 – William Barclay commentary, The Daily Study Bible.

2 – ibid.

3 – Mark 9.23

4 – Mark 9.24

5 – Matthew 7.7-12