Matthew 8:5-7 JESUS HAS NO FAVOURITES, EXCEPT ME!
I'm now just another number in the system of "New Start". I made a phone call for Unemployment Benefits yesterday, while I am looking for a ministry opportunity. It took me a long time to get through and I was asked by a computer a series of questions before speaking personally to someone. Then the first question I was asked was "What is your social security number?" I didn't have it on hand. I'm just a number. But not to God!
I notice that the Bible deals with how we view position in society a lot. It doesn't seem to come out and say that having servants and slaves is wrong. We would be horrified at the number of slaves who were in Israel in Jesus' time. And it doesn't have very much to say about how Rome dominated Israel, sometimes quite unfairly. Somehow no matter what your place is in your culture, the Bible addresses you on an equal level - Centurion or servant, Jew or Gentile, Politician or Pleb. Are you disappointed? I'm not! Jesus spoke to people from every social walk of life and broke through every social barrier that our culture has set up. It seems to me that while we jump up and down at the injustice of having slaves, Jesus is wanting us to address the deep issues of our hearts that causes people to be enslaved. Deal with that first and you'll be empowered to deal with social justice issues with the right motivations. He works from the inside out.
Matthew doesn't tell us what happened to the crowds who came to hear Jesus speak while He was on the mountain. He just says that Jesus taught them and that they were astounded at His authority (Matthew 7:29). That's probably what attracted a Roman Officer, a centurion, to come to Him - AUTHORITY. He knew all about authority.
Now remember that Jesus heals a man with leprosy as He comes down from the mountain and hardly anybody knows about it. This is apparently the first time He has healed someone and Jesus told him to keep quiet about it. Then He moves on to Capernaum.
Do you get the idea that Matthew is leaving bits and pieces of the story out? He is emphasising various aspects of Jesus' ministry that other Gospels will no doubt include. Anyway, that's the impression that I get.
"When Jesus returned to Capernaum, a Roman officer came and pleaded with Him," (Matthew 8:5). Now, here's something Matthew found interesting, because a Roman officer would not normally come grovelling to anyone, much less a Jew, and certainly not on behalf of a servant, yet here he is, pleading with Jesus.
The other thing I notice is that he came to Jesus in the first place. I mean, as far as Matthew is concerned, Jesus has only done ONE HEALING and that was kept a SECRET. So why did this guy come to Jesus? This indicates to me that by this time Jesus was known for healing other people as well. Either that or Jedadiah, you know - the man who was healed of leprosy, (we don't actually know his name but Jedadiah sounds good to me), had been on TV and written a book about getting healed which was a best seller,... but somehow I don't think so.
Somehow news was out that Jesus healed people. The centurion doesn't ask Jesus to heal his servant directly. He just says, "Lord, my young servant lies in bed, paralyzed and in terrible pain." (Matthew 8:6). He just gives the facts and waits for Jesus to respond.
And you know the rest of the story. "Jesus said, "I will come and heal him." I love the fact that Jesus is always willing to come. It doesn't matter whether you are a CEO or a doorman, a prime minister or an old lady in the apartment next door, parent or child, rich or poor, man or woman, quadraplegic or Olympic figure skater, capable or hopelessly incapable, insecure or confident, young or old, BALD OR WITH HAIR, GOOD MEMORY OR FORGETFUL (just thought I'd add those last two in as they are important to me).
Jesus has no favourites! One person is no more important than another. It's not about position and it's not about me. It's about trusting in Christ. The Centurions focus was not on his position in society but upon Jesus as Lord of all.
Acts 10:34-35 (NLT) Peter says "I see very clearly that God shows no favouritism. In every nation He accepts those who fear Him and do what is right."
Romans 10:12 (NIV) says, "For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile--the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on Him,"
JESUS HAS NO FAVOURITES, EXCEPT THAT I AM HIS FAVOURITE! Yes, I hate to tell you but He loves me the best. Well actually He loves and cares for everyone who comes to Him and all of a sudden you will realise that you are His favourite. I am not just a number in the system. Not just an insignificant dot in the universe. In Him I have my focus, my purpose, my significance in life. When my focus is on Him, I realise that He is looking at me, and genuinely interested in me. That's so alarming that I am drawn to Him even more. I love you, Lord!
God bless you Church, as you realise the significance you have in Christ.
Pastor Ross
