What It Means to Be A Good Soldier – Matthew 8:5-13
What It Means to Be A Good Soldier – Matthew 8:5-13
by Pastor Lee Hemen
May 25, 2008 AM
According to the historian Stephen E. Ambrose, General Douglas MacArthur was a good officer and a fine soldier that did not ask his men to do anything he was not willing to do himself. However, he was also known as a prima donna and often referred to himself in the first person. Meanwhile, Dwight Eisenhower was a quiet, confident officer that got things done and was willing to make the tough decisions and stick to them. Sometimes, to the point of irritating those around him. He followed orders and expected others to do the same, including someone like a General Patton or Montgomery where both had to be reigned in from time to time. In April 1951, MacArthur's habitual disregard of his superiors, especially President Truman, got him relieved him of command. When he came back to the United Sates he brazenly addressed Congress and made his famous quote that recalled: “Old soldiers never die; they just fade away.” “And like the old soldier of that ballad, I now close my military career and just fade away — an old soldier who tried to do his duty as God gave him the light to see that duty. Good-bye.” He was grandiose to the last. Was he a good soldier?
Here in Matthew’s gospel we read a wonderful depiction of a good solider that is confronted with several different choices. Most centurions commanded a century of 80 men. Ordinary century commanders would be equivalent to modern day army lieutenants or captains. Senior centurions would be equivalent to lieutenant colonels and a Primus Pilus would be considered equivalent of a colonel. They could often be merciless in their training of lowly legionnaires, and were known for dealing out brutal punishments or great rewards. While the Roman army was known for these harsh conditions, it paid off during battle when strict order and discipline could decide the outcome. This often allowed the Legions to succeed in battles where they faced a numerically superior army. But was this man a good soldier? I believe he was. Let’s see why…
READ: Matthew 8:5-13
Soldiers like George Washington and Ulysses S. Grant are remembered for what they accomplished, but few would have cared for them if they had known them just a few short years beforehand. Washington failed in most of his battles and Grant was semi-retired from the Army, vowing never to return, simply wanting to be a farmer. History however had other things in store for both men because when given the opportunity, they understood their place. Interestingly, neither of these great soldiers are as long remembered as this one centurion, whose name we do not even know. Why? Because…
I. A good soldier knows his place in the world!
1. For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God! (Romans 3:23) The conqueror had to go to the conquered in order to have his request heard. He would have walked with a swagger that showed all those around him his authority and power over other men. He was tough, fair, and expected others to show him respect. However, we realize as we see him going to Jesus, that this soldier first had to conquer that which many find difficult to subdue, his pride. Here is a military man whose rank and prestige had brought him his place in Roman society. No mere buying of a rank sufficed for service in such an important post as Palestine. While some Roman officers, sons of the wealthy, would buy their places of service in order to gain recognition, you could not do so with a post like this. It was too important to the Imperial court back in Rome. Too much tax money was a stake and the populace was far too fanatic for a Roman’s taste. They wanted men whom they could trust and those who would get the job done. They had to know their place in the world and know who their allegiance belonged to. Here was one who recognized that he was a “man under authority” who did not “deserve to even have [Jesus] come under [his] roof!” Do you understand the significance of his remark? A mighty warrior of Rome had to humble himself before a Jewish itinerant teacher in order for his request to be heard. A good soldier knows his place in the world, do you?
There was a movie made in 1977 called, “A Bridge too Far.” The film tells the story of Operation Market Garden, an only partially successful Allied attempt to break through German lines and seize several bridges in the occupied Netherlands during World War II. The name for the film comes from a comment made by British Lt Gen Frederick Browning, deputy commander of the First Allied Airborne Army, who told Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery before the operation, “I think we may be going a bridge too far.” It was part of Operation Market Garden that failed. However, those under orders followed them heroically. Just like this centurion would have if given his orders. Why? Because…
II. A good soldier follows his superior’s orders!
1. Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household! (Acts 16:31) We do not like to be ordered around, do we? Yet soldiers know that in their life’s work this is part and parcel of their world. Giving orders, expecting their orders to be carried out to the letter, and obediently following orders given to them by their superiors. No questions asked, no whining, no deciding to do what you are asked to do whenever you want to – you just do what you are ordered to do! However, instead of an order this soldier makes a request: “Lord, my servant lies at home paralyzed and in terrible suffering.” First, he recognized Jesus’ authority: “Lord.” Second, he makes his wishes succinct and simple: “my servant lies at home paralyzed and in terrible suffering.” No pleading, no excuses, no whining, just a simple statement of the facts in military fashion. Jesus sees something special in this soldier so he immediately and without hesitation responds, “I will go and heal him.” Jesus knew what it took for a good soldier to come to him. His response to Jesus’ willingness literally astonishes Jesus. Can you imagine astonishing the Lord? No one else in all of Scripture astonishes Jesus, but this soldier did! This centurion replies, “Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” A good soldier follows his superior’s orders, do you?
One of the most famous photographs in history, Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima, was taken by Joe Rosenthal at the Battle of Iwo Jima, during the Second World War. The image shows five Marines and one Navy corpsmen raising an American flag on Mount Suribachi. The flag was hoisted on the fifth day of a 35-day battle. The battle was the first American attack on the Japanese Home Islands. Of the 21,000 Japanese soldiers defending Iwo Jima, over 20,000 were killed and only 216 taken prisoner. The Allied forces suffered 27,909 casualties, with 6,825 killed in action. During this 1-month-long battle, 27 U.S. military personnel were awarded the Medal of Honor for their actions, 14 of them posthumously. Of the 27 medals awarded, 23 were presented to Marines and four were presented to United States Navy sailors; this is a full 30% of the 82 Medals of Honor awarded to Marines in World War II. Most earned them for bravery and how they took care of their comrades under enemy fire. Why would these men do such a thing? Because…
III. A good soldier watches out for those under him and gives honor to those over him!
1. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep! (John 10:11) Jesus immediately saw in this soldier’s actions a willingness to do what was necessary, including disregarding his own status and rank to make sure that someone under his supervision was taken care of. This should give us pause. How many of us would go out of our way for a fellow co-worker, a classmate, a neighbor, or even a family member we do not truly care about? Yet, here we find a Roman soldier, a hated Roman soldier, an arrogant conqueror asking the conquered for help for a slave. His compassion for his beloved servant speaks volumes of this man’s care for those under his care. Notice this good soldier’s reply: “Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed.” He knew Jesus’ authority: “Just say the word, and my servant will be healed.” His concern was for his slave to be healed, and to show he believed Jesus was capable of meeting his request. He trusted Jesus. This man knew what it meant to have faith in those who had power, in those who were able to do what they said they could do. Jesus had already told His disciples, “Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me.” (John 14:21) Jesus’ commands were simple: “’Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:30-31) This good soldier displayed his willingness to follow both commands. A good soldier watches out for those under him and gives honor to those over him!
Jesus understood what it meant to be a good soldier. He knew His place in the world, He followed His Superior’s orders, and He watched out for those under His care and gave honor to His Heavenly Father. This is why Jesus was so astonished at this soldier’s actions and character. This is why He told those near Him, “I tell you the truth, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith. I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. But the subjects of the kingdom will be thrown outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” But He was not through, He said to the centurion, “Go! It will be done just as you believed it would.” And you know what? That good soldier’s servant was healed at that very hour! (Matthew 8:10-13)
Conclusion:
A good soldier knows his place in the world! A good soldier follows his superior’s orders! A good soldier watches out for those under him and gives honor to those over him!
---
NOTE: This article is copyrighted by Pastor Lee Hemen © 2008 and the property of Pastor Lee Hemen. You are welcome to copy it, email it, or use it but please if you copy it, email it, or use it you must do so in its entirety.
by Pastor Lee Hemen
May 25, 2008 AM
According to the historian Stephen E. Ambrose, General Douglas MacArthur was a good officer and a fine soldier that did not ask his men to do anything he was not willing to do himself. However, he was also known as a prima donna and often referred to himself in the first person. Meanwhile, Dwight Eisenhower was a quiet, confident officer that got things done and was willing to make the tough decisions and stick to them. Sometimes, to the point of irritating those around him. He followed orders and expected others to do the same, including someone like a General Patton or Montgomery where both had to be reigned in from time to time. In April 1951, MacArthur's habitual disregard of his superiors, especially President Truman, got him relieved him of command. When he came back to the United Sates he brazenly addressed Congress and made his famous quote that recalled: “Old soldiers never die; they just fade away.” “And like the old soldier of that ballad, I now close my military career and just fade away — an old soldier who tried to do his duty as God gave him the light to see that duty. Good-bye.” He was grandiose to the last. Was he a good soldier?
Here in Matthew’s gospel we read a wonderful depiction of a good solider that is confronted with several different choices. Most centurions commanded a century of 80 men. Ordinary century commanders would be equivalent to modern day army lieutenants or captains. Senior centurions would be equivalent to lieutenant colonels and a Primus Pilus would be considered equivalent of a colonel. They could often be merciless in their training of lowly legionnaires, and were known for dealing out brutal punishments or great rewards. While the Roman army was known for these harsh conditions, it paid off during battle when strict order and discipline could decide the outcome. This often allowed the Legions to succeed in battles where they faced a numerically superior army. But was this man a good soldier? I believe he was. Let’s see why…
READ: Matthew 8:5-13
Soldiers like George Washington and Ulysses S. Grant are remembered for what they accomplished, but few would have cared for them if they had known them just a few short years beforehand. Washington failed in most of his battles and Grant was semi-retired from the Army, vowing never to return, simply wanting to be a farmer. History however had other things in store for both men because when given the opportunity, they understood their place. Interestingly, neither of these great soldiers are as long remembered as this one centurion, whose name we do not even know. Why? Because…
I. A good soldier knows his place in the world!
1. For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God! (Romans 3:23) The conqueror had to go to the conquered in order to have his request heard. He would have walked with a swagger that showed all those around him his authority and power over other men. He was tough, fair, and expected others to show him respect. However, we realize as we see him going to Jesus, that this soldier first had to conquer that which many find difficult to subdue, his pride. Here is a military man whose rank and prestige had brought him his place in Roman society. No mere buying of a rank sufficed for service in such an important post as Palestine. While some Roman officers, sons of the wealthy, would buy their places of service in order to gain recognition, you could not do so with a post like this. It was too important to the Imperial court back in Rome. Too much tax money was a stake and the populace was far too fanatic for a Roman’s taste. They wanted men whom they could trust and those who would get the job done. They had to know their place in the world and know who their allegiance belonged to. Here was one who recognized that he was a “man under authority” who did not “deserve to even have [Jesus] come under [his] roof!” Do you understand the significance of his remark? A mighty warrior of Rome had to humble himself before a Jewish itinerant teacher in order for his request to be heard. A good soldier knows his place in the world, do you?
There was a movie made in 1977 called, “A Bridge too Far.” The film tells the story of Operation Market Garden, an only partially successful Allied attempt to break through German lines and seize several bridges in the occupied Netherlands during World War II. The name for the film comes from a comment made by British Lt Gen Frederick Browning, deputy commander of the First Allied Airborne Army, who told Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery before the operation, “I think we may be going a bridge too far.” It was part of Operation Market Garden that failed. However, those under orders followed them heroically. Just like this centurion would have if given his orders. Why? Because…
II. A good soldier follows his superior’s orders!
1. Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household! (Acts 16:31) We do not like to be ordered around, do we? Yet soldiers know that in their life’s work this is part and parcel of their world. Giving orders, expecting their orders to be carried out to the letter, and obediently following orders given to them by their superiors. No questions asked, no whining, no deciding to do what you are asked to do whenever you want to – you just do what you are ordered to do! However, instead of an order this soldier makes a request: “Lord, my servant lies at home paralyzed and in terrible suffering.” First, he recognized Jesus’ authority: “Lord.” Second, he makes his wishes succinct and simple: “my servant lies at home paralyzed and in terrible suffering.” No pleading, no excuses, no whining, just a simple statement of the facts in military fashion. Jesus sees something special in this soldier so he immediately and without hesitation responds, “I will go and heal him.” Jesus knew what it took for a good soldier to come to him. His response to Jesus’ willingness literally astonishes Jesus. Can you imagine astonishing the Lord? No one else in all of Scripture astonishes Jesus, but this soldier did! This centurion replies, “Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” A good soldier follows his superior’s orders, do you?
One of the most famous photographs in history, Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima, was taken by Joe Rosenthal at the Battle of Iwo Jima, during the Second World War. The image shows five Marines and one Navy corpsmen raising an American flag on Mount Suribachi. The flag was hoisted on the fifth day of a 35-day battle. The battle was the first American attack on the Japanese Home Islands. Of the 21,000 Japanese soldiers defending Iwo Jima, over 20,000 were killed and only 216 taken prisoner. The Allied forces suffered 27,909 casualties, with 6,825 killed in action. During this 1-month-long battle, 27 U.S. military personnel were awarded the Medal of Honor for their actions, 14 of them posthumously. Of the 27 medals awarded, 23 were presented to Marines and four were presented to United States Navy sailors; this is a full 30% of the 82 Medals of Honor awarded to Marines in World War II. Most earned them for bravery and how they took care of their comrades under enemy fire. Why would these men do such a thing? Because…
III. A good soldier watches out for those under him and gives honor to those over him!
1. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep! (John 10:11) Jesus immediately saw in this soldier’s actions a willingness to do what was necessary, including disregarding his own status and rank to make sure that someone under his supervision was taken care of. This should give us pause. How many of us would go out of our way for a fellow co-worker, a classmate, a neighbor, or even a family member we do not truly care about? Yet, here we find a Roman soldier, a hated Roman soldier, an arrogant conqueror asking the conquered for help for a slave. His compassion for his beloved servant speaks volumes of this man’s care for those under his care. Notice this good soldier’s reply: “Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed.” He knew Jesus’ authority: “Just say the word, and my servant will be healed.” His concern was for his slave to be healed, and to show he believed Jesus was capable of meeting his request. He trusted Jesus. This man knew what it meant to have faith in those who had power, in those who were able to do what they said they could do. Jesus had already told His disciples, “Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me.” (John 14:21) Jesus’ commands were simple: “’Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:30-31) This good soldier displayed his willingness to follow both commands. A good soldier watches out for those under him and gives honor to those over him!
Jesus understood what it meant to be a good soldier. He knew His place in the world, He followed His Superior’s orders, and He watched out for those under His care and gave honor to His Heavenly Father. This is why Jesus was so astonished at this soldier’s actions and character. This is why He told those near Him, “I tell you the truth, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith. I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. But the subjects of the kingdom will be thrown outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” But He was not through, He said to the centurion, “Go! It will be done just as you believed it would.” And you know what? That good soldier’s servant was healed at that very hour! (Matthew 8:10-13)
Conclusion:
A good soldier knows his place in the world! A good soldier follows his superior’s orders! A good soldier watches out for those under him and gives honor to those over him!
---
NOTE: This article is copyrighted by Pastor Lee Hemen © 2008 and the property of Pastor Lee Hemen. You are welcome to copy it, email it, or use it but please if you copy it, email it, or use it you must do so in its entirety.
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