A unique friend.

The miracle of Matthew 8:5-13 is unique. Jesus performs this miracle at the request of a foreigner. Now that is not totally unique in itself; Jesus healed the two men possessed by demons in the Decapolis. They were foreigners. Jesus healed the Syro-phoenecian woman’s daughter. She was a foreigner. But what makes this unique is the type of foreigner in this account; his identity would stun the crowd. He is the enemy. He is a Roman. And he has military power that could crush them.

The Romans were not well-liked in Palestine, and that is a severe understatement. The Romans routinely used their power to squash and oppress the Jews. But this event is an unusual historical account of strange love and concern for the enemy. It creates a portrait of compassion. This Roman centurion shows curious and uncommon love for his enemy and his servant.

Matthew’s account (and Luke 7:1-10) tug on our attention because of the fact this man is a disregarded enemy. He would have been hated, but the Jews loved him; he was generous and kind to them. I can’t think of another foreigner who is so highly regarded by the Jews. Luke’s account says this: “When the centurion heard about Jesus, he sent to him elders of the Jews, asking him to come and heal his servant. 4 And when they came to Jesus, they pleaded with him earnestly, saying, ‘He is worthy to have you do this for him, 5 for he loves our nation, and he is the one who built us our synagogue.’ ”  (Luke 7:3-5)

This Roman military man typified mercy and grace—not oppression and despotism. He was an unexpected brightness in their dark world. He cared. And he was Roman.

Here is why I like this story: it shows that enemies can become friends—even family. This account uncovers the miraculous power of God to change something more severe than sickness, maimed limbs, tortured minds, and traumatized organs. Jesus’ love and power does heal. And we have numerous examples of this. But this miracle is not the preeminent miracle of Matthew 8. God has changed this Centurion’s heart so much that others can see his change. They have witnessed his gracious nature. Their town is blessed by his bankrolling the new synagogue. Why would a Roman show this care? It did not match the modus operandi of Roman oppression. It showed God’s love had gone deep into his heart. It showed that somewhere in his past, the message of the gospel had melted his ironclad heart. This tough guy was still tough—or he wouldn’t have such a position—but he was different. He was forever changed. He let his light shine before Jewish men and women so that on this particular day, glory would be given to God, who changes enemies into friends.

The miracle Jesus performed is still important. It is important and valuable. But we must pause and ponder the richer display of grace in the life of someone who had been vastly changed by God’s eternal love. And this change was obvious to the Jewish elders—they held him in high regard (Luke 7). 

And now Jesus makes note of this great example of faith: “Truly, I tell you, with no one in Israel have I found such faith.” (Matthew 8:10). There was no Jewish man or woman to rival his faith—at least not yet.

Why does this matter to you and me? Because we were once enemies of God, and he made us his family. The power of God’s good news—the love of God displayed in Jesus—has changed our hearts from stone cold to vibrant, warm, and alive. We were enemies of God (Colossians 1:21 and Romans 5:10) but now we’ve been brought close by his love and compassion.

But this message also matters because grace, love, and compassion—the Good News about Jesus our Savior—is the same powerful news that will change our enemies into friends. Romans 1:16 tells us, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.” 

In a world that expects retaliation for grief, blow for blow, sarcasm and insult as payment for negative remarks, the message of God’s love for enemies is strange and shocking. It’s God’s off-kilter love that causes enemies to become friends.

“I say to you, ‘Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven.’ For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48 You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect” (Matthew 5:44-48).

What is the backstory that caused this Roman Centurion to become a dear friend of the Capernaum Jews? We might have to wait until we meet him in heaven to find out. But be sure of this, it was the unmerited love of God that broke through to him, and that same undeserved love broke through to us also. For this we gladly give God the Father our thanks and praise!