In Matthew 8, we encounter three remarkable healing miracles that reveal the expansive nature of God's kingdom. First, we witness Jesus healing a Roman centurion's paralyzed servant—a story that challenges everything we think we know about who deserves God's grace. This centurion, an occupying military officer who should have been despised by the Jewish community, demonstrates a faith so profound that Jesus marvels at it. He understands authority in a way that transcends his military training: he recognizes that Jesus commands creation itself with just a word. The centurion's humility—'I am not worthy to have you come under my roof'—stands in stark contrast to the religious insiders who had all the theological knowledge but lacked genuine faith. Then Jesus heals Peter's mother-in-law, a woman in a culture that devalued women, showing that the kingdom welcomes those society overlooks.

These miracles aren't just about physical healing; they're about the ultimate healing we all desperately need—cleansing from sin. As Isaiah prophesied, by Christ's wounds we are healed. The question for us today is whether our faith mirrors the centurion's—do we truly recognize Jesus's authority over every area of our lives, or are we just going through religious motions? The kingdom of God is open to everyone who repents and believes, regardless of their background, status, or past.

Discipleship Questions

1. The centurion demonstrated remarkable humility by saying he was not worthy to have Jesus enter his home. In what ways do we struggle to recognize our own unworthiness before God, and how might this recognition actually deepen our faith?
2. Jesus marveled that no one in Israel had shown faith like the Roman centurion's faith. What does it say about the nature of true faith that an outsider and enemy of Israel demonstrated greater belief than God's own covenant people?
3. The centurion understood authority because he lived within a military chain of command. How does our modern resistance to authority structures hinder our ability to trust in Jesus's absolute authority over creation, sickness, and sin?
4. Matthew intentionally highlights Jesus healing a leper, a Gentile servant, and a woman—all marginalized groups in Jewish society. How does this challenge our own unconscious biases about who is worthy of God's kingdom?
5. The centurion believed Jesus only needed to speak a word for his servant to be healed, without being physically present. Do we truly believe God's word has that kind of power in our lives today, or do we require more tangible evidence?
6. Jesus warned that many sons of the kingdom would be thrown into outer darkness while outsiders would recline with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. What does this teach us about the danger of religious familiarity without genuine repentance and faith?
7. The centurion cared deeply for a servant child who, in Roman culture, had no value and could have been easily replaced. How does this reflect the heart transformation that occurs when someone encounters Jesus?
8. Isaiah prophesied that by Jesus's wounds we are healed, yet the sermon emphasizes that our greatest sickness is sin, not physical ailments. Why do we often prioritize physical healing over spiritual healing in our prayers and faith?
9. The sermon states we are entitled to nothing good from God because we are sinners, yet every breath is a gift. How does embracing this truth of our unworthiness paradoxically lead to greater gratitude and joy?
10. Jesus reached down and touched Peter's mother-in-law without any recorded request, simply showing love and mercy. When have you experienced God's grace meeting a need you didn't even know how to ask for?