1.
The
Gentiles might have Christ’s salvation privilege afforded to
Israel.
“Even us, whom
he hath called, not of the
Jews only, but also of the Gentiles? As he saith also in Osee (Book of
Hosea), I will call them my people (the Gentiles),
which were not my people; and her beloved, which was not beloved (the
Gentiles). And it shall come to pass, that in the place where it
was
said unto them, Ye (the Gentiles) are not my people;
there shall they
be called the children of the living God.” (Romans 9:24-26)
2.
Israel will be brought to jealousy
“But I
say, Did not Israel know? First Moses saith,
I will provoke you to jealousy by them that are no people (the
Gentiles), and by a
foolish nation (the
Gentiles) I will
anger you. But Esaias is
very bold, and saith, I was found of them (the
Gentiles) that
sought me not; I was made manifest unto them (the
Gentiles) that asked
not after me.
But to Israel he saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hands
unto a
disobedient and gainsaying people (Israel).” (Romans
10:19-21)
Now
Dear Reader, in Israel’s history, any other nation, indeed individual,
could
believe in the God Almighty JEHOVAH, convert to become a Jew, and have
the
temporary salvation privileges that a Jew had. A classic example is
evidenced
by Nineveh turning to the LORD upon the visit by Jonah (Jonah 3:5-10).
They
were not seeking the LORD.
Now
although the Centurion’s case is different … as he seeks the
Lord God …
as he “…
loveth our nation
(Israel),
and he
hath built us a synagogue” (Luke 7:5)
… the
principle is the same … that an individual Gentile, indeed another
nation, may
find grace and mercy with the Lord Jesus Christ being the LORD God
Jehovah
manifest in the flesh (1 Timothy 3:16).
THE
POINT OF THE MIRACLE …
The
centurion being a commander of men, understood humility,
authority and obedience without doubting and questioning. He
knew
the authority of Christ that no Jew knew … to only speak the word would
be
sufficient (Matthew 8:8)
“When
Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to
them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so
great faith,
no, not in Israel” (Matthew 8:10).
because
“For
I (the
centurion)
am
a man under authority, having soldiers under me:
and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and
he
cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it” (Matthew 8:9).
THE
RESULT …
“And
I say unto you, That many (Gentiles)
shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and
Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven (not
the kingdom of God at this stage).
But the children of the kingdom
(the Christ rejecting Jews that put Jesus on the
cross)
shall be cast out into outer
darkness (hell):
there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
(Matthew 8:11-12)
Unlike
the centurion, Israel had no humility
and obedience to Christ, as they did not recognise Christ’s authority,
BUT
ISRAEL’S COMFORT IS …
“I say
then, Hath God cast away his people? God
forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the
tribe of
Benjamin. God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew.”
(Romans
11:1-2)
AND TO THE
GENTILES …
“And if
some of the (natural) branches
be broken off (Israel), and
thou, being a wild olive tree (the
Gentile), wert
graffed in among them, and
with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree; Boast
not
against the branches. But if thou (the
Gentile) boast,
thou bearest not the root, but the root
thee. Thou wilt say then, The branches (Israel) were
broken off, that I (the
Gentile) might be
graffed in. Well; because of unbelief they
(Israel) were
broken
off, and thou (the
Gentile) standest
by
faith. Be not highminded, but fear:” (Romans 11:17-20)
INDEED …
“And they
also, if they (Israel) abide not
still in unbelief, shall be graffed in:
for God is able to graff them in again. For if
thou (the
Gentile) wert cut
out of the olive tree
which is wild by nature, and wert graffed contrary to nature into a
good olive
tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches (Israel), be
graffed into their own olive tree?” (Romans
11:23-24)
THE
FULFILMENT OF PROPHECY …
“But I
say, Did not Israel know? First Moses saith,
I (the LORD
God Jehovah the Lord Jesus Christ) will
provoke you (Israel) to
jealousy by them that are no people (the
Gentile), and by a
foolish nation (the
Gentile) I (God) will anger
you (Israel).” (Romans
10:19)
THE MORAL
OF THE STORY?
Dear
Reader, be a centurion! Humble yourself and come
to Jesus Christ!
This
website’s front page is:
www.
“JESUS
CHRIST - A MAN APPROVED OF GOD (Acts 2:22)”
Miracle #11-
Luke
7:11-14,15-17
CHRIST
(GOD) VISITS HIS PEOPLE … WITH POWER
OVER DEATH
Israel has a history of people being raised from the dead, with a few examples as follows …
