Matthew 8:10

“Some want to live within the sound of Church or chapel bells; I want to run a rescue shop within a yard of hell.” - - C.T Studd

Matthew 8:10

“…Truly, I tell you, with no one in Israel have I found such faith.”

At the time of Christ ministry, the Roman empire stretched from the shores of the Mediterranean to regions in Europe, Africa and even Asia. It is believed that the population under Roman control was anywhere from 50 to 90 million people. Throughout the gospel accounts, we have a number of interactions recorded between individuals of the Roman ranks and Jesus. In Matthew’s 8th chapter and Luke’s 7th chapter, we have what is commonly referred to as ‘the faith of the Centurion’.

Matthew records that as Jesus entered Capernaum, a Centurion came forward and appealed to Jesus for the life of one of his slaves. The Centurion’s slave is reported to have been dying from a severe illness and, as a result, the Centurion has come to plead for the life of his servant. Jesus offers to come to the Roman’s home, but culturally astonishing, this Roman Commander replies that he is “not worthy” for Jesus to come under his roof. The Centurion then appeals to the authority of Jesus, parallelling it to the authority of his own word as a Roman Commander that he gives an order and it is done. This Centurion acknowledges this same authority over sickness and death at the command and word of Jesus and ask Him to simply, “say the word, and my servant will be healed.”

This faith is what invokes not only the healing of the slave, but also the acknowledgment we find in verse 8 by Jesus, “…Truly, I tell you, with no one in Israel have I found such faith.” In his “Expositions of Holy Scriptures”, Alexander Maclaren writes;

“My dear friend, nothing binds a man to Christ but trust. Nothing opens the doors of His Kingdom, either here on earth or yonder, but reliance upon Him. And although you were steeped to the eye-brows in religious privileges, and high in place in His church, it would avail nothing. The Kingdom of Christ is a Kingdom into which faith, and faith only, admits a man.” – The Faith Christ Praises (1904).

The Roman Empire and culture were known for some of the worst pagan practices and religions in history. This Centurion, was an enforcer of this Empire, not only bearing the sword but also commanding a legion of swords. Yet, we do not see Jesus calling him to lay down his sword and reject the Empire he has sworn to serve. Jesus sees the heart of the man within the uniform. The heart, that though he owned a slave, cared deeply for the welfare of this slave to the point of appealing to the Prophet that was from the very people his Empire conquered and policed. He appealed to the very Man that the Zealots believed would rid the world of the Empire this Centurion served. Jesus recognized the humility of this man of authority and healed his slave at that very moment, no doubt, building a disciple from that point forward within the Roman Ranks.

This story is what convicted me in adopting the Roman Centurion as the symbol of Responders By Grace. Though our country is known for its Christian foundations, I believe an honest assessment of our modern culture reflects more of the pagan Roman societies of Jesus time then that of our Pilgram and Puritan heritage. Like Roman Centurions, many of us American first responders spent years of our youth on ‘foreign campaigns’ amongst the ranks of the military to only find ourselves returning home to police or medically care for our own within the American ‘Empire’. Pagan as our society may be, scripture does not call us out of these professions but instead ordains our roles when done righteously through the same humble embracement found in this passage. Our commands reveal themselves as nothing more than hollow words in a decaying culture if it is not from a redeemed heart that has first recognized the authority and Lordship of Christ.

Like the Centurion who, though lethal, still had the heart and compassion for those society would deem the lowest, in his slave. We are called to show the same care and respect for all human life. I have said many times within this ministry, that we as American Police Officers are the most intimate form of government. This authority comes at a heavy cost, and as we have seen over recent years, can have devastating effects for political purposes when done unjustly or incorrectly. Your Christianity lays the framework for what may be in future history the last line of hope for the American Society against Tyranny.

One example of this principle recorded from Roman History was that of St. Maurice. History tells us that Maurice led the legendary Theban Legion of Rome in the 3rd century. As a commander, Maurice led approximately 1,000 men on his campaigns. Though a Legion Commander, Maurice was known for his and his men’s conversion to Christianity. The story goes that Maurice and his legion were dispatched to clear out passages through the Alps Mountain ranges of now Switzerland. Before this battle, they were instructed to offer sacrifices to the Roman pagan gods and pay homage to the emperor. Maurice committed him and his men to Rome, but denied the homages or sacrifices. It is also said that the area they were called to clear and slaughter was well known for its Christian inhabitants. Maurice and his legion refused both the former and the latter of these instructions. After multiple rounds of decimation, Maurice and the remainder of his men were martyred. Historically tyrants demonically believe that spilling blood of Christians will put an end to their faith. But the test of time has shown that the blood of the saints is the enduring fuel for the flames of Christian fortitude.

I am not making the parallel to the martyrdom of St Maurice to sensationalize our occupations. But I am drawing your attention to soberly reveal to you the reality of your authority at this time in American History. The Lord has called us each to our state, our municipalities, our departments and our ranks for His purposes. Every interaction we carry out under the swearing of our oath is an opportunity to embrace the ‘Faith of the Centurion’ as we righteously fulfill our role in our preservation of society. And, God forbid, we are ever called to such an order as Maurice, may we like those 1,000 men, stand in the convictions that no Empire, even the American Empire, comes before the Kingdom of our Lord.

Ephesians 5:6-16

“Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not become partners with them; for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says,

“Awake, O sleeper,

and arise from the dead,

and Christ will shine on you.”

Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil”

“Man is never sufficiently touched and affected by the awareness of his lowly state until he has compared himself with God’s majesty.” – John Calvin

James Doyle 6L13 -May 2026-