July 23, 2006
"Qualities Jesus Commended"
Matthew 8:5-10
Dr. Dan Ivins, preaching

You learn a lot about people by the way they handle compliments. Or don’t. Some folks won’t allow you to congratulate them. They squirm when affirmed. Others beg for them, to the point that it’s a turn-off. There’s a fine line between lauding and bragging. Sports writers used to chide baseball radio announcer Dizzy Dean for his bluster. And he responded: “If you done it, you ain’t crowing.” Homespun philosopher Will Rogers said he could “live 2 weeks on 1 good compliment.”

Jesus was blessed by his Father on baptism day with a dove on his shoulder. “Thou art my beloved son in whom I am well-pleased,” and ran with it all the way up Calvary. And he hadn’t even done anything yet! But that affirmation lasted him a lifetime, even though a brief 33 years.

It's interesting to see how Jesus handed out compliments; the qualities he admired in people. His praises were issued sparingly. He never stooped to flattering anybody in order to be liked. Or to bribe folks by getting on their good side, so they would owe him later. Jesus was too loving to try to control anybody. So his commendations were rare. And because there were so few of them, that enhances their value even more. What are the noble human traits that caused him to stop in his tracks, take notice and genuinely applaud them?

One was a soldier. The Roman centurion in Matthew's Gospel, is one of the most attractive figures in the Bible. Centurions are mentioned 8 times in the New Testament. All are favorable. The centurion on Good Friday drew the greatest gift from our Lord. I’m guessing Jesus was impressed by his caring attitude toward his servant, "Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed at home, in terrible distress" (V. 6). Genuine concern for little people always found a soft spot in Jesus’ heart. Here was a Johnny Rambo, who showed unusual gentleness. Caring for those who are overlooked will always catch Jesus’ eye.

But Matthew’s emphasis is on the man's faith. "Jesus said to him, 'I will come and heal him.' But the centurion answered, 'Lord, I’m not worthy to have you come under my roof; just say the word, and my servant will get well.'" Wow! The centurion believed that Jesus didn't have to be bodily present to heal somebody. Only a nod from Jesus would do it. His response was instantaneous and unequivocal. In astonishment he said, "In order to find faith this strong, you've gotta go outside of Israel to get it!" It was a putdown of Judaism. But a great tribute to one in the military.

Jesus spoke often about how the vitality of faith. When he referred to his disciple's faith, it was "O ye of little faith!" But this man's faith was recognized for being outstanding. And he wasn’t even a person of faith. He was one of the world’s many unchurched. But he understood how the world works. "I’m a man under authority. I tell people to go and come. And they obey." This one could see that Jesus was tight with God. So Jesus commended a Roman--outside the religious community--as a model of faith. A man with a secular faith. But he transferred it into the religious realm. A lot of people can't make that shift. But for those like this centurion who did, Jesus says, "Oh man! Nobody in Israel has faith like that guy!"

The next compliment Jesus paid was to another unlikely person, which changed his life. Without this word of praise from the Nazarene, it is doubtful that Nathaniel would’ve become a follower of “the way.” Here too was another unlikely individual who caught Jesus' eye. John tells us, "Philip said to Nathaniel and, 'We’ve found the Messiah -- Jesus of Nazareth.' Nathaniel said, 'Can anything good come out of Nazareth?'" Philip was unperturbed, "Come and see for yourself." It seems to me like Philip oughta be geting complimented! Not Nathaniel. Because Philip is excited about the hope Messiah brings. And Nathaniel promptly poured ice water on his fire!

That’s what folks with a hang-up about preciseness do best. He must’ve been an engineer! He questioned the Messiah’s credentials because he was from Nazareth. He didn’t like his accent or something. We don’t do that today do we? But because in his experience, nothing good had ever come from Nazareth before. Why should he expect it now?

Philip calmly replied, "Come and see." To his credit, Philip realized you can’t argue anyone into the faith. The best way to validate the the Christ is to show them. And because Nathaniel came and saw for himself, Jesus let go of one of his few compliments: "Behold, an Israelite in whom there is no guile!" (John 1:47). No pretense. No deceit. Phoniness in people always got Jesus' goat. But ol’ Nathaniel was one of those what you-see-is-what-you-get, guys. He had prejudice against northerners! But he also had an openness in his attitude that Jesus noticed. In spite of his regionalism, Nathaniel took Philip at his word. And in light of the new evidence, he was big enough to change his mind.

And Jesus loved it! And remarked, "God can use somebody like that!" A man who stayed around long enough to see if he might be wrong. Even a man with a made-up mind, if he is open to change, to adapt to the new and different, can have “no guile.” Genuineness is what gets us somewhere in life. For the openness to go and see. "Maybe I was wrong about Nazareth?" And out pops another tribute from Jesus, "This man is transparent!"
It’ll be 2 long years before Jesus saw anything in anybody that deserved recognition. This time he dips into his own kin. Few have been paid such a high accolade as Jesus did to his cousin John the Baptist. "What did ya’ll go out in the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? Or a man clothed in silk? Those in soft clothing live in king's houses. But if you went out into the wilderness to see a prophet, you got your money’s worth. Among those born of women, none is greater than John."

Now that, folks, is heady adulation! Attributed to a man in jail. It came at John’s lowest point. After he expressed grave doubts about Jesus: "Are you the one to come, or should we look for another?" And a skeptical man was promptly commended by our Lord. Jesus said, "Look folks, I don't know what you went out to the wilderness to see. But whatever it was, you found no ordinary man; no spineless reed, swaying back and forth with every changing wind. This man has what it takes!" So the quality about John that caught the admiration of Jesus was his undaunted courage. And he was paid one of Jesus' highest compliments: "There is none greater than John!" It doesn’t get any better than that.

Well. There is one other occasion, that occurred just a few days before Jesus died. He was eating supper in the home of a Pharisee. This time it was a woman. And not just any woman. She was a sinner. One of the most appealing stories in the Gospel. A hooker came “inside a Pharisees’ house and anointed Jesus’ feet; then wiped them with her hair.”

And the Pharisee got tied up in a wad, "If this man were a prophet, he would’ve known what sort of woman this is touching him, for she’s just a no-good sinner.” But Jesus ignored him and said to her, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace. Wherever the gospel is preached, this woman will be remembered.’” That's what we're doing right now. Not many people in the scriptures are asked to be remembered: him and her and a thief. But Jesus put this no-name-gal in pretty tall company! Maybe Jesus was attracted to her because he saw something of himself in her: Her willingness to sacrifice for what she believed.

Jesus was touched by her touch. Her costly act of extravagance evoked from him these words: "...a beautiful thing she has done." Isn’t it ironic how religious people can take something beautiful and make it ugly? Bathe anything in self-righteousness and it cheapens it. She simply loved Jesus, without counting the cost. Love never says, "What’ll somebody else think of this?" Love is love because it has the guts to act, knowing that there are special moments that come in a lifetime, never to return again. And that drew from our Lord a word of acclaim. So impressed was he by her selflessness, he didn't want it to ever be forgotten.

I’m struck by the kind of people who aroused Jesus' praise. It wasn't the fine, up-standing folks from the church. Or the popular political candidate, soaring in the polls. Or a beauty queen-movie star from the Hollywood elite. And he sure didn't mention some big-oil-billionaire. Or an overpaid athlete. That's the kind of people we pick. For an example of faith, Jesus didn't turn to the priesthood. Rather he chose a non-religious man, a Roman centurion, one outside the religious community. Equally striking was his commendation of a close-minded guy like Nathaniel, as an example of openness. Is Jesus weird or what?

When he looked for moral courage, he cited an agnostic jailbird, John, who just muttered one of the most famous expressions of doubt in the scriptures: "Are you the one or not?" And if ya’ll think that's unusual, don't overlook his final compliment. As an example of sacrificial love, he chose a Hooter’s waitress, who gave all she had for Jesus while she could.

Just a kind word from Jesus accomplished so much. He blesses a Roman for his faith and he can move mountains! He commends the candor of narrow Nathaniel and he helped open the doors of the Gospel to all people. He commends John’s grit to dare to question him, and it enabled him to die with conviction. He accepted the risky love from a prostitute, and she was one of the few to be found at the foot of the cross the day he died. When we offer Jesus our faith, honesty, courage, and selflessness, he transforms it into greater things.

Would he see anything worth complimenting in US? Would he find any faith? Or just a longing for security? Would he find an open door to the new and different? Or just "my-way-or-no-way-being in control?" Would he find integrity or extravagant commitment?

These are some of the qualities that drew praise from our Lord long ago. And I believe that’s still what he's looking for in the church. The greatest compliment of all would be to hear our Lord say of us: "Well done, good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of my kingdom." The hitch is, you gotta do what it takes to get it.

Prayer:From differing ways, Lord, we come to worship in this place built to your glory. But together in this hour, we join hearts as one and dedicate this time to you.

As each has need of strength beyond that now possessed, we pray for your presence: the apprehensive, that God may still the fear. Where we are weak, strengthen us. Where we are strong, humble us. When we have sinned, forgive us. If we are lonely, encourage us. In your love, enfold us.

Let us remember those held dear to our hearts and ask God’s blessing on their lives: someone at home infirm or ill; or in a nursing home or hospital; somebody who’s newly lost a person they love; those facing difficult choices. Let us silently recall those we love, in need of God’s special grace.

We pray for our church. And rejoice at all it’s been in days gone by, all it is now, and all it is yet to be. We pray for ourselves as we assume its privileges and take up its burdens. And that the service we offer will be not just lips and tongues, but hands and feet and hearts. “Lift our eyes unto the hills, from when cometh our help”...not in the hills, but in the Lord. And may to you be the kingdom and power and glory forever...Amen.