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Introduction: The Gift of Brokenness

There is a strange paradox in the Christian life: the more we grow in faith, the more aware we become of our brokenness. For many, brokenness is seen as failure or weakness. But in the kingdom of God, brokenness is not a defect—it is the doorway.

Our brokenness is the very thing that allows us to see our need for grace. Without it, we would remain blind to our sin, hardened in pride, and resistant to the God who alone can make us whole. To be broken before God is not a tragedy; it is the precondition for redemption.

This theme emerges vividly in Matthew 8:5–13, the account of a Roman Centurion who came to Jesus on behalf of his suffering servant. Here we find a soldier whose humility, compassion, and faith reveal what it means to be broken and rebuilt by the hand of God.

I. The Centurion’s Approach (Matthew 8:5–6)

A. Humility in Action

The scene begins with a striking reversal of expectations. A Roman Centurion—a commander of roughly one hundred men, a symbol of power and authority in the empire—approaches a Jewish rabbi in a small Galilean town. Historically, Centurions were the backbone of Rome’s military machine, known for discipline, ruthlessness, and loyalty to Caesar. They were not known for bowing before provincials.

Yet here he is—seeking out Jesus, not as a peer, not as a superior, but as a desperate man acknowledging a greater authority.

This is no small thing. In the ancient world, Rome was everything. The Pax Romana (Roman Peace) was maintained by military might, and soldiers like this Centurion were its enforcers. Jews were subject to Roman occupation, often resentful of their presence. For a Roman officer to cross that divide, to seek out a Jewish teacher, was almost unthinkable.

And yet, in this soldier’s humility, we see the beginning of brokenness. He sets aside pride, rank, and cultural barriers, and he comes to Jesus.

Paul later described this kind of humility in Philippians 2:3–8, where he points us to Christ Himself:

“Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves… Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself…”

The Centurion’s humility foreshadows the very humility of Christ—strength laid down, authority surrendered, for the sake of another.

B. Recognition of Need

Even more striking is the reason for his visit: his servant. In Roman society, a servant or slave was property, not a person. Many masters would have discarded a sick servant without hesitation. Compassion for slaves was rare and countercultural.

But this Centurion’s request reveals something about his heart. He cares deeply for the one under his authority. He breaks the cultural norms of his time by valuing the life of his servant.

James 4:10 echoes this posture: “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.”

Here is a soldier who recognizes his own need, his servant’s suffering, and Christ’s authority. That recognition of need is the first step in true faith.

Augustine’s Restless Heart

The Centurion’s humility is reminiscent of Augustine in the fourth century. He was a brilliant philosopher, a man of ambition, though given to pride and sensuality. For years he resisted God, trying to find meaning in pleasure, power, and intellectualism.

But God broke him. His own words confess it: “You have made us for Yourself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it rests in You.”

Augustine’s need finally drove him to Christ. Like the Centurion, he had to cross cultural lines and abandon pride to kneel before the authority of Jesus. His brokenness led to one of the greatest theological minds the church has ever known.

II. Faith in Jesus’ Authority (Matthew 8:7–9)

A. Jesus’ Willingness to Heal

Jesus’ response is immediate: “I will come and heal him.”

Notice how freely Christ offers His help. He doesn’t hesitate. He doesn’t evaluate the Centurion’s worthiness. He simply responds with compassion.

This is consistent with the heart of God revealed throughout Scripture. Psalm 145:18–19 says:

“The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. He fulfills the desire of those who fear him; he also hears their cry and saves them.”

The Centurion calls—and Jesus comes near.

B. Understanding True Authority

But then comes one of the most profound moments in the Gospels. The Centurion stops Jesus and explains: “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof, but only say the word, and my servant will be healed.”

Here is a man who understands authority. He knows what it means to command and be obeyed. And he recognizes in Jesus an authority unlike any other—an authority not limited by distance, time, or circumstance.

This is faith in its purest form. The Centurion does not demand Jesus’ physical presence. He trusts in the power of His word alone.

This echoes the story in John 4:46–53, when another official believed Jesus’ word that his son would live. Faith trusts Christ’s word without demanding proof.

Martin Luther’s Tower Experience

When Martin Luther struggled with the weight of God’s judgment in the 16th century, he too had to come to grips with authority—not of Rome, not of his own works, but of the Word of God.

In what became known as the “tower experience,” Luther was meditating on Romans 1:17: “The righteous shall live by faith.” Suddenly the truth hit him—righteousness was not something earned but something received through faith in Christ.

Luther later wrote, “Here I felt that I was altogether born again and had entered paradise itself through open gates.”

Like the Centurion, Luther trusted the authority of God’s word over all else. That brokenness before the Word unleashed the Reformation.

III. The Nature of Faith (Matthew 8:10–13)

A. Jesus’ Marvel at the Centurion’s Faith

Matthew tells us that Jesus marveled at the Centurion’s faith. Think about that. The Creator of the universe, who knows all things, is astonished—not at unbelief, but at the trust of a Roman soldier.

This is one of only two times in the Gospels when Jesus marvels. The other is in Mark 6:6, where He marvels at the unbelief of His hometown. What a contrast: insiders rejecting Him, while an outsider displays extraordinary faith.

Hebrews 11:6 explains why: “Without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.”

The Centurion’s faith pleased Christ because it was anchored not in tradition, heritage, or signs, but in Jesus’ authority.

B. The Gentiles’ Inclusion in the Kingdom

Jesus then turns to the crowd and makes a startling statement: “Many will come from east and west and recline at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven, while the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into outer darkness.”

This was radical. The Jews of Jesus’ day assumed the kingdom was theirs by right. But Jesus declares that Gentiles—outsiders—would be welcomed, while many Jews who rejected Him would be cast out.

Paul later explained this in Ephesians 2:11–22. Christ has broken down the wall of hostility between Jew and Gentile. In His body, He creates one new people, reconciled to God.

The Centurion’s faith is a foretaste of that reality—the kingdom of God is not limited by ethnicity, culture, or social class. It is for all who trust in Christ.

William Carey and Global Missions

This breaking of boundaries reminds me of William Carey, the “father of modern missions.” In the late 18th century, Carey was a humble shoemaker who believed the gospel was for all nations. Many of his peers scoffed at the idea, claiming that God would save the heathen without their help.

But Carey’s faith, like the Centurion’s, looked beyond cultural lines. He sailed to India, where he translated Scripture, preached Christ, and challenged the injustices of his day, including the practice of widow-burning (sati).

Carey’s faith helped break centuries of Western complacency and launched a global missions movement.

IV. What God Breaks

So what does this story teach us about brokenness?

The Centurion’s faith flowed from a kind of brokenness: the breaking of pride, the breaking of cultural norms, the breaking of self-reliance.

And this is what God does in all of us. He breaks us in order to heal us. He tears down in order to build up. He shatters false foundations so He can lay Christ as the cornerstone.

Here are some of the things God breaks:

He breaks the bonds of sin and shame. We are no longer slaves but free in Christ (Romans 6:6).

He breaks societal and cultural norms. In Christ, there is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free (Galatians 3:28).

He breaks our ideas and ideologies. We no longer conform to this world but are transformed by the renewal of our minds (Romans 12:2).

He breaks our desires. The Spirit gives us new affections for righteousness and holiness (Ezekiel 36:26).

He breaks our will. We no longer live for self but submit to Christ as Lord (Luke 9:23). He breaks our worldview.

He teaches us to see through His eyes, not our own. He breaks our expectations. He does far more abundantly than all we ask or think (Ephesians 3:20).

He breaks our faithlessness. He proves Himself faithful even when we falter.

He breaks our hearts for what breaks His. Compassion for the lost, the hurting, the marginalized.

Like a soldier in training, God breaks us down—but not to make us war machines. He rebuilds us into the image of Christ.

Chuck Colson and Prison Fellowship

A modern example of this breaking is Chuck Colson, a political operative in the Nixon White House. Known as Nixon’s “hatchet man,” Colson was ruthless, ambitious, and proud. But when the Watergate scandal broke, Colson was exposed and imprisoned.

It was in that place of humiliation that God broke him. Through the witness of friends, Colson came to faith in Christ. Out of his brokenness, he founded Prison Fellowship, a ministry that has transformed countless lives around the world.

Colson later said, “All my achievements meant nothing compared to the work of God in my life through brokenness.”

V. Modern Application: Brokenness in Our Day

The story of the Centurion isn’t just a historical footnote. It speaks powerfully to our cultural moment.

We live in a society that despises brokenness. Everything is about projecting strength, curating an image, maintaining control. Weakness is hidden. Vulnerability is avoided. And yet, mental health crises, addiction, loneliness, and despair are skyrocketing.

Could it be that God is using our cultural collapse to break us of self-reliance? Could it be that He is dismantling idols of power, wealth, and independence to draw us back to Himself?

Consider how brokenness applies today:

In the family, God often uses hardship to expose selfishness and teach sacrificial love.

In the church, He allows divisions and failures to remind us that unity is found only in Christ.

In the nation, He breaks cultural idols so we remember that no political system can save us.

In the individual heart, He permits suffering and weakness so that His strength might be made perfect (2 Corinthians 12:9).

Brokenness, rightly understood, is not God’s rejection. It is His invitation to deeper faith.

9/11 and National Brokenness

After the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, the United States experienced a moment of profound brokenness. Churches filled. People prayed. Neighbors cared for one another. For a brief time, pride was shattered, and humility brought many to seek God.

Sadly, that brokenness soon faded. Yet it stands as a reminder that in times of collective crisis, God often uses brokenness to draw people back to Himself.

Conclusion: Don’t Fear the Breaking

The Centurion’s story is not about military rank, or even about miraculous healing. It is about faith born out of humility, compassion, and brokenness.

God breaks to heal. He wounds to bind up. He humbles to exalt.

So do not fear the breaking. Do not resist His hand. The same Jesus who marveled at the Centurion’s faith marvels still when His people trust Him in their brokenness.

He alone can put the pieces back together. And when He does, He does it perfectly.