I want to look at two stories, one after the other, in which Jesus came through for two people. We’ll look at the first one today, and the second one tomorrow. Please be sure to see tomorrow’s, because we’ll contrast the two.
In some way we will all be able to identify with someone in these stories, and your hope in God will be revived!
The second story is unique to Luke. In it Jesus helps without being asked. But we’ll see that tomorrow.
Luke 7:1-17
1 When He had
completed all His discourse in the hearing of the people, He went to
2 And a centurion's slave, who was highly regarded by him, was sick and about to die.
A centurion was a Roman officer, a commander of 100 men.
To be a centurion, you had to have virtue, discipline.
3 When he heard about
Jesus, he sent some Jewish elders asking Him to come and save the life of his
slave.
This centurion appeals, not on his own behalf, but for another.
This appeal was from a Gentile, not a Jew.
Jesus said He came to present Himself to
Look at these examples:
Matthew 10:5-6
5 These twelve Jesus sent out after instructing them: "Do not go in the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter any city of the Samaritans;
6 but rather go to the lost sheep of the house of
Matthew 15:22-24
22 And a Canaanite woman from that region came out and began to cry out, saying, "Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is cruelly demon-possessed."
23 But He did not answer her a word. And His disciples came and implored Him, saying, "Send her away, because she keeps shouting at us."
24 But He answered and said, "I was sent only to the
lost sheep of the house of
(But He still healed the child.)
The Centurion still makes the appeal, knowing that Jesus was compassionate, merciful, and powerful.
4 When they came to
Jesus, they earnestly implored Him, saying, "He is worthy for You to grant this to him;
5
for he loves our nation and it was he who built us our synagogue."
6 Now Jesus started
on His way with them; and when He was not far from the house, the centurion
sent friends, saying to Him, "Lord, do not trouble Yourself further, for I
am not worthy for You to come under my roof;
Notice the elders said he was worthy – because of the deeds he had done. Typical confused Jewish elders! No one is worthy to have Jesus visit them because of the deeds they have done.
The Centurion knows better! He says, “I’m not worthy!”
He’s making his appeal not based on what he deserves for his deeds, but on the mercy and compassion of Jesus Christ.
7 for this reason I
did not even consider myself worthy to come to You,
but just say the word, and my servant will be healed.
8 "For I also am
a man placed under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to this one,
"Go!' and he goes, and to another, "Come!' and he comes, and to my
slave, "Do this!' and he does it."
Wait! You don’t have to
come all the way here! Just say the
word!
He KNEW that Jesus could
heal the servant by the power of His word!
The Word of God requires no
accompaniment or entertainment.
Romans
What do you think glorifies
the LJC more, having to go do the job personally, or just sending His
word? Is this miracle more
impressive? Of course!
We have in our Bibles the
completed word of God to handle any problem. He has sent His word to accomplish
His will.
To operate in faith, and
trust God at His word is greater than having Him come visit you personally!
John 20:29
29 Jesus said to him,
"Because you have seen Me, have you believed?
Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed."
The centurion understood he
was worthless, he understood the authority of Jesus Christ.
He knows the Lord is
sovereign, so all He has to do is will to heal his servant.
He knows the Lord is
omniscient, so He knows what the problem is with the servant without seeing
him.
He knows the Lord is
omnipotent, and He can heal the servant.
The centurion has taken his eyes off the problem, and
focused on the solution.
He said he was not worthy,
but this centurion could have easily been arrogant:
1.
He was a leader
of the Roman army,
2.
He was popular
and respected even among the Jews.
3.
He had some
“points” with God, had built the temple.
But he doesn’t bring any of
this up with Jesus. He’s not looking for
Jesus to do it because he deserves it, but because of who Jesus is.
9 Now when Jesus heard this, He marveled at him, and
turned and said to the crowd that was following Him, "I say to you, not
even in
10 When those who had
been sent returned to the house, they found the slave in good health.
Look what Jesus does!
He MARVELS at him!
Marvels – thaumazo – to be astonished, to be amazed, to marvel, or to admire.
This word is usually used for people’s reaction to His miracles.
This is the only person Jesus marveled at!
Tune in tomorrow when we’ll see the story of the widow that follows, and contrast the two.