The Sick Healed, The Dead Raised, The Sinner Forgiven! Luke 7

Jesus said: I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. Matt. 8:1-13 and Luke 7:1-10

Luke 7:1-10 Now when he had ended all his sayings in the audience of the people, he entered into Capernaum. 2 And a certain centurion's servant, who was dear unto him, was sick, and ready to die. 3 And when he heard of Jesus, he sent unto him the elders of the Jews, beseeching him that he would come and heal his servant. 4 And when they came to Jesus, they besought him instantly, saying, That he was worthy for whom he should do this: 5 For he loveth our nation, and he hath built us a synagogue.

6 Then Jesus went with them. And when he was now not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to him, saying unto him, Lord, trouble not thyself: for I am not worthy that thou shouldest enter under my roof: 7 Wherefore neither thought I myself worthy to come unto thee: but say in a word, and my servant shall be healed. 8 For I also am a man set under authority, having under me soldiers, and I say unto one, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it. 9 When Jesus heard these things, he marvelled at him, and turned him about, and said unto the people that followed him, I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. (What would Jesus say about You and Me?) 10 And they that were sent, returning to the house, found the servant whole that had been sick.

Who was this man? Matthew 8:5-13; Luke 7:1-10). Matthew 8:5-13Luke 7:1-10 Who was this man? A rabbi? No. A disciple? No A Roman soldier.

The centurion was one of the most unlikely persons to amaze Jesus. He was a Gentile. Doubtless he had a pagan upbringing. He was a Roman, stationed in Palestine to subject the Jews to the Emperor's rule. He was a man of war. He achieved the rank of centurion by distinguishing himself above others in the brutal Roman martial arts. Someone has said: Not exactly the résumé you'd expect for becoming one of the Bible's great heroes of faith.

When he entered the town, he was met by a small delegation of Jewish elders. They had an urgent request. There was this Roman centurion whose servant was so sick that he was expected to die shortly. The centurion had asked these elders to go to Jesus on his behalf to see if Jesus might be willing to heal his servant

Now, this was very unusual. Jewish leaders were not in the habit of being fond of Roman soldiers. And the Roman soldiers were not Usually fond of the Jews!

Feeling the obvious oddness of the request, the elders quickly added, "He is worthy to have you do this for him, for he loves our nation, and he is the one who built us our synagogue."

When Jesus and those with him got close to the Centurion’s house, the Centurion sent this Message to the Lord:

“Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you come under my roof. Therefore I did not presume to come to you. But say the word, and let my servant be healed. For I too am a man set under authority, with soldiers under me: and I say to one, "Go" and he goes; and to another, "Come," and he comes; and to my servant, "Do this," and he does it.'"

Jesus pondered the words, "I am not worthy to have you come under my roof" and "I too am a man under authority with soldiers under me.". This man was a Roman soldier, a representative of Israel's enemy. And yet he understood what even these Jewish elders didn't yet grasp. Jesus was a man of Great Authority. Jesus Marveled "I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith" 7:9).7:9

Both Luke (Luke 7:9) and Matthew (Matthew 8:10) use the Greek word thaumazo (thou-mad'-zo) which we translate "marveled" or "amazed" to describe Jesus' response to the centurion's faith.Luke 7:9Matthew 8:10 The only time this word is used to describe Jesus' response to others' faith is in Mark 6:6, when he marvels at the lack of faith in the people of Nazareth, where he grew up.Mark 6:6

So what in the world had happened to this man? We don't know. But there he is in Capernaum;. And he's a firstfruit and a foreshadow of what Jesus had come to bring about. He was a living illustration that "many [would] come from the east and west and recline at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 8:11).Matthew 8:11

This centurion is also a reminder to us that "man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart" (1 Samuel 16:7).1 Samuel 16:7 I think we will be surprised someday when Jesus doles out rewards. Many of the great ones among us will probably have lived in obscurity. Jesus is not as impressed with titles, degrees, and achievements as we are. He is impressed with those who really do humbly believe him.

What kind of Faith do We have? A working faith… a) Diligently following Jesus everyday… I Pet.2:21; Matt.28:18 Jas. 1:22; A faith that serves Matt. 16:24 a) Fix food for others who are in need of it. b) Send cards c) Telephone calls d) Cutting grass of widows/widowers e) Sitting up with the sick

A faith that attends worship,with joy and respecting God’s desire. a) Lord, I was glad Psalms 122:1; b) Lord, help me to concentrate Isa. 26:3 c) Lord, let me be filled with Joy as I serve you and others Phil. 4:4 d) Lord,help me to eat the Lord’s Supper in a right mind and spirit (John 4:23,24)

A faith that reads, studies, investigates God’s Word. a) Psalms 119:104,105 b) Psalms 119:11 c) Acts 17:11 d) Acts 17:30,31 e) Acts l7:34, 35

Jesus marveled at the Centurion’s Great Faith! What would He write about ours?