Luke 7:1-10 Amazing Faith
The Faith of the Centurion
7 When Jesus had finished saying all this to the people who were listening, he entered Capernaum. 2 There a centurion’s servant, whom his master valued highly, was sick and about to die. 3 The centurion heard of Jesus and sent some elders of the Jews to him, asking him to come and heal his servant. 4 When they came to Jesus, they pleaded earnestly with him, “This man deserves to have you do this, 5 because he loves our nation and has built our synagogue.” 6 So Jesus went with them.
He was not far from the house when the centurion sent friends to say to him: “Lord, don’t trouble yourself, for I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. 7 That is why I did not even consider myself worthy to come to you. But say the word, and my servant will be healed. 8 For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”
9 When Jesus heard this, he was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd following him, he said, “I tell you, I have not found such great faith even in Israel.” 10 Then the men who had been sent returned to the house and found the servant well.
Reflection:
Chapter 7 marks a transition in the book of Luke from Jesus' ministry mainly to the Jewish audience to the Gentiles. One of Luke's unique characteristics is his concern for the Gentiles. This could be reflective of his travels with Paul, who was a missionary to the Gentiles. Today we see the "amazing faith" of the Roman centurion. Centurions were in charge of 100 men, and in this case this centurion was supportive of the local Jewish synagogue. The Centurion shows humility by sending his servants to the elders, who in turn communicate this to Jesus.
When the Centurion meets Jesus we see why Jesus recognized his amazing faith. What did Jesus see?
1. Though the Centurion was a man with authority he recognized Jesus' authority as superior. The centurion tells Jesus that he did not consider himself worthy for Jesus to come to his house.
2. The Centurion had faith in Jesus' power and authority. This is reflected when he says, "Just say the word and my servant will be healed." The Centurion used power when he told those under him to when he said to one "go", and the other "come". The Centurion knew that Jesus had to say just "one word" and the healing would occur.
Jesus is quite amazed at this man and publicly commends his great faith. When the men returned to his home they found this one word had healed the servant.
A question we might ask ourselves today is what kind of faith do we have? The centurion was an unlikely candidate for great faith, but Jesus recognized it. Faith is not dependent on race, ethnicity, religion or earthly power and authority. It is based on one thing. Recognizing Jesus' power and authority and then in humility going to him for whatever you need trusting that with one word your request can be granted.
7 When Jesus had finished saying all this to the people who were listening, he entered Capernaum. 2 There a centurion’s servant, whom his master valued highly, was sick and about to die. 3 The centurion heard of Jesus and sent some elders of the Jews to him, asking him to come and heal his servant. 4 When they came to Jesus, they pleaded earnestly with him, “This man deserves to have you do this, 5 because he loves our nation and has built our synagogue.” 6 So Jesus went with them.
He was not far from the house when the centurion sent friends to say to him: “Lord, don’t trouble yourself, for I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. 7 That is why I did not even consider myself worthy to come to you. But say the word, and my servant will be healed. 8 For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”
9 When Jesus heard this, he was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd following him, he said, “I tell you, I have not found such great faith even in Israel.” 10 Then the men who had been sent returned to the house and found the servant well.
Reflection:
Chapter 7 marks a transition in the book of Luke from Jesus' ministry mainly to the Jewish audience to the Gentiles. One of Luke's unique characteristics is his concern for the Gentiles. This could be reflective of his travels with Paul, who was a missionary to the Gentiles. Today we see the "amazing faith" of the Roman centurion. Centurions were in charge of 100 men, and in this case this centurion was supportive of the local Jewish synagogue. The Centurion shows humility by sending his servants to the elders, who in turn communicate this to Jesus.
When the Centurion meets Jesus we see why Jesus recognized his amazing faith. What did Jesus see?
1. Though the Centurion was a man with authority he recognized Jesus' authority as superior. The centurion tells Jesus that he did not consider himself worthy for Jesus to come to his house.
2. The Centurion had faith in Jesus' power and authority. This is reflected when he says, "Just say the word and my servant will be healed." The Centurion used power when he told those under him to when he said to one "go", and the other "come". The Centurion knew that Jesus had to say just "one word" and the healing would occur.
Jesus is quite amazed at this man and publicly commends his great faith. When the men returned to his home they found this one word had healed the servant.
A question we might ask ourselves today is what kind of faith do we have? The centurion was an unlikely candidate for great faith, but Jesus recognized it. Faith is not dependent on race, ethnicity, religion or earthly power and authority. It is based on one thing. Recognizing Jesus' power and authority and then in humility going to him for whatever you need trusting that with one word your request can be granted.
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