Luke 7: A “chapter” in Jesus’ Life (1)
Jesus and the Centurion Luke 7:1-10
How many physically blind people did Jesus give sight as recorded in the Gospels?
The number of times Jesus said he was amazed (marvelled) in the Gospels?
What are the thing(s) that Jesus said amazed him?
What is the first recorded miracle that Jesus performed in Luke’s gospel?
Luke 4:31-36 A man with demon
What is the number of miracles performed by Jesus recorded in the gospels?
Unknown but many
Luke 5
Simon Peter and the fish,
A man with Leprosy,
A man paralysed and brought by his friend
Luke is the gospel of compassion and sympathy
In Luke we meet individuals in need
In Luke we meet Jesus the great physician meet the need of all kinds of people
Luke is trying to get across to us Jesus is the friend of individuals in need
Jesus Christ is never too busy to stop and listen to our needs
Jesus Christ is never too busy to help us bear life’s burdens; never far away; he has not changed
Jesus mingled with people, including publicans and sinners
Compassionate Son of man came to live among sinners, love them, help them and die for them
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8)
Jesus Christ is never indifferent or unconcerned
Jesus Christ knows about your needs and wants to help you
Nigerian Chorus -Anywhere he went he was doing good-
Acts 10:38 –Peter unfinished sermon
A very high official, a Roman Centurion, requests Physical healing
A man of high standing has a need
Jesus performs a great miracle, physical healing
A distraught woman with a dead son
No request made, but Jesus had compassion on her
Jesus performs a greater miracle, physical resurrection
An imprisoned prophet, makes a request to Jesus
Hoping Jesus will perform a miracle for him
Jesus declares him the greatest person that ever lived
A sinful woman demonstrates faith in Jesus for spiritual healing
A woman of low standing has a need
Jesus performs the greatest miracle, salvation, spiritual resurrection
Jesus and the Roman Centurion
Luke 7:1-10
The Roman Centurion
Gentile, pagan background, trained to be self-sufficient
Commander of 100 soldiers
Likely very rich/lots of resources at his disposal
Had a sick servant that he loved
Heard about Jesus; sent Jew leaders to Jesus
Jewish leaders said he deserved help from Jesus: loved Jews, built synagogue
Said (twice) “not worthy” for Jesus to visit his home, or to meet Jesus
Humble man – a Roman officer telling a poor Jewish rabbi (Jesus) “I am not worthy”
Described his faith in Jesus
Parallel between commanding his soldiers, and Jesus commanding sicknesses
Both the centurion and Jesus under authority and had the right to exercise authority
Say the word and something happens, a marvellous faith in Jesus
Jesus’ response to his need
On the way to the man’ home (a Gentile home)
Got the man’s message before he arrived
But just before they arrived at the house, the officer sent some friends to say, “Lord, don’t trouble yourself by coming to my home, for I am not worthy of such an honor. 7 I am not even worthy to come and meet you. Just say the word from where you are, and my servant will be healed. 8 I know this because I am under the authority of my superior officers, and I have authority over my soldiers. I only need to say, ‘Go,’ and they go, or ‘Come,’ and they come. And if I say to my slaves, ‘Do this,’ they do it.”
Amazed(marvelled) at the man faith
When Jesus heard this, he was amazed. Turning to the crowd that was following him, he said, “I tell you, I haven’t seen faith like this in all Israel!” 10 And when the officer’s friends returned to his house, they found the slave completely healed
Jesus did not speak a word of healing, yet the miracle happened
Twice in the gospel record Jesus marvelled or was amazed
Here in Capernaum, he marvelled (amazed) at the faith of a Gentile
He marvel at the unbelieve of the Jews Mark 6:6
