Luke 7 (WEB)

Roman Centurion's Servant is Healed by Jesus (Luke 7:1-10)
Roman Centurion's Servant is Healed by Jesus (Luke 7:1-10) Luke 7:1 ×

This is one of the most amazing stories that I am privileged to share at Capernaum with tour groups. A Roman centurion expresses great faith, and shows his love for the Jewish people.

People didn't like the Romans very much.

So having that background, I read these words, "For he loves our nation and has built us a synagogue."

How uncharacteristic.

With the Romans who were hated of the people and who hated the people, here's a centurion who loves the Jewish people.

And he even demonstrated his love by building them a synagogue, out of his own pocket.

So when you look over here, it's not the top, but the bottom.

A guy found in Luke 7 did this.

Then Jesus went with them, and when he was already not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to him, saying to him, "Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy that you come into my house.

But just say the word, and my servant will be healed.

For I am a man placed under authority, having soldiers under me."

They probably guarded the Syrian.

They were the police of Capernaum.

"And I say to one, go, and he goes.

Another, come, and he comes.

And to my servant, do this, and he does it."

When Jesus heard these words, he marveled at him and turned around to this crowd that is going with him to see the healing.

And he said, "I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel."

And those are amazing words.

Jesus came to the people of Israel to offer them salvation.

Read Matthew.

He will save his people from their sins.

He came as Messiah.

And yet here you have this Gentile, this pagan, this dog from the Jewish perspective, who's demonstrated such love and such faith and done it by showing it and not merely talking it.

To the point that Jesus said, the faith this man has as a Gentile is greater than any that I've seen even among the Jews.

And I don't know, I just find that fascinating as a story.

And here we see faith.

What kind of faith do we have?

First of all, this man had faith that worked its way out.

Do one thing.

I love you guys.

Love you guys.

Bless you.

Be fed.

Be warm.

Be filled.

That's a lot of people.

A lot of people talk that.

They're praying for you.

That's the last you'll hear of it.

Have you done that?

I have.

Yeah, I'll pray for you.

And I forget about it like that.

That's why I've really started making a point of focusing on that question.

That's why I did on the boat this morning.

I've kept that in my mind ever since America, because I told him I would do it.

I want to follow through.

If I say I'm going to pray for you, I need to pray for you.

I need to put you in my prayer.

If we say we have faith, we need to demonstrate.

We're just talking and doing it.

Anybody can talk, but not everybody has.

This guy demonstrated that we ought to also be.

Man, I tell you, I want to be found like this guy in the eyes of Jesus, don't you?

Wouldn't you love the Lord to say, I have not seen such great faith among anybody else?

To get that kind of recommendation is better than any of the God.

Here at Capernaum, so many things occur here at this place.

Jesus slept here.

I don't know, I was joking to somebody, this is Peter's house and Jesus is right over there.

That's part of the spoof tour, but he's here somewhere.

But even though he's not here, his words are with us.

His spirit is with us.

His example is with us.

And so are those people that you find here in the city.

Luke 7 (WEB)

1After he had finished speaking in the hearing of the people, he entered into Capernaum. 2A certain centurion’s servant, who was dear to him, was sick and at the point of death. 3When he heard about Jesus, he sent to him elders of the Jews, asking him to come and save his servant. 4When they came to Jesus, they begged him earnestly, saying, “He is worthy for you to do this for him, 5for he loves our nation, and he built our synagogue for us.” 6Jesus went with them. When he was now not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to him, saying to him, “Lord, don’t trouble yourself, for I am not worthy for you to come under my roof. 7Therefore I didn’t even think myself worthy to come to you; but say the word, and my servant will be healed. 8For I also am a man placed under authority, having under myself soldiers. I tell this one, ‘Go!’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come!’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”

9When Jesus heard these things, he marveled at him, and turned and said to the multitude who followed him, “I tell you, I have not found such great faith, no, not in Israel.” 10Those who were sent, returning to the house, found that the servant who had been sick was well.

11Soon afterwards, he went to a city called Nain. Many of his disciples, along with a great multitude, went with him. 12Now when he came near to the gate of the city, behold, one who was dead was carried out, the only born son of his mother, and she was a widow. Many people of the city were with her. 13When the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said to her, “Don’t cry.” 14He came near and touched the coffin, and the bearers stood still. He said, “Young man, I tell you, arise!” 15He who was dead sat up and began to speak. Then he gave him to his mother.

16Fear took hold of all, and they glorified God, saying, “A great prophet has arisen among us!” and, “God has visited his people!” 17This report went out concerning him in the whole of Judea and in all the surrounding region.

18The disciples of John told him about all these things. 19John, calling to himself two of his disciples, sent them to Jesus, saying, “Are you the one who is coming, or should we look for another?” 20When the men had come to him, they said, “John the Baptizer has sent us to you, saying, ‘Are you he who comes, or should we look for another?’”

21In that hour he cured many of diseases and plagues and evil spirits; and to many who were blind he gave sight. 22Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John the things which you have seen and heard: that the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them. 23Blessed is he who finds no occasion for stumbling in me.”

24When John’s messengers had departed, he began to tell the multitudes about John, “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? 25But what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft clothing? Behold, those who are gorgeously dressed and live delicately are in kings’ courts. 26But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and much more than a prophet. 27This is he of whom it is written,

‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face,

who will prepare your way before you.’

28“For I tell you, among those who are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptizer; yet he who is least in God’s Kingdom is greater than he.”

29When all the people and the tax collectors heard this, they declared God to be just, having been baptized with John’s baptism. 30But the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected the counsel of God, not being baptized by him themselves.

31“To what then should I compare the people of this generation? What are they like? 32They are like children who sit in the marketplace and call to one another, saying, ‘We piped to you, and you didn’t dance. We mourned, and you didn’t weep.’ 33For John the Baptizer came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon.’ 34The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Behold, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ 35Wisdom is justified by all her children.”

36One of the Pharisees invited him to eat with him. He entered into the Pharisee’s house and sat at the table. 37Behold, a woman in the city who was a sinner, when she knew that he was reclining in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster jar of ointment. 38Standing behind at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears, and she wiped them with the hair of her head, kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment. 39Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw it, he said to himself, “This man, if he were a prophet, would have perceived who and what kind of woman this is who touches him, that she is a sinner.”

40Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.”

He said, “Teacher, say on.”

41“A certain lender had two debtors. The one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42When they couldn’t pay, he forgave them both. Which of them therefore will love him most?”

43Simon answered, “He, I suppose, to whom he forgave the most.”

He said to him, “You have judged correctly.” 44Turning to the woman, he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered into your house, and you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head. 45You gave me no kiss, but she, since the time I came in, has not ceased to kiss my feet. 46You didn’t anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. 47Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But one to whom little is forgiven, loves little.” 48He said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”

49Those who sat at the table with him began to say to themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?”

50He said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.”

Roman Centurion's Servant is Healed by Jesus (Luke 7:1-10)