Luke 7:1-10

A reputation is important and God agrees. In Proverbs we read:

A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold. (Proverbs 22:1)

In Ecclesiastes we read:

A good name [or reputation] is better than fine perfume, and the day of death better than the day of birth. (Ecclesiastes 7:1)

When Paul gave qualifications for elders he included the need for a good reputation.

He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil’s trap. (1 Timothy 3:7)

Turn to Luke 7. In our passage we learn about a Roman centurion and we read three different opinions about him: that of some Jewish elders, that of the centurion about himself, and that of Jesus whose opinion is most important.

1 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. (Luke 7:1-6a)

Luke starts the section stating that this incident occurred after Jesus had finished saying these things. The things Jesus had finished saying is what we looked at last week which is commonly referred to as The Sermon on the Plain. We saw that it had many common themes as The Sermon on the Mount but it was shorter. It was a different sermon preached to a different crowd on a different occasion at a different location. I commented that we should expect Jesus to have repeated some of the lesson material since he would see different crowds each day as he traveled.

After finishing his message he entered Capernaum. He must have been preaching somewhere close by. You will remember that Capernaum was his home base. It is where he lived during the three years of his ministry. It was also the home of Peter, James, John, and Andrew. As he was entering Capernaum, some elders of the city approached him with a request. It seems the servant of a Roman centurion was sick and they thought it would be good for Jesus to heal the man.

This was an unusual request because normally Jews had absolutely nothing to do with Gentiles whom they considered to be less than a wild a dog. They wanted even less to do with a Roman soldier. Yet, in this instance, the Jewish elders of Capernaum come to Jesus asking him to do a favor for this Roman centurion.

A centurion was the highest rank for a noncommissioned officer in the Roman army. He had a hundred men under his authority. This was also the highest rank he would ever achieve.

I think it is interesting that while several centurions are mentioned in the New Testament they are all described positively. There was the centurion who stood guard at the cross during crucifixion of Jesus. Luke records the event saying:

The centurion, seeing what had happened, praised God and said, “Surely this was a righteous man.” (Luke 23:47)

Cornelius was a centurion. We’re told that he was a devout man of prayer who generously gave to those in need. One day while he was praying God gave him a vision of an angel directing to send for a man named Peter who was not far away in Joppa. Cornelius was the first Gentile to receive the Holy Spirit.

When Paul was arrested in Jerusalem there were more than forty Jews who swore an oath not to eat until they had killed Paul. It was a centurion that saw to Paul’s protection and had him sent to Caesarea. And it was another centurion that traveled with Paul on his trip to Rome for trial. When it looked like their ship was going down, the centurion told the ship’s crew to follow Paul’s instructions.

And then there was this centurion in Capernaum. The elders told Jesus that he had helped to build their synagogue. He must have given a substantial amount of money for its construction. Therefore, they believed he was deserving of Jesus’ help. “If anyone deserves your help,” they said, “he does.” The opinion of the Jews regarding this centurion is that he was worthy.

Next, we see the opinion of the centurion about himself.

6b [Jesus] 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. 7a That is why I did not even consider myself worthy to come to you.” (Luke 7:6b-7a)

It is the Jewish elders who make the request to Jesus. When the centurion hears that Jesus is coming to his house he sends word to Jesus not to come. He doesn’t want Jesus to come to his house because he does not feel worthy. The elders described him as being worthy but he does not feel worthy.

Actually, they are using two different words that are each translated as “deserving” or “worthy.” The word the elders use means having value or worth. The word the centurion used means able or sufficient. As a result, he didn’t even think about sending for Jesus to ask for help. And then he uses the word the elders used, he said he was not worthy of Jesus’ time and energy. This is really a sign of humility.

Turn over to Luke 14. Jesus was invited to eat at the house of a prominent Pharisee one Sabbath. Luke then gives us this discussion he had with the Pharisee and his guests.

7 When he noticed how the guests picked the places of honor at the table, he told them this parable: 8 “When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, for a person more distinguished than you may have been invited. 9 If so, the host who invited both of you will come and say to you, ‘Give this person your seat.’ Then, humiliated, you will have to take the least important place. 10 But when you are invited, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, ‘Friend, move up to a better place.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all the other guests. 11 For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” (Luke 14:7-11)

It is better that others say it of you than you say it of yourself. The centurion, understanding his sin did not think he was worthy. We are more likely to receive from God when we think we are unworthy than when we think we are deserving of God’s blessing or grace. Compare the attitude of the centurion to that of the Pharisee Jesus talked about in Luke 18 about a Pharisee and a tax collector who had gone to the temple to pray.

9 To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: 10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people – robbers, evildoers, adulterers – or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’ 13 But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ 14 I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” (Luke 18:9-14)

The Pharisee thought he deserved God’s blessing and approached God with that attitude. He had connected his righteousness with what he had done for God and not with his faith in what God had done for him. He told God, “Look what I have done for you. I’m not like these other sinners.”

For me, this attitude can lead me to question why God hasn’t blessed me more. It can be easy for me to see how God is blessing another preacher and his church and wonder why God isn’t doing the same thing here. What has that preacher done to deserve a larger congregation? I’ve worked hard for God. Why hasn’t he blessed me like that? God should bless me because I am worthy. And God had to teach me that it isn’t about what I’ve done for him. I had to learn just to do what God had called me to do and let him decide what the outcome would be. It is up to him to bless and to determine how much a blessing we receive. It has been pointed out that when we come to God on the basis of what we deserve we are likely to receive what we deserve. But, when we come to God on the basis of his grace we are likely to receive more than we deserve. We must remember that we are not worthy but God loves us anyway.

The elders come to Jesus asking him to help the centurion by healing his servant because the centurion was worthy. He’d helped them build a new synagogue. But the centurion said he wasn’t worthy to even ask for Jesus’ help.

I think we need to understand that according to Luke Jesus never saw the centurion. First, the elders came to Jesus on his behalf. Then, when Jesus starts towards his house he sends some friends with a message. So Jesus and the centurion never actually met. Since he didn’t feel worthy to have Jesus in his home he has a different suggestion for how the servant might be healed.

7b “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.” (Luke 7:6b-8)

The centurion was over a hundred men but he was also under the authority of an officer. He understood the chain of command. He knew he could tell someone what to do and because of his authority the person would carry it out. He then carries that over to Jesus and by doing so recognized Jesus’ authority as well. Through faith he recognized that Jesus had authority even to heal diseases. If Jesus said the man would be well it would happen. All Jesus had to do was speak the word.

We have the elder’s opinion of the centurion, his own opinion of himself, and then we find the opinion of Jesus concerning the man.

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. (Luke 7:9-10)

Jesus was amazed. He marveled at the man’s faith. Even the apostles didn’t have this faith. They didn’t yet recognize the authority of Jesus that this centurion did. In the next chapter Jesus will calm the wind and the sea. We then read of the disciple’s reaction:

In fear and amazement they asked one another, “Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him.” (Luke 8:25b)

The Roman centurion recognized the authority of Jesus that even the disciples failed to grasp and it amazed Jesus.

What we need to understand is it was not the strength of the centurion’s faith but in whom he had placed it. Let me illustrate. Suppose two men are climbing a mountain when fog unexpectedly descends and they can hardly see anything. They have to get down the mountain before nightfall, and so they press on. Suddenly the ground gives way, and they drop quite a distance. Thankfully, they both survive without injury. While catching their breath the fog lifts and they noticed that they have landed on a ledge. It’s impossible to climb up, but about six feet below on either side of their ledge is a rocky outcrop. From each side of the rocky outcrop is a path that leads down the mountain. One man said that they should jump to the right rocky outcrop, while the other said that they should jump to the left rocky outcrop. Each sincerely believes that the side he is proposing is the safest way to go. So, they each jump at the same time, one to the right and the other to the left. One rocky outcrop gives way and the man plunges to his death. The other rocky outcrop holds firm, and the man walks to safety. The point of this illustration is that it is not the sincerity of belief that saves but rather the solid rock that saves. It is not the sincerity of our faith that saves, but it is Jesus the solid rock that saves. And that was the faith of the centurion.

What’s funny is we never read about Jesus going to the centurion’s home or of Jesus declaring the servant had been healed. Jesus just talks about be amazed at the man’s faith and that he hadn’t found such faith in all of Israel. As far as we can tell Jesus then turned and proceeded to wherever he was going. If it were not for the last verse we wouldn’t know what happened to the servant. Luke tells us that the men the centurion had sent to Jesus returned to him and found the servant had been healed. We’re not told this but wouldn’t be funny to think that when they got back that this servant was now up and waiting on them again, opening the door and washing their feet?

I’ve mentioned the opinions people had concerning the centurion but the real message of the story is one of authority. The centurion understood the role of authority and recognized the authority Jesus possessed. Was the centurion’s understanding misplaced? Was he wrong about the authority of Jesus? Did Jesus really have that much authority?

Turn to John 19. After his resurrection Jesus told the disciples that all authority in heaven and on earth had been given to him. Sometimes preachers will joke that in Greek the word “all” is πᾶς (pâs) and means “all.” How much authority is all authority? With just a little authority like that the centurion had you can order people around. You can tell people what to do with just a little authority. So, what does that mean for Jesus who has all authority in both heaven and on earth? Well, we know what Jesus did with it. Jesus took his authority and he picked up a towel and wrapping it around his waist he proceeded to wash his disciple’s feet. Later that evening Jesus found himself before Pilate. The Jews were outside demanding that Pilate have Jesus crucified. Inside, Jesus remained silent.

8 When Pilate heard this, he was even more afraid, 9 and he went back inside the palace. “Where do you come from?” he asked Jesus, but Jesus gave him no answer. 10 “Do you refuse to speak to me?” Pilate said. “Don’t you realize I have power [or authority, it’s the same word the centurion used] either to free you or to crucify you?” 11 Jesus answered, “You would have no [authority] over me if it were not given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin.” (John 19:8-11)

Pilate was in charge of the Judean province. All the Roman soldiers stationed there were under his authority. He had the authority of the Roman Empire backing him up. Jesus stood there in chains was about to be crucified. But who had the real authority? Jesus did. And what did Jesus do with his authority? He laid it down and allowed himself to be crucified for our sins. We like to use our authority to make life easier for ourselves while Jesus used his authority to serve.

This has two implications. First, Jesus has the authority to help us today. Jesus has the authority to heal and to provide. This servant was on his death bed and all Jesus had to do was say the word and he was healed. Do we not think that Jesus has that same authority today? Look at whatever problem you have and it is nothing that Jesus can’t speak the word and solve it. Do you think, do you believe that he has that kind of authority? Jesus had it then; doesn’t he still have it today? We can trust him. Do we?

John was reading in his study preparing his next sermon when his five-year-old daughter, Melody, came to him asking for dollhouse. He nodded and promised to build one for her, then promptly returned to his book. A little while later, John glanced out the window and saw Melody’s arms filled with dishes, toys, and dolls, making trip after trip until she had a huge pile of playthings in the backyard. He asked what Melody was doing and his wife said, “Oh, you said you’d build her a dollhouse, and she believes you. She’s just getting ready for it.”

John immediately tossed aside his book, raced to the lumber yard for supplies, and quickly built that little girl a dollhouse. Later he said, “When I saw her faith, nothing could keep me from carrying out my word.”

Of course the problem is so many don’t have that kind of faith in God. That’s why the faith of the centurion amazed Jesus. There are people who believe God exists and even claim to be Christians but don’t believe God will do anything in their lives. And then, they live like there was no God. What kind of faith is that? Jesus had already seen so many who didn’t have as strong a faith in him as this Gentile Roman soldier. We must believe. We must have faith to trust Jesus to work in our lives in his timing to do what is best for us. As Paul wrote to the believers in Rome:

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28)

We know that everything God does is good. We may not understand everything but we know that he always does what is good and best. We can trust God because we know that he is always good.

The second implication is that Jesus can then tell us what to do. Jesus has the authority to direct our lives. That’s why we call him Lord. If we trust him we’ll obey him.