Untitled Sermon (17)
. Jesus Finds Great Faith in a Soldier: Great Faith, What It Is, 7:1–10
(7:1–10) Introduction: Jesus Christ meets the need of everyone—Gentile or Jew, rich or poor, leader or follower, ruler or slave. He bridges the gaps, prejudices, and divisions between men. The one essential for securing His help is faith. A person must have faith in Christ and His power. The fact is clearly demonstrated in what happened between this soldier and Jesus. Note that Jesus termed this man’s faith “great faith.”
1. Jesus returned to Capernaum (v. 1).
2. Great faith cares deeply for people (v. 2).
3. Great faith feels unworthy in approaching Jesus Christ (v. 3).
4. Great faith seeks the power of God in Jesus Christ (vv. 4–5).
5. Great faith is centered in two sources (vv. 6–8).
6. Great faith stirs the matchless power of Jesus Christ (vv. 9–10).
1 (7:1) Jesus Christ, Headquarters: Jesus returned to Capernaum. Capernaum was His headquarters where He now lived (see note—Lu. 4:31).
2 (7:2) Care: great faith cares deeply for people. The soldier was a man who cared deeply for people. Note the word dear (entimos) meaning esteemed, honored, precious, prized. In the society of that day, a slave was nothing, only a tool or a thing to be used as the owner wished. He had no rights whatsoever, not even the right to live. An owner could mistreat and kill a slave without having to give an account. But this soldier loved his slave. This reveals a deep concern and care for people. It would have been much less bother to dispose of the slave or to ignore him and just let him die, but not this soldier. He cared. Note how he personally looked after the slave, a person who meant nothing to the rest of society. But his arms and love were wide open to do all he could to help this person who was helpless. This alone, helping a person who meant nothing to society, was bound to affect Christ dramatically.
“Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself” (Mt. 22:39).
“This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you” (Jn. 15:12).
“Let love be without dissimulation [hypocrisy]. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good” (Ro. 12:9).
“And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you” (1 Th. 3:12).
“If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well” (Js. 2:8).
DEEPER STUDY # 1
(7:2) Centurion: see DEEPER STUDY # 1—Ac. 23:23.
3 (7:3) Rejection—Unworthiness: great faith feels unworthy in approaching Jesus Christ. The soldier was a man who had heard about Jesus and what he had heard made him feel unworthy. Note several things.
a. Luke’s account differs from Matthew’s. Luke says the centurion sent some religious leaders to approach Jesus, whereas Matthew says that the centurion approached Jesus. What needs to be remembered is that in a dictatorial society, whatever a leader commands others to do is counted as his act, as he himself having done it. The leader’s representatives act for him; thus, he is said to have done it.
b. The centurion was in a place where he could hear about Jesus. He was where he could hear the message of hope, and when the news came, he did not close his mind or ignore it. He responded.
c. The centurion, however, felt unworthy to approach Jesus himself. Why?
⇒ He was a soldier, trained to take life and probably guilty of having taken life. What he had heard about Christ was the message of love and brotherhood.
⇒ He was a sinner, a terrible sinner, a Roman heathen, totally unworthy and rejected in the eyes of most. He felt that Jesus, too, would count him unworthy and reject him.
d. The centurion requested help from others. He asked them to intercede for him. Note: he did not allow his sense of unworthiness and rejection to defeat him; neither was he too proud to ask for help, despite his superior position.
Thought 1. A man must expose himself to the gospel, be where the gospel is preached, and humble himself before the Lord if he wishes the blessings of God.
“For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly” (Ro. 12:3).
“But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble” (Js. 4:6).
“Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up” (Js. 4:10).
“The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit” (Ps. 34:18).
“Though the LORD be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly: but the proud he knoweth afar off” (Ps. 138:6).
“He hath showed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?” (Mi. 6:8).
“For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones” (Is. 57:15).
4 (7:4–5) Seeking God—Jew—Gentile—Rejected—Prejudice: great faith seeks the power of God in Jesus Christ. The soldier was a man who sought God.
a. He was not a superficial religionist. He had heard about the God of Israel and accepted Him, rejecting the gods of Rome. This he did despite the hostility and rejection of the Jews. He was so drawn to God that he evidently was going to let nothing stop him from discovering the truth.
b. He was a man of faith (v. 9), a man who loved God. The very reason he would love the Jewish nation (a people who despised him) and build a synagogue was because of his love for God. His faith and love had to be genuine. It was most unusual for a Gentile, especially a Gentile official, to care for the Jews. Anti-Semitism was the common thing. The Jew and Gentile had no dealings with one another. (See notes—Mt. 15:26–27; Mk. 7:25; DEEPER STUDY # 1—7:27.) Note how far he went to serve God: he loved those who had formerly rejected and despised him, and he did what he could to edify and enhance the worship of God’s people by building a synagogue. His love and faith were so strong and evident that those who had despised him now felt close to him—close enough to intercede for him.
“But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him” (He. 11:6).
“They should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us” (Ac. 17:27).
“Seek the LORD, and his strength: seek his face evermore” (Ps. 105:4).
5 (7:6–8) Faith: great faith is centered in two sources. The centurion was a man of faith. The centurion illustrated perfectly what faith is (He. 11:6).
a. It is believing that “Christ is”: that He is sovereign Lord (He. 11:6). All power is subject to Him.
b. It is believing that “Christ is a rewarder of those that diligently seek Him” (He. 11:6). He will use His power in behalf of those who do seek Him.
Note that the centurion had diligently sought Jesus, believing Jesus could meet his need. Many believers diligently seek the Lord, but the centurion’s faith was so much greater than most believers. Why? Because he believed that the Word of Christ was all that was needed. Jesus did not have to be present for the need to be met. As a centurion, he had authority over men. All he had to do was issue an order and it was carried out, whether he was present or not. He was a sovereign commander. He was saying, “How much more are you, O’ Lord. But speak the word only, and my need shall be met.” What a forceful and powerful lesson on faith for all!
“And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth” (Mt. 28:18).
“Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass” (Ps. 37:5). “It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man” (Ps. 118:8).
“Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength” (Is. 26:4). “Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near” (Is. 55:6).
6 (7:9–10) Faith—Jesus Christ, Power of: great faith stirs the matchless power of Jesus Christ. The centurion was a man who stirred the great power of Jesus.
a. Jesus marveled. Only twice is Jesus said to have marveled at people: at the centurion, and at the people in Nazareth because of their unbelief (Mk. 6:6). What an impact this man made upon Jesus!
b. Jesus embraced and commended the soldier. He embraced him for his faith, not for who he was or for what he had done as a soldier. Believing, that is, true faith, is a rare thing. Not many believe; yet belief in Christ is one of the greatest qualities of human life—a quality ignored, neglected, and in some cases denied.
He commended him before others. There are times when recognition and commendation are to be given, but again, note for what. It is for spiritual graces, for spiritual strength. However, caution should always be exercised lest the temptation of pride and self-importance set in.
c. Jesus healed the servant, and His power to meet the centurion’s request proved His Messiahship—that He was truly the Son of God.
Thought 1. Jesus Christ has the power to meet our needs; however, there is one prerequisite: faith. We must believe that Jesus Christ can meet our needs.
“And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God. For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them” (Mk. 11:22–24).
“But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee” (Jn. 11:22). “Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them” (He. 7:25).