A Centurians Faith

1 When He had completed all His discourse in the hearing of the people, He went to Capernaum. 2 And a centurion’s slave, who was highly regarded by him, was sick and about to die.

Luke 7:3–4 NASB95

3 When he heard about Jesus, he sent some Jewish elders asking Him to come and save the life of his slave. 4 When they came to Jesus, they earnestly implored Him, saying, “He is worthy for You to grant this to him;

Luke 7:5–6 NASB95

5 for he loves our nation and it was he who built us our synagogue.” 6 Now Jesus started on His way with them; and when He was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends, saying to Him, “Lord, do not trouble Yourself further, for I am not worthy for You to come under my roof;

Luke 7:7–8 NASB95

7 for this reason I did not even consider myself worthy to come to You, but just say the word, and my servant will be healed. 8 “For I also am a man placed under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to this one, ‘Go!’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come!’ and he comes, and to my slave, ‘Do this!’ and he does it.”

Luke 7:9–10 NASB95

9 Now when Jesus heard this, He marveled at him, and turned and said to the crowd that was following Him, “I say to you, not even in Israel have I found such great faith.” 10 When those who had been sent returned to the house, they found the slave in good health.

What do you notice in this passage?

What facts do you learn from (vv.1-2)?

Jesus finished His discourse (teaching) to the people

He went to Capernaum

A centurion’s slave was sick and about to die.

Who implored of Jesus, and to do what (vv.3-4)?

The Jewish elders did

Implored him to save the life of the slave (in other words heal him).

What do you learn about the centurion in (vv.5-6)?

He sent friends to tell Jesus he is not worthy to have him come under his roof. Meaning the centurion is not worthy.

What more do you learn about the centurion (vv.7-8)?

He even felt unworthy for he to go to Jesus

He had faith that with just His word that the servant would be healed.

He was a man with authority and knew that Jesus had authority too.

Why did Jesus marvel, and what did Jesus do (v.9)?

Jesus marveled at the faith of the centurion and spoke to the people of such great faith that this man has is even more than Israel had.

What did those who were sent find when they returned (v.10)?

The slave was in good health.

The Centurions request

A Roman Centurion who had a slave he highly regarded.

Jesus had return to Capernaum, his hometown (Mt4:13) after delivering the sermon on the plain (Lk6:17-49)

Without it being said you can see this is not a normal centurion. He loved Israel (v.5) was generous to the Jews (v.6); He had care and compassion for a slave (v.2)

Wait, he loved Israel? Loved the Jews? He would have been a Gentile, despised by the Jews.

Hold on, under Roman law a slave owner could kill a slave who was sick, and yet this centurion highly regarded the slave.

The centurion sent Jewish elders to Jesus when he heard Jesus was there.

Without directly saying it, what did the Centurion demonstrate by sending people to see Jesus on his behalf?

It is apparent that the Centurion did not feel worthy to go to Jesus (v.7) nor that Jesus should step under his roof (v.6)

Demonstrated faith by saying by your word he would be healed.

Enduring word commentary:

“The Jewish leaders did this for the centurion because he was a worthy man. In contrast, we can come to Jesus directly without a representative even when we are unworthy; for He justifies the ungodly (ref: Rom4:5).

Romans 4:5 NASB95

5 But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness,

The Centurions faith

The centurions sent friends to stop Jesus from coming (v.6)

The centurion explained his view of self, unworthy (v.7)

The centurion explains his faith (v.7) then illustrates authority (vv.8-9)

Jesus marveled at his faith, and used it as an illustration to the crowd following him (v.9)

The slave was found in good health when the friends returned to the house.

The Centurion had confident, bold faith

The Centurion understood the authority that Jesus had.

The Centurion had a high view of Jesus and a low view of self.

“The centurion was a remarkable man. The elders said he was worthy; he said he was not worthy. They praised him for building a house of worship; he felt unworthy that Jesus would come to his house. They said he was deserving; he felt himself undeserving. Strong faith and great humility are entirely compatible.” -Spurgeon

Jesus did not marvel much, we can see he did here, and he also did

Mark 6:6 NKJV

6 And He marveled because of their unbelief. Then He went about the villages in a circuit, teaching.

He marveled at belief and unbelief.

Jesus can take apparent hostilities of people and turn it into faith in Him.

With Jesus even an enemy can become a friend!

The Lord’s compassion

Luke 7:11–12 NASB95

11 Soon afterwards He went to a city called Nain; and His disciples were going along with Him, accompanied by a large crowd. 12 Now as He approached the gate of the city, a dead man was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow; and a sizeable crowd from the city was with her.

Luke 7:13–14 NASB95

13 When the Lord saw her, He felt compassion for her, and said to her, “Do not weep.” 14 And He came up and touched the coffin; and the bearers came to a halt. And He said, “Young man, I say to you, arise!”

Luke 7:15–16 NASB95

15 The dead man sat up and began to speak. And Jesus gave him back to his mother. 16 Fear gripped them all, and they began glorifying God, saying, “A great prophet has arisen among us!” and, “God has visited His people!”

Luke 7:17 NASB95

17 This report concerning Him went out all over Judea and in all the surrounding district.

What do you notice, what sticks out to you in this portion of scripture?

He leaves Capernaum and goes to where and with whom (v.11)?

Nain, This is a city six miles southwest of Nazareth in what is known as the Jezreel plain today.

What facts do you learn (v.12)?

At the city gate there was a funeral procession going on

Funeral of an only son of a widow mother

There was a sizeable crowd (possible many were professional mourners).

What did the Lord feel for her and tell her and do (vv.13-14)?

He felt compassion and told her not to weep.

Jesus also spoke to the dead body (young man) to arise!

What were the results of Jesus words spoken (v.14) that you see in (vv.15-16)?

the dead man sat up and spoke.

The now rejuvenated man was reunited with his mother.

Fear gripped all the people and they began to glorify God.

There was already a crowd following Jesus, now what happens (v.17)?

the report of Jesus went out all over Judea now. So not just Jerusalem, Nazareth, Capernaum, but all Judea in all the surrounding district.

Jesus had compassion

The disciples, a large crowd is following Jesus when sees the funeral procession.

Funerals are solemn, but this even more so.

It was an only child of a widowed mother

Her life was hard, but going to be harder with him gone.

Jesus spoke words of comfort to her in the midst of her tragedy.

“Luke uses the absolute form of Lord, ‘the Lord’ (kyrios), which emphasizes Jesus deity.” (Pate)

It is the Lord, that can bring relief to grief. Bring the spiritually dead to life, eternal life in Christ.

(Transition) This youngman was raised and would die again, those who are in Christ will raise not to die again, but to be transformed! Hold on, getting ahead of myself here.

Jesus raises the young man from the dead

Luke 7:14–15 NLT

14 Then he walked over to the coffin and touched it, and the bearers stopped. “Young man,” he said, “I tell you, get up.” 15 Then the dead boy sat up and began to talk! And Jesus gave him back to his mother.

Luke 7:16–17 NLT

16 Great fear swept the crowd, and they praised God, saying, “A mighty prophet has risen among us,” and “God has visited his people today.” 17 And the news about Jesus spread throughout Judea and the surrounding countryside.

Luke paints the picture here in his description that the boy alive before he was (ref: Rom4:17)

Romans 4:17 NASB95

17 (as it is written, “A father of many nations have I made you”) in the presence of Him whom he believed, even God, who gives life to the dead and calls into being that which does not exist.

You will see Jesus changing a funeral possession to something else other places in scripture too

Jarius’ daughter (Lk8:41-56)

Lazarus (Jn11:1-45)

These are not really resurrections, but resuscitations for they will die again.

We have a resurrection (spiritual); and will have a physical one one day too (1Cor15).

Funny quote to end this this morning.

“D.L. Moody was once asked to conduct a funeral service, and studied the scripture about Jesus doing one, and there were none for any He went to He broke up by raising the dead!”

(summary)

May we learn from a Centurion to have asking faith, humble faith, a great demonstrated faith that can bring others to have faith.

Know Jesus speaks into existence things as if they already are. You are alive in Christ, seated in the heavenlies now, while yet in your flesh right now.