“When Jesus Marveled”

Wow… thank you Chosen Road for being here with us, and for leading us in such Christ honoring music.

Church, let’s give it up for them one more time, and remember, be here this evening as they lead us in worship.

This morning I’m going to be preaching from Luke 7.

I’ve found over the last year or so that I spend a lot of time reading and studying Luke’s gospel account.

Each gospel writer, inspired by the Holy Spirit of God, writes and shares about the life, ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus in unique lenses.

Matthew presents Jesus as the King

Mark presents Jesus as the Servant

Luke presents Jesus as Person

John presents Jesus as the Son of God.

These don’t contradict each other, rather they compliment the Person of Jesus Christ. They tell us the truth about the Son of God!

Let’s look here and see what the Bible says:

Luke 7:1–10 KJV 1900

Now when he had ended all his sayings in the audience of the people, he entered into Capernaum. And a certain centurion’s servant, who was dear unto him, was sick, and ready to die. And when he heard of Jesus, he sent unto him the elders of the Jews, beseeching him that he would come and heal his servant. And when they came to Jesus, they besought him instantly, saying, That he was worthy for whom he should do this: For he loveth our nation, and he hath built us a synagogue. Then Jesus went with them. And when he was now not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to him, saying unto him, Lord, trouble not thyself: for I am not worthy that thou shouldest enter under my roof: Wherefore neither thought I myself worthy to come unto thee: but say in a word, and my servant shall be healed. For I also am a man set under authority, having under me soldiers, and I say unto one, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it. When Jesus heard these things, he marvelled at him, and turned him about, and said unto the people that followed him, I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. And they that were sent, returning to the house, found the servant whole that had been sick.

Luke’s Context:

Luke was writing to a man named Theophilus. He writes this account of Jesus to prove to Theophilus who the Person of Jesus Christ was as well as the Purpose of Jesus’ Life.

Get into the mind of Theophilus as he reads this. He’s reading about Jesus Christ, the one that Luke said comes “To seek and to save that which was lost.”

As he reads, he’s learning that:

After 400 years of silence from God, God speaks and says He’s sendning His Son

Then the King was born in Bethlehem (Chapter 2).

The cousin of Jesus was preparing for Him to start His ministry (John The Baptist - chapter 3)

Jesus was baptized - more than anything, declaring to us what would happen to Him (Death, burial, and resurrection)

He was tempted by Satan

Then He began His ministry… healing the leper, paralyzed man, and preaching a strong sermon...

Then Theophilus gets to the story in chapter 7… and he reads these words:

Luke 7:9 KJV 1900

When Jesus heard these things, he marvelled at him, and turned him about, and said unto the people that followed him, I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.

“When Jesus heard these things, he marvelled at him...”

Wait… the King… the miracle working God… did I read this right? He was amazed??

We as a Church have just walked through a great Bible Conference… where we’ve heard from the Word of God.

I want to be a Christian that has mountain moving faith. I desire for us to be a church that trusts that God’s Word is not only the source of our salvation and sanctification, but also that it alone is sufficient. I desire to be a Bible believer and relies on the Word of God in my daily life.

This whole chapter focuses on faith.

And it’s amazing that this Gentile Centurion understood faith better than those who were waiting the promised Messiah.

So, what can we learn from this man that amazed Jesus with his faith?

1. The Request to Cure a Friend

verses 1-6a

Jesus just finished preaching the sermon on the mount in Luke 6.

They are coming out of a powerful message from the Word!

The Word spoke, and now the Word went to work.

Let’s not move too quickly here… They heard the greatest preacher ever preach.

Now the people in the crowd are about to watch the greatest physician heal.

Jesus goes into Capernaum and this becomes, as Matthew said, “His own city.”

He spent so much time in Capernaum..

He taught in the synagogue.

He healed.

He ministered

a) Compassionate Soldier

What do we need to know about this Roman centurion.

a Centurion was a lead soldier that was responsible for 100 soldiers.

It was normal to have servants inside wealthy homes. Most of the times, servants came as close as family members to their masters.So he loved this friend of his deeply.

As a matter of fact, look at verse 2.

Luke 7:2 KJV 1900

And a certain centurion’s servant, who was dear unto him, was sick, and ready to die.

He was dear unto him… he had a lot of worth! A lot of value, and at this point… he was about to die.

The Roman centurion saw the state of his servant… his friend… and his heart broke.

What exactly is this Roman centurion demonstrating for us to read?

Was it sympathy? - no because sympathy is about understanding and agreeing that someone feels a certain way.

Was it empathy? - no because empathy is experiencing the same feelings someone has.

the dictionary describes compassion as “Feeling sympathy for someone’s misfortunes, and having a strong desire to alleviate the pain.”

Others have said that compassion is “your pain in my heart.”

Compassion is understanding someone’s deepest need, and not settling for less than God’s will and God’s best.

D.L. Moody told the story of his conversion this way: “When I was in Boston I used to attend a Sunday school class, and one day I recollect my teacher came around behind the counter of the shop I was at work in, and put his hand upon my shoulder, and talked to me about Christ and my soul. I had not felt that I had a soul till then. I said to myself, ‘This is a very strange thing. Here is a man who never saw me till lately, and he is weeping over my sins, and I never shed a tear about them.’ But I understand it now, and know what it is to have a passion for men’s souls and weep over their sins. I don’t remember what he said, but I can still feel the power of that man’s hand on my shoulder tonight.”

The concern and tears of a godly teacher resulted in the conversion of a man who saw a million souls saved in his evangelistic campaigns.

When is the last time we’ve wept over our lost friends sin? This lost world?

If we are ever going to be the light of Jesus, we as Christians need to rise up as compassionate soldiers and break for the lost that don’t know Christ.

b) Compelling Speech

This Roman Centurion ended up sending some of the Jewish elders to talk to Jesus, and beg Him to come heal his friend.

These elders were people involved in important religious and social decisions.

These men were the representatives that came on behalf of this Roman Centurion.

Even this early on, the elders knew that Jesus could heal this servant.

The questions was not could He, it was would He.

So they pull out all the stops.

What did these Jewish elders say?

They Entreated him to come heal their friend’s servant.

He is worthy - he was deserving.

Revelation 4:11

He loves our nation

He built that synagogue that you use so much.

Jesus… wow, great sermon by the way. I know we don’t really get along too well… but we know this guy… the dude is stand up guy. If he was a baptist, we would nominate him as a deacon.

He is a centurion here in town, and listen… his servant is sick. It’s a terrible situation. Hes so sick he’s about to die. This man is dear to our friend the centurion, and we know that there is no other option. You are the only way he can be healed.

Oh… did we mention that this centurion is a great dude? He’s worthy. I know he’s a Gentile, and we don’t get along very well, but of all the Gentiles, he is worthy and deserves for you to heal his friend. He loves our nation and even built the synagogue.

They make a compelling argument. This is good stuff.

But this is dangerous.

Here’s why this is dangerous:

When we ask God to do something because of, based on, or on behalf of our own ability… we have completely misunderstood the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Expecting God to forgive because of our works is not what the gospel is about.

Begging God to save based on our worth is not the gospel.

Asking God to heal on behalf of our love is not the gospel.

Romans 1:16–17 KJV 1900

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

The truth is… i don’t deserve forgiveness. On my own, I don’t deserve grace. I don’t deserve healing. I don’t deserve eternal life in heaven.

But God… who is rich in mercy!

The gospel is that Jesus responded to those that would accuse Him - the elders.

The Gospel is that Jesus graciously healed those that would humiliate Him - the centurions.

The Gospel is that Jesus graciously became sin for those that were sin sick.

The gospel is that Jesus lovingly took our place on the cross.

The Gospel is that death could not defeat Him. The tomb could not triumph Him. The nails could not nullify Him.

The Gospel is that Jesus is alive!!!

Expecting God to forgive because of Christ’s work on the cross is what the gospel is about.

Begging God to save based on our deep need and Christ’s excellent worth is the gospel.

Asking God to heal based on Christ’s love is the gospel.

2. The Real Characteristics/Consequences of Faith || The Recipe for Christian Faith

Verses 3, 6b-8

What characteristics does this story teach us about faith in Jesus?

a) Faith Results from Hearing

Luke 7:3 KJV 1900

And when he heard of Jesus, he sent unto him the elders of the Jews, beseeching him that he would come and heal his servant.

Who told this man about Jesus?

Maybe it was after Jesus healed the demon possessed man in Luke 4:33

Maybe it was the nobleman’s son in John 4.

We aren’t sure… but what we need to remember is what Romans 10:17 says.

Romans 10:17 KJV 1900

So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

b) Faith Requires Humility

c) Faith Rests on Authority

d) Faith Relies on the Word

3. The Response of Christ to Faith