Compassion (2)

Jesus’ Miraculous Power (7:1–17)

In 6:17–8:56, this passage (7:1–17) moves from Jesus’ commands (6:17–49) to his compassion. Jesus’ compassion is demonstrated by his miraculous power. Jesus’ power is amplified for all to see as he performs the long-distance healing of a centurion’s servant (7:1–10) and resurrects a dead man (7:11–17).

A Centurion’s Servant Is Healed (7:1–10)

As Jesus enters Capernaum, he meets a delegation sent from a certain centurion. The centurion has a servant who is at the point of death, and he sends men to ask Jesus to come and heal the servant. However, on the way, another servant arrives and informs Jesus that he does not need to come to the house but can heal the servant from his current location. Jesus praises the centurion’s faith, and the servant is healed.

7:1 After the Sermon on the Plain has been delivered somewhere out in the Galilean countryside, Jesus returns to Capernaum.

7:2–3 A centurion who has a servant who is sick to the point of death sends some Jewish elders to ask Jesus to heal his servant.

7:4–5 Jewish elders ask Jesus to come and indicate that though the man who has sent them is a gentile, he is godly and paid for the construction of their synagogue.

7:6–8 The centurion decides he is not worthy to meet Jesus or have him come into his house. Therefore, he requests Jesus to heal his servant from a distance, as he believes Christ has the authority to do it.

7:9 Jesus is astonished by the centurion’s faith and says that a gentile has a greater faith than any of the Jewish persons he has met.

7:10 The messengers sent to Jesus return home and discover the servant has been healed. Thus Jesus has the authority to speak a word from any location and grant healing to the one who has requested it.

A Widow’s Son Is Raised (7:11–17)

The day after healing the centurion’s servant, Jesus enters the city of Nain and encounters a funeral procession. Jesus stops the procession and resurrects the dead man to life. The greatness of the miracle draws even more attention to Jesus’ ministry.

7:11 After his time in Capernaum, Jesus goes to Nain.

7:12 As Jesus enters Nain, he meets a funeral procession for a young man.

7:13 Jesus feels compassion for the young man’s mother and comforts her. His words are an invitation to faith.

7:14 Jesus stops the bearers of the casket and commands the young man to rise.

7:15 The young man is resurrected, and Jesus presents him back to his mother. Christ has power over death as well as disease.

7:16–17 The crowd rejoices, and Jesus’ fame spreads abroad—even to Judea. The spread of reports about Jesus to Judea is not surprising, as Nain is in lower Galilee, close to Judea.

Mangum, D. (Ed.). (2020). Lexham Context Commentary: New Testament (Lk 7:1–17). Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.