The Capernaum Centurion

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Our sermon will be on Luke 7:1-10

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I want to have a work day in August. And we all want to go down to the river or lake.

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Let’s All Go Down To The River

On The Wings Of A Dove

Jesus In Disguise

The Capernaum Centurion - Introduction

The story we are talking about today involves a centurion. Centurions meant different things at different times.

But generally they were a leader of about 100 solders. It was varying amounts.

They often lead their men into battle. Many didn’t survive long.

They usually came to that rank by acts of bravery or leadership in battle.

They often carried a short staff, which showed their rank.

Their helmet was often different as well. The crest went transverse

The Capernaum Centurion

Later, after retirement, they would be placed as leaders of areas and towns.

That’s probably what we are going to be talking about in a few minutes.

Military life is difficult.

Training is difficult.

I respect those that have served.

My Dad served. He was in Vietnam when I was born.

He told me a story of basic training.

During that time, they used these padded staff like things called Pugil sticks. They stopped a few years back.

One end was red and the other black.

So they were on this thing they could fall off of and if you got knocked off, you were out.

So this drill sergeant made the claim that no one could knock him off.

My dad saw them fighting for a bit and no one could.

Dad decided on a different tactic. He grabbed ahold of the black end and swung it around like a sword.

He hit the sergeant with full force and knocked him off.

It didn’t end like he wanted … He did KP for a week. (KP stands for kitchen police)

Today we are going to be talking about a centurion that was the leader of an area that included Capernaum.

Luke 7:1–10 NKJV

1 Now when He concluded all His sayings in the hearing of the people, He entered Capernaum. 2 And a certain centurion’s servant, who was dear to him, was sick and ready to die. 3 So when he heard about Jesus, he sent elders of the Jews to Him, pleading with Him to come and heal his servant. 4 And when they came to Jesus, they begged Him earnestly, saying that the one for whom He should do this was deserving, 5 “for he loves our nation, and has built us a synagogue.” 6 Then Jesus went with them. And when He was already not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to Him, saying to Him, “Lord, do not trouble Yourself, for I am not worthy that You should enter under my roof. 7 Therefore I did not even think myself worthy to come to You. But say the word, and my servant will be healed. 8 For I also am a man placed under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” 9 When Jesus heard these things, He marveled at him, and turned around and said to the crowd that followed Him, “I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!” 10 And those who were sent, returning to the house, found the servant well who had been sick.

There was something different about this man.

He loved the people there and he was well respected. He even built a synagogue for them.

I think it still survives.

That’s pretty cool huh?

He Heard About Jesus

Synagogues were probably put in place after the Jews were disbursed.

The biggest thing is that he heard about Jesus.

Jesus made a big impact on the area, especially Capernaum.

It became his new home. It’s located on the north end of the sea of Galilee.

Peter and Andrew were from there.

It’s probably where Jesus raised Jairus’ daughter from the dead.

Because of all of this, this Centurion heard about Jesus.

And ...

He Believed What He Heard

I think this man heard about God from the local Jews.

Why else would he have built the synagogue?

He also understood their traditions.

As Jesus was headed to his house, He is stopped by the centurion’s friends.

He said that he was not worthy of Jesus to come to his house.

According to their traditions, a Jew was not allowed to go to the house of a gentile.

Then he says something marvelous.

He says that he is a man of authority. He recognized the authority that Jesus had.

Jesus didn’t have to touch the servant.

He just had to say the word, and Jesus did.

Then …

Jesus Boasts about Him

Jesus says “I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!”

In

Matthew 8:10–12 NKJV

10 When Jesus heard it, He marveled, and said to those who followed, “Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel! 11 And I say to you that many will come from east and west, and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. 12 But the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

Jesus Boasts about Him

It says in both accounts that Jesus marveled at him.

Even though Jesus is and was God, he was somehow veiled to his Godhood.

He had true human emotions and here we see it played out.

In the Matthew account, we see something that needs to be said. The gospel came to non-Jews.

We don’t become Christians because we were born into a Christian family.

The Jews are the first family of God. But we can join that family

Galatians 4:5 NKJV

5 to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.

Jesus Boasts about Him

This man understood the power of God.

None of the others did.

What does this mean for us?

There are several things we can learn from this passage.

Salvation is available to all We can all be saved no matter where we come from No matter what we have done in the past No matter what profession

There is nothing wrong with being a soldier in the eyes of God A long time ago I was leading a Bible study We were talking about the 10 commandments “Thou shalt not kill” It actually doesn’t say “kill” it’s “murder” There are 2 different Hebrew words for kill and murder Does Jesus say anything about this man being a soldier? No Here’s a hypothetical question: If someone came through this door … ? Do you know what John the Baptist told soldiers when he was asked “What shall we do?”

Luke 3:14 NKJV

14 Likewise the soldiers asked him, saying, “And what shall we do?” So he said to them, “Do not intimidate anyone or accuse falsely, and be content with your wages.”

And the last thing:

3. Your sins are forgiven

I want to ask you a question, when did Jesus die for your sins?

It was 2000 years ago.

At that time, did he die for all your sins, or just the ones you made when you got saved.

Does he have to die for every sin you make after?

If anyone here needs forgiveness, it’s me. I need God’s grace.

The bottom line is this:

It doesn’t matter where you came from or what you have done, Jesus died for you and if you ask, you will be forgiven.

What say you?

Have you believed?

Have you received?

Are you redeemed?