Seek and Save IV
The Centurion and His Servant
Luke 7:2ff
Luke tells us in Chapter Seven: Luke 7:1 Now when He [Jesus] concluded all
His sayings in the hearing of the people, He entered Capernaum.
Jesus is back to work among the multitudes. In the midst of his ministry,
we have one man come to him to ask a special favor. All of a sudden, the focus goes from the
disciples to the multitudes, then back to this one man--a Centurion with a
servant in need.
The text we will read and examine is Luke 7:2-10 with additional
information brought in as needed from Matthew 8:5-13.
The Centurion and His Servant
1. The Setting
Luke 7:2 And a certain centurion’s servant, who was dear to [the
Centurion], was sick and ready to die.
2. The Sending
Luke 7:3 So when he [The Centurion] heard about Jesus, he sent elders of
the Jews to Him, pleading with Him to come and heal his servant.
3. The Request Delivered
4 And when they came to Jesus, they begged Him earnestly, saying that the
one for whom He should do this was deserving,
4. The Reason for their Involvement
5 “for he loves our nation, and has
built us a synagogue.”
5. The Response of Jesus
6 Then Jesus went with them.
6. The Response of the Centurion
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. The Character of the Man
7 “Therefore I did not even think
myself worthy to come to You. But say the word, and my servant will be healed.
8. The Centurion’s Confession and Faith
Luke 7:8 “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. The Marvel of the Lord
Luke 7:9 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. The State of the Servant
Luke 7:10 And those who were sent, returning to the house, found the
servant well who had been sick.
Let’s look at the text with a bit more detail to see some important truths
and principles we need to make our own.
1. The Setting
Luke 7:2 And a certain centurion’s servant, who was dear to [the
Centurion], was sick and ready to die.
A Centurion was a Roman a Roman officer in command of about one hundred men
(Mark 15:39, 44, 45). Cornelius, the first Gentile convert, was a centurion
(Acts 10:1, 22). Many centurions are mentioned in the Gospels and Acts. They
were men of great stature and respect. They were not just ordinary soldiers,
they were given command of important areas or missions. A centurion watched the crucifixion of our
Lord after all the agitation that took place that week. (Matt. 27:54; Luke
23:47), and when he saw the wonders attending it, exclaimed, “Truly this man
was the Son of God.” “The centurions mentioned in the New Testament are admired
for their actions and character. They are spoken of in terms of praise. It is
interesting to compare this with the writings of a Polybius (vi. 24), who tells
us that the centurions were chosen by merit, and so were men remarkable not so
much for their daring courage as for their deliberation, constancy, and
strength of mind.” They were leaders among men.
This particular unnamed Centurion had a personal servant, not one of his
100 or so men, but a personal servant, perhaps a household slave. This servant
must have served his master well, because the servant was dear unto the
Centurion. That is the Centurion loved
the servant and had compassion for him.
The Centurion was going to seek something from Jesus not because he
might loose his servant, but because it was what this dear servant needed.
The servant is said to have been sick and ready to die. Matthew adds, some insight into the plight of
this beloved servant. He adds, the servant was....paralyzed, dreadfully
tormented.” He was unable to move, in utter pain and agony. The love of the Centurion for his servant
prompted him into action.
2. The Sending
Luke 7:3 So when he [The Centurion] heard about Jesus, he sent elders of
the Jews to Him, pleading with Him to come and heal his servant.
We will see later why the Centurion did not go himself. It was not because he thought it beneath him
to go. He sent some of the elders of the
Jews, probably from his town and the local synagogue to go to Jesus, earnest
praying to him to come heal the beloved servant. Look at the word used to describe them when
they delivered the request.....
3. The Request Delivered
4 And when they came to Jesus, they begged Him earnestly,
The request had two parts: the first, they begged him earnestly. With great feeling and emotion they asked the
Lord Jesus to take action. They didn’t
just ask, they continued to entreat him for one thing with one mind. They
begged him earnestly.
ILL> Have you ever encountered an overly aggressive panhandler? Perhaps
in an airport or in a parking lot. Have
you ever had a telemarketer who wan’t going to take NO as an answer. Did you
know it is often the official policy for a telemarketer to ask until he or she
is denied three times? Have you ever earnestly begged your parents for
something? This is what the elders of
the Jews did for the Centurion in Jesus presence. And, this is what they said.....
“saying that the one for whom He should do this was deserving,”
The elders of a Jewish town or synagogue are begging before the one who has
claimed to be the Messiah with power to forgive sin and heal. They are begging
on behalf of another. A Roman, non-Jewish army officer, about whom they say,
that he is deserving. The individual
must have been an extraordinary man to receive such high praise from this
unlikely source. They continue to give.....
4. The Reason for their Involvement
5 “for he loves our nation, and has
built us a synagogue.”
They profess before the Lord Jesus that this Centurion, this non-Jew, a
Roman, with a need they are making their own, is a man who loves actively the
nation of Israel and, that he has built them a synagogue—a place to worship and
a place to gather.
The Centurion was not just an officer of an occupying army. He came to love the ethnai, the nation of
people known as Israel. One of the ways he
demonstrated this love for them was that he built them a synagogue.
We do not know if he used his 100 soldiers to build it, we do not know if
the materials costs came out of his own pocket or if the supplies came from
some ruins in the area. But, we know
that the Jews credited him with having built them a synagogue, motivated by his
love of Israel. Although he was an
officer in the occupying army, there was great affection from the Centurion
towards Israel and by the presence of the elders in front of Jesus, the feeling
was mutual.
Hearing, and knowing what this was all about, we have the simple
explanation of .....
5. The Response of Jesus
6 Then Jesus went with them.
Jesus
sought out the servant in order to make him complete.
The elders came because of the need of a beloved friend.
They begged or prayed earnestly before him.
He was touched by the need and sought to go to answer their prayer. Jesus is a man of compassion, touched by the
infirmities of this life. He is also a
man of action who does what is good.
As Jesus was going with the elders, we find
6. The Response of the Centurion
He sent others out to meet Jesus with a message. The text says,
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.
This is why the Centurion did not go himself. It was that he thought too lowly of himself
as a Roman Centurion, an officer, a leader of men, compared to the person of
the Lord Jesus Christ. He thought so
highly of the Lord Jesus Christ. He knew
and understood something of the character of this one who could grant what he
sought, the restoration of his beloved servant.
How did the Centurion know about Jesus? Reports must have come back to
him. Jesus may have gone to the synagogue he built, or he may have heard and
experienced Jesus’ ministry on his own.
The Centurion loved his servant, he loved Israel, the Centurion was beloved
by the elders and people. It is often
the most loving, who are the most loved. It is a biblical principle.
The man does not want to put Jesus out, he doesn’t want to impose on Jesus,
just as Jesus is about to get to his house, he professes himself unworthy. What unusual character. Most people I know would seize upon this
moment in order to get what they wanted. Here in humility, the Centurion
professes his unworthiness in the presence of the worthy one what Character has
been formed in this man of position. What grace and presence of mind to know
his rightful place in the divine scheme of things. He did not assert his right to have things as
he wants them to be, he knows he is unworthy in the presence of Jesus. We can learn a few important things from this
humble Centurion. He continues.....
7. The Character of the Man
7 “Therefore I did not even think
myself worthy to come to You. But say the word, and my servant will be healed.
He send the message through elders and then his friends about himself. He professes that he is unworthy to come to
the Lord, Jesus. But his faith is Jesus is such that he knows Jesus only has to
speak a word and the servant will be made well.
He has confidence that Jesus can do his works from anywhere he so
desires. He is a man if great confidence
in the Lord Jesus Christ. The Message
said, Just say the WORD and it will be done. THE CENTURION CONTINUES:
8. The Centurion’s Confession and Faith
Luke 7:8 “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.”
As an officer in the Roman Legion the Centurion knows what it is like to be
under authority. His superiors speak and
he must act. He speaks and his soldiers must
do what he commands. He knows what it is
to be a man of authority and a man under authority. Interestingly, the
Centurion knows this to be the same with Jesus. He knows that Jesus has the
authority to bind and command men to act.
But, not just men, all things in the created realm including paralysis
and torment. One word and the affliction
(personified) will obey his authority and be gone forever, Jesus, just say the
word. Look at the response of the Lord Jesus Christ. Instead of the people marveling at him, he
marvels at the Centurion. Look at .....
9. The Marvel of the Lord
Luke 7:9 When Jesus heard these things, He marveled at him,
Humanly speaking, Jesus was amazed at what he heard and experienced in this
part of Capernaum on that undated day, with an unnamed Centurion. Jesus Marveled at him.
Is your faith ever so great that the Lord Jesus would marvel at it?
The narrative continues....
…and [Jesus] turned around and said to the crowd that followed Him,
Jesus looks away from the messengers and the home of the Centurion, in
order to make a point to the crowd, the multitudes from the Sermon on the Mount
who were still following him wherever he went.
And looking at them, Jesus said,
“I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!”
What is significant here is three things: the Centurion possesses saving
faith, the quantity or quality of faith mentioned and the lack of finding what
one would expect where it should be expected.
Jesus makes a direct statement to the Jewish multitude. I have not found this much faith before, not
even in Israel. The word for great is
the word that means pertaining to a quantity considerably beyond normal expectations.
The Roman Centurion humbly exceeded the expectations of the Lord Jesus Christ
as regards faith. The faith of one
ordinarily despised, but in this place loved by the people is an example to
Israel. Jesus had not found this great a faith before. He was marveling at the man. And, using him
as an object lessons to the multitude.
The last statement is perhaps the most telling--not even is Israel. The one
place we would expect to find faith, after all, is in those who were in the
nation to whom the messiah was first sent--to Israel. To those who would reject
the one given to reconcile men to God (John 1:10-12). The greatest manifestation of Faith, up to
that time, was to be found in a Roman Officer of the occupying forces, yet a
man who loved the nation Israel.
Matthew has some commentary at this point that gives us further
instruction. Matt. 8:11 “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 is telling those who are following him that there will be others who
will come to be in heaven with the patriarchs of faith from the West and the
East, men like this Centurion, non-Jews, who will sit down and enjoy the
benefits of the kingdom. But, there will
be some who view themselves as being a part of that kingdom, who much to their
surprise and dismay, will be cast into utter darkness, the Abyss. Jesus adds that there will certainly be
weeping, great mournful wailing and the gnashing of teeth, once this is
realized.
It is not enough to be Abraham’s descendants through natural descent, faith
is required--to rightly follow the Lord Jesus Christ, and to found in the
Kingdom of Heaven.
An important whole point of this narrative is to not judge by outward
appearances. For, God may grant faith to the ones we don't suspect. Instead of showering it upon the Jews who
followed the Lord Jesus, it was upon this humble Centurion who sent others to
do his bidding in his own unworthiness.
Don't think you have any special standing with God because you are a part
of this congregation. Standing with God comes through faith. It is a living, active way of life as we look
to him to do for us and in us and through us what we need the most. And, we
look to him to sustain us and subdue us in all of our mind, heart, will and
strength. We look to him to transform us
by his grace, knowing we are unworthy to even approach him on our own. We are nothing without the Lord Jesus
Christ. It is his work alone that makes
us to be any different than those around us.
May he be praised for giving to men and women, sons and daughters of
undeserving pagans, what they don't rightly deserve.
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ is manifest in ......
10. The State of the Servant
Luke 7:10 And those who were sent, returning to the house, found the
servant well who had been sick.
Matt. 8:13 Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go your way; and as you have believed, so
let it be done for you.” And his servant was healed that same hour.
The Centurion was right. He had eyes
of faith, a right understanding of the Lord Jesus, a proper place in God’s way
of doing things, humility to know where he belonged in God’s economy and no
boasting in and of himself. He had many friends to do his bidding, he loved and
was loved by an entire nation, yet, more importantly, he had the love and
commendation of God upon his life of faith.
There are four important observations and applications that need to be
made:
1. When we seek good things from
God, we need not have him physically present in appearance, nor do we have to
be the one praying. He hears the prayers
of others on our behalf and acts accordingly.
It is therefore a good thing to pray for others. To bring the legitimate concerns of others
before God in faith, in believing prayer.
God will act in harmony with his will.
He will use the prayers of others as a means to accomplish his eternal
will. Let others know how they should pray for you and pray for others according
to their needs.
2. Jesus honors those who respect authority. We live in an age steeped in American
democratic ideals. But, in fact, not all
men are on the same plain. Men should
know where they fit into the hierarchies of life and live as unto God’s glory
in them. This is how it is meant to be
in the family, in the government, in the workplace, and in the Churches. God
honors those who respect authority. To
respect authority, we need to assert ourselves less and submit to God’s hand of
providence and those he places over us.
It is not the place for a child to direct the home, a wage-earner to
direct the company, an office clerk to make governmental decisions, nor is it
right to take to oneself, Christ’s authority in his Churches. It is not right
for the pot to tell the potter how to shape him. It is the potter’s
prerogative. All of life is lived under authority. Jesus commends that
perspective.
3. True faith in God begets a love for others: neighbors, friends and
nations. The Centurion built a synagogue
for the Jews simply because he loved them.
He gave of his own substance for the good of others, not to get their
favor, but because he loved them. Oh,
the effect we might have on our neighbors, friends, families and the world, if
we loved them in faith from the heart.
We would seek what is best for them.
4. A man who is pure in heart is a
man of action. The Centurion was a
humble man. He gave deference to the
Lord Jesus Christ. A Soldier who would
have been called into the presence of many kings and governors did not see
himself worthy to approach unto the Lord Jesus.
It was his love for his servant that compelled him into action. He sought the Lord’s help for others. Such a pure heart is found because of a work
of grace alone.
5. What would be said of your faith to
the people who observe you. Would you be an example of profound faith? This
GOYIM was the example to all of Israel.
Jesus had not found faith like this in all of Israel. That includes the dear disciples he had called
and is now instructing. God’s grace is
sometimes found among those we would not expect to have an interest in
him. And, by virtue of grace, they put
others to shame. Love for God and our
neighbors needs to be without manipulation of them for our own purposes. It should be out of a love for God and those
he calls us to live among. This man of
the world’s system was given faith to be an example to all of Israel. What they
had not yet grasped was this: Jesus loved them even more than this man. It was Jesus
who enabled this Centurion to love God’s ancient people. When he heard of the Lord Jesus, he knew who
he was and what he had the power to do.
He was a man of faith, love, respect and honor.
6. We stand in need of that same grace from the Lord Jesus Christ. We need him to transform us from selfish
beings looking out for number One to be men and women of humility kindness and
grace dispensed to others because we love and serve the true and living God. We love him including our obedience to him,
because he has first loved us.
AMEN!
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