Luke 7:1-10
"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 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," Luke 7:1-10.
Jesus Christ has finished teaching the people and now He goes back to Capernaum. Capernaum was located on the Northern shore of the Sea of Galilee which is located in the region of Galilee. This is Peter's home town (Luke 4:38-41). Jesus Christ performed a multitude of miracles in Capernaum. Turn to Matthew 11:20-24. If God doesn't do the work of salvation in someone, it doesn't matter how many miracles they see, they will not come to Christ by faith. They may boast about what they have seen, have heard, and have experienced, but their faith is not in Christ. They may be able to explain to others who Christ is and what Christ has done, but they themselves have not believed on Christ for salvation. How many people are in churches today who know about Jesus Christ, but do not know Him savingly? You know the terminology, you may even talk about what you have seen Christ do in others, but you are empty in that all you have is an intellectual knowledge of Christ. Love compels us to do things for those we love. If we love Christ our actions will prove it.
As Christ is entering Capernaum, a centurion sent elders of the Jews to beg Christ to heal his servant. A centurion is an officer in the Roman army. He is over approximately 100 men. There would be Roman garrisons all throughout the regions Rome had conquered. These garrisons would be there to help keep the peace, and to make sure taxes were properly collected. Not all Roman soldiers were actually from Rome, but they would be Gentiles nonetheless. The Jews hated anyone who were not Jewish or had not become proselytes. Any Gentile that did convert to Judaism was seen as someone on a lesser scale. This is a biblical and a historical fact. They liked you as long as you were beneficial to them. This centurion was currently beneficial for them (verse 5). In their eyes he was worthy because of what all he had done for them. In a sense they are saying he has earned this healing. They are saying Christ owes this man this healing. With this mindset, if Christ does not heal his servant, then Christ has done this man, his servant, and the town of Capernaum wrong. It is real easy for us to think that Christ owes us something because of something we have done, or not done. Christ is not in debt to anyone.
Though the elders of Capernaum came expecting, in a sense, to bribe Christ, this was not the centurian's motive. "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," Luke 7:6-7. The centurion had a biblical view of himself, and a biblical view of Jesus Christ. In spite of all the good works he had done, he saw himself as not worthy for Christ to even enter into his home. This is a work that only God can do in someone. "But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousness are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away," Isaiah 64:6. "And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith," Philippians 3:9. Also turn to Romans 3:9-31. "As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one," Romans 3:10.
The centurion had a correct understanding of himself, and a biblical view of Jesus Christ. "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," Luke 7:8. The centurion was under authority, and had authority. He did that which Rome required him to do, and he commanded those under him to do what he required of them. This centurion understood that Jesus Christ only did and said what the Father would have Christ do and say; and he also understood that Christ had authority over all manner of diseases. There was no one else the centurion could go to. There was no one else who could help. There was no hope outside of Jesus Christ. This man is trusting Christ, no matter the outcome. We see king David doing this as he was leaving Jerusalem in II Samuel 15. We see Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego doing this in Daniel 3:15-30. In II Corinthians 12:7-10 we learn that it is not always God's will to heal. God does not do us wrong when He does not answer our prayers according to our wills (Romans 8:28). Christ would not have done this man wrong by not healing his servant, but in this case it was God's will to heal this servant. I must continue to point out that this healing was not earned or deserved in any way. This was totally a working of God's grace. This centurion trusted Christ by faith, no matter the outcome. Lord, this is my petition, but Thy will be done.
In Luke 7:9, Christ turns to those who are following Him and instructs them regarding true faith. These who are following Christ still have the mindset that they deserve the blessings of God. This is a slap in their faces, but more so because this person with great faith is a Gentile. He trusted Christ by faith. When those who were sent got back, they found the servant fully healed. Can you picture the rejoicing and the worshipping of Jesus Christ? What would Christ say about our faith? Have you trusted Christ alone to save you? How sad would it be to be healed from sickness, yet still die and go to hell. "All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out," John 6:37. Please send questions and comments to richardsonbaptistchurch@gmail.com. Soli Deo Gloria.
