Blind Faith? Perfect...
Luke 7.1-10 - Centurion's Servant Healed
As I may have mentioned, we are going through the Gospel according to Luke in our Wednesday night bible study with the young Adults. I am loving it because I haven't done much biblical studies. Last night we went through chapter 7 of Luke.
Sermon ideas pop into my head all the time these days, and last night was no different. After reading and discussing the first 10 verses of Luke, it hit me like a ton of bricks. We can learn so much from this Roman Centurion. For those who don't remember or don't want to go read it (link provided above) the story goes like this:
A Roman Centurion hears about Jesus; he knows that Jesus has been accomplishing some miraculous miracles. He has a servant who is ill, so he sends some of his Jewish friends to meet Jesus and ask Him to come and heal his servant. Jesus obliges and comes, but before He can get to the Centurion's house, He is met by some of the Centurion's servants. They have a conversation in which the servants tell Jesus that the Centurion says, 'Just say the word and my servant will be healed' (paraphrased by me). Jesus is blown away at this guys faith, and He tells the servants that this sick one has been healed. Jesus then goes on His way.
Now the obvious theme of this story is faith, which has been common throughout the first few chapters of Luke, but this faith is a bit different. With the others whom Jesus touched, or healed, they saw Him face to face. They made their requests to Him personally. The Centurion, however, did not. He never met Jesus, he had only heard about Him. His faith is so great that he tells Jesus, through his servants, that he believes that what he asks of Him will be done. Jesus, seeing his great faith, has a moment of 'What??!' This Roman has more faith in Me than My own people? Jesus' humanness is made evident in this moment. Because of this great faith, the servant is healed.
Great story, right? But there is one thing that I found fascinating about it. The Centurion and Jesus NEVER see each other. Even though Jesus came to his house, the Centurion sent servants out to talk to Him. Jesus and the Centurion never see each other face to face, although they may have been a few hundred feet or less from each other. What is amazing is the fact that Jesus, after he grants the request, goes on His way. He knows He doesn't have to meet the Centurion face to face. He knows that the faith of the man is enough.
My point is this. If this Roman Centurion, a man who could have met Jesus face to face as a person to a person, can have that much faith and still not see Jesus, how can we, living 2,000 years later, not have the same amount of faith? Jesus goes on His way, knowing the Centurion believed without seeing. Can we be like the Centurion? Can we believe yet not see? If we do, my friends, we are called, 'Blessed'.
May we be strengthened and encouraged in the reading of this story of great faith. Even though we do not see Him, we still believe.
Grace and Peace,
Joseph
As I may have mentioned, we are going through the Gospel according to Luke in our Wednesday night bible study with the young Adults. I am loving it because I haven't done much biblical studies. Last night we went through chapter 7 of Luke.
Sermon ideas pop into my head all the time these days, and last night was no different. After reading and discussing the first 10 verses of Luke, it hit me like a ton of bricks. We can learn so much from this Roman Centurion. For those who don't remember or don't want to go read it (link provided above) the story goes like this:
A Roman Centurion hears about Jesus; he knows that Jesus has been accomplishing some miraculous miracles. He has a servant who is ill, so he sends some of his Jewish friends to meet Jesus and ask Him to come and heal his servant. Jesus obliges and comes, but before He can get to the Centurion's house, He is met by some of the Centurion's servants. They have a conversation in which the servants tell Jesus that the Centurion says, 'Just say the word and my servant will be healed' (paraphrased by me). Jesus is blown away at this guys faith, and He tells the servants that this sick one has been healed. Jesus then goes on His way.
Now the obvious theme of this story is faith, which has been common throughout the first few chapters of Luke, but this faith is a bit different. With the others whom Jesus touched, or healed, they saw Him face to face. They made their requests to Him personally. The Centurion, however, did not. He never met Jesus, he had only heard about Him. His faith is so great that he tells Jesus, through his servants, that he believes that what he asks of Him will be done. Jesus, seeing his great faith, has a moment of 'What??!' This Roman has more faith in Me than My own people? Jesus' humanness is made evident in this moment. Because of this great faith, the servant is healed.
Great story, right? But there is one thing that I found fascinating about it. The Centurion and Jesus NEVER see each other. Even though Jesus came to his house, the Centurion sent servants out to talk to Him. Jesus and the Centurion never see each other face to face, although they may have been a few hundred feet or less from each other. What is amazing is the fact that Jesus, after he grants the request, goes on His way. He knows He doesn't have to meet the Centurion face to face. He knows that the faith of the man is enough.
My point is this. If this Roman Centurion, a man who could have met Jesus face to face as a person to a person, can have that much faith and still not see Jesus, how can we, living 2,000 years later, not have the same amount of faith? Jesus goes on His way, knowing the Centurion believed without seeing. Can we be like the Centurion? Can we believe yet not see? If we do, my friends, we are called, 'Blessed'.
May we be strengthened and encouraged in the reading of this story of great faith. Even though we do not see Him, we still believe.
Grace and Peace,
Joseph
posted by Joseph | 8:06 AM
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