Luke 7:1-10 - The Centurion's Faith

Back to Luke for a while now to continue from where we left off.

This incident involves the healing of a centurion's servant. There are a number of features to note right at the start. First the centurion is concerned for his servant's well being. We can assume that his motives were good because the rest of the section clearly indicates that he was a good man. Then note that the centurion sent some Jewish elders to Jesus. He is showing a respect for Jesus here. Now the Romans were the occupying power and could presumably treat the Jews like dirt if they so wished, but our centurion knows that Jesus is Jewish and shows respect, knowing that Jews were discouraged from mixing with Gentiles. The Jews spoke well of the centurion and encouraged Jesus to look kindly upon him. Now it is obviously true that the gospel is about forgiveness for sinners and not one of us is worthy by our own merits. However, this does not mean that the Bible places no value on virtue. Here Luke records the fact that the Centurion was a good man, as he does with Cornelius in Acts 9. 

While Jesus was on his way the Centurion sent friends to Jesus saying that He did not need to come to the house, but just to say the word. There is an enormous gulf between people who think God should behave on their terms, and those who humble themselves before the Lord. He knows that the word is sufficient, for he too is a man under authority. This is one reason why how we act towards people and to human authority is so important, for our attitudes to men will influence our attitude to God (and vice versa). 

Jesus was amazed and commends the faith of the man. We should note that Jesus was amazed. Sometimes in emphasising the sovereignty of God we can think that things just happen automatically, almost like fate. God's sovereignty is real, but so are the decisions that we make.

And the servant was healed.