A Centurion’s Servant is Healed
February 1, 2022
Commentary
In this chapter Jesus is confronted with a dying servant (vv. 1-10), a grieving widow (vv. 11-17), a perplexed prophet (vv. 18-35) and a repentant sinner (vv. 36-50). In today’s passage we are introduced to the dying servant as Jesus demonstrates His sovereign power over death. A centurion’s servant was sick and ready to die (vv.1- 2). A centurion was a Roman soldier who was in charge of at least a hundred men. Most Roman soldiers were not known for their love, humility or faith and especially for their dealing with the Jews. Yet we cannot help but be impressed with this man’s great love for his servant and for his humble spirit as he felt unworthy to even have Jesus come to his house (vv. 3-6).
However, the characteristic that most impressed Jesus was the man’s faith (vv.7- 9). He was a Gentile whose background was pagan and as a soldier he was trained to be self-sufficient. Furthermore, we have no evidence that he had ever heard Jesus preach. If this Roman with very little spiritual instruction had this kind of faith in God’s Word, how much greater our faith ought to be (v-10).
Application
Faith that hasn’t been tested can’t be trusted. I need to be so sure of God’s grace that I can stake my life on it a thousand times.
Luke 7:1– 10 (NET)
1 After Jesus had finished teaching all this to the people, he entered Capernaum. 2 A centurion there had a slave who was highly regarded, but who was sick and at the point of death. 3 When the centurion heard about Jesus, he sent some Jewish elders to him, asking him to come and heal his slave. 4 When they came to Jesus, they urged him earnestly, “He is worthy to have you do this for him, 5 because he loves our nation, and even built our synagogue.” 6 So Jesus went with them. When he was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to say to him, “Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you come under my roof! 7 That is why I did not presume to come to you. Instead, say the word, and my servant must be healed. 8 For I too am a man set under authority, with soldiers under me. I say to this one, ‘Go!’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come!’ and he comes, and to my slave, ‘Do this!’ and he does it.” 9 When Jesus heard this, he was amazed at him. He turned and said to the crowd that followed him, “I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith!” 10 So when those who had been sent returned to the house, they found the slave well.
Illustration: Hudson Taylor Makes his first Voyage to China
In 1853, when young Hudson Taylor was making his first voyage to China, his vessel was delayed near New Guinea because the winds had stopped. A rapid current was carrying the ship toward some reefs and the situation was becoming dangerous. Even the sailors using a longboat could not row the vessel out of the current. “We have done everything that can be done,” said the captain to Taylor. But Taylor replied, “No, there is one thing we have not done yet.” There were three other believers on the ship, and Taylor suggested that each retire to his own cabin and pray for a breeze. They did, and while he was at prayer, Taylor received confidence from God that the desperately needed wind would be sent. He went up on deck and suggested to the first officer, an unbeliever, that he let down the mainsail because a breeze was on its way. The man refused, but then they saw the corner of the sail begin to stir. The breeze had come! They let down the sail and in a short time were on their way! (Wycliffe Handbook of Preaching & Preachers, W. Wiersbe, p. 240).