July 21, 2019 - âAn Amazing Faith: The Faith of the Centurionâ Luke 7:1-10
Click READ MORE to read the full sermon.
Introduction
God gives a clear portrait of a person whom he delights. This is the word of the LORD.
âThis is the one I esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at my word.â (Is. 66:2b).
These interwoven godly virtues of humility, contriteness and deep reverence to the Scriptures are invaluable spiritual gems rarely found in ancient times as in our modern generation. In the time of prophet Isaiah, he was addressing to stubborn Israel like that of Sodom and Gomorrah. He called his people to find their way home to the Lord with a humble heart, contrite spirit and reverence to the word of God. Isaiah grieved of the haughtiness, stubbornness and arrogance of his countrymen.
When heaven looks into our hearts what kind of man or woman are we in the sight of God? When Jesus walked on earth he was careful in committing himself to anyone because he knew each human heart. Such sobering thought calls us to examine ourselves. When Jesus walks through our midst who among us would he single out to be a man or woman after his own heart? Such dreadful thought compels us to define who really we are before God. And when Jesus leads us along the way are we willing to follow in his footsteps with all our hearts? Such perceptive thought brings us to a decisive crossroad to follow him or not. And should we not tremble before him because he discerns our hearts?
As Jesus walked along the coastal region of Galilee, he encountered a man of great authority yet exemplified genuine humility and deep sense of unworthiness and high regard to the word of the Lord. The man was a Roman centurion who pleaded to Jesus to heal his faithful servant on his deathbed (7:1-5) and showed great faith for his healing by taking Jesus at his word (7:6-8). Jesus marveled at his awesome faith and granted his petition (7:9-10). We have much to learn from the Roman centurion.
 A. The Pleading of the Centurion (7:1-5)
We could hardly imagine how a royal official who possessed a great authority in the government would give a special care for his servant inside his household. It was for this reason that a Roman centurion made his earnest plea to Jesus of Nazareth whom many Jews despised.
 1. Jesus at Capernaum
Jesus then was on his ministry circuit in the province of Galilee. A great crowd followed him and he taught them the kingdom of God. After he delivered his Sermon on the Mount he proceeded down to Capernaum.
âWhen Jesus had finished saying all this in the hearing of the people, he entered Capernaum.â (7:1)
Capernaum was located in the northernmost shore of the Sea of Galilee. It was the most important city in the province of Galilee. After Jesus was rejected from his hometown in Nazareth, he came to Capernaum and it became the center of his ministry in the region. Capernaum was the hometown of Simon Peter. It was along the seashore in Capernaum that Jesus called his first four apostles: Peter, Andrew, James and John.
2. The Centurion and His Servant
In the gospel narrative we are introduced to a Roman centurion and his servant who lived in Capernaum.
âThere a centurion's servant, whom his master valued highly, was sick and about to die.â (7:2)Â
In Bible times, a centurion was a military commander over 100 soldiers in the army of the ancient Rome and its empire. A Roman centurion was responsible in enforcing discipline among the soldiers. This centurion had a servant whom he valued with high regards. And his servant had a terminal illness waiting for his imminent death. In those days a servant was primarily a slave owned by his master. The close connection between the two showed the centurion as a caring master and the slave as a faithful servant. We give a serious thought on this and examine the depth and harmony of our relationships among the members inside our householdâincluding masters and servants.
 3. The Plea of the Centurion to Jesus
When the centurion heard of the presence of Jesus in Capernaum, he sent a delegation to him and made his plea on behalf of his servant.
âThe centurion heard of Jesus and sent some elders of the Jews to him, asking him to come and heal his servant. When they came to Jesus, they pleaded earnestly with him, âThis man deserves to have you do this, because he loves our nation and has built our synagogue.ââ (7:3-5)
The centurion was a man of good standing inside his home and with the Jewish community. The Jewish elders pleaded to Jesus on his behalf.
Two things can be observed of the Roman centurion. First, as a Roman centurion he did not use his power to take advantage of others but to serve those in need. He cared for his servant and he was concerned for his well being. The Scriptures tell us that God does not forget the good things we do for others especially the covenant people of God. And secondly, the Roman centurion exemplified high regards to the Jewish people. He loved Israel as a nation and built a synagogue for them in Capernaum. Let us not forget the promise of God he gave to Abraham. Anyone who blesses Israel will be blessed as well. This is a good reminder for us on how we treat our neighbors particularly the poor and how we regard Israel as the covenant people of God.
 B. The Faith of the Centurion (7:6-8)
Jesus saw the heart of the Roman centurion. And he decided to go with the Jewish elders to the house of the military officer to heal his servant. As Jesus was on his way, the centurion sent another delegation and made another plea to Jesus. On this setting Jesus esteemed the centurion.
 1. Jesus Honored the Centurionâs Petition
Luke wrote in his gospel narrative, âSo Jesus went with themâ (Lk. 7:6). Matthew recorded a parallel account: âWhen Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help. âLord,â he said, âmy servant lies at home paralyzed and in terrible suffering.â Jesus said to him, âI will go and heal himââ (Mt. 8:5-6). Based on the two gospel records, it was clear that the centurion made known his appeal to Jesus through the Jewish elders. And Jesus decided to go to the house of the centurion to heal his servant who was dying in writhing pain.
2. The Centurion Affirmed His Faith in Jesus
As Jesus was approaching the home of the centurion, he decisively sent his friends to make another pleading to Jesus.
âHe was not far from the house when the centurion sent friends to say to him: âLord, don't trouble yourself, for I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. That is why I did not even consider myself worthy to come to you. But say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, âGo,â and he goes; and that one, âCome,â and he comes. I say to my servant, âDo this,â and he does it.ââ (7:7-8)
The centurion did not change his mind to have had pleaded with Jesus to come to his home and heal his servant on deathbed for as a military officer he observed the code of honor in keeping to his own word. What compelled him to have sent his friends to forbid Jesus enter his house? The intent of the centurion revealed the core of his being. First of all, he exemplified profound humility before Jesus. The centurion had prior information about Jesus as a great Jewish Rabbi and a miraculous worker who worked great wonders. Above all, he confessed Jesus as âLordâ over his life. In his high regard to Jesus he saw his deep sense of unworthiness to appear before his presence. We may ask, âDid not the centurion ever wish to see Jesus and be the honored guest inside his home?â Of course he did, why not. Yet as Jesus was close to the centurionâs doorsteps, he internalized how great Jesus was indeed as âLordâ and saw himself as an unworthy servant. Secondly, the Roman centurion showed his solid trust in Jesus by upholding the authority and power of his word. He placed himself as a common soldier in absolute obedience to the word of his commander. On this ground he pleaded to Jesus, âJust say the word and my servant will be healedâ (Mt. 8:8b).
C. Jesus Esteemed the Centurion (7:9-10)
What was the response of Jesus our Lord to the Roman centurion? Jesus marveled at his faith. And he was a Gentile, not a Jew.
 1. Jesus Was Amazed at the Centurionâs Faith
Jesus made an astounding declaration about the centurion.
âWhen Jesus heard this, he was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd following him, he said, âI tell you, I have not found such great faith even in Israel.ââ (7:9)
The Roman centurion had a special place among the Old Testament heroes of faith as written in the eleventh chapter of the Book of Hebrews such as Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph and Moses. Indeed it is remarkable that in the New Testament the faith of the centurion who was a Gentile surpassed the faith of any righteous Hebrew during the time of our Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus declared before a great crowd, âI tell you, I have not found such great faith even in Israel.â Such revealing statement was a soothing encouragement and an open invitation to the Gentiles to anchor their solid trust in Jesus. At the same time, the declaration of Jesus in honor of the centurion was a standing rebuke for the Jews who despised him and defied his word.
Does faith really matter in the sight of God? The Book of Hebrews defined the bedrock foundation of the Judeo-Christian creed. âAnd without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek himâ (Heb. 11:6). The centurion took Jesus at his word!
2. Jesus Healed the Servant of the Centurion
Jesus Christ our Lord was moved by the Roman centurion. Luke recorded in his gospel narrative.
âThen the men who had been sent returned to the house and found the servant well.â (Lk. 7:10)Â
Matthew wrote a parallel account.
âThen Jesus said to the centurion, âGo! It will be done just as you believed it would.â And his servant was healed at that very hour.â (Mt. 8:13)
In all humility with complete trust, the centurion pleaded to Jesus through his friends, âJust say the word and my servant will be healed.â Jesus assured the centurion, âGo! It will be done just as you believed it would.â Jesus honored the centurion and granted his pleading. The servant was instantly healed at the very moment when Jesus said the word. The Roman centurion, we could imagine, was gripped with awe and filled with joy together with his servant and the entire household. For sure Jesus Christ was enthroned as the Lord inside the household of the centurion. And the good news of Jesus spread all the more among the Gentile community within the Roman Empire.
What manner of a person does God greatly honor? The word of the LORD through the prophet Isaiah stands, âThis is the one I esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at my word.â This godly portrait was true to the Roman centurion. He humbled himself before Jesus whom he called as Lord. He saw his utter unworthiness before him. In solid confidence and deep reverence, the centurion took Jesus at his word. Before God, what kind of a man or a woman are we?
Conclusion
In many instances we desperately cry out to God when crisis strikes our home. The Roman centurion did just that on behalf of his servant who suffered in agonizing pain on the point of death. The centurion humbled himself before Jesus and put his solid trust in the word of the Lord. He told Jesus, âJust say the word and my servant will be healed.â Jesus esteemed the centurion because of his great faith. And he gave him a reassuring word, âGo! It will be done just as you believed it would.â The servant was completely healed at the very moment just as Jesus had said. And the great joy of heaven rested upon the centurionâs household. This legendary encounter with Jesus defines our faith under close scrutiny.
Do we come to Jesus with undefiled humility? The centurion saw his unworthiness before Jesus. The centurion confessed, âLord, don't trouble yourself, for I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. That is why I did not even consider myself worthy to come to you.â Indeed, the Lord gives grace to the humble and esteems them with pure delight.
Do we trust Jesus and take him at his word? The centurion took the word of Jesus with a solid trust. The centurion pleaded to Jesus, âJust say the word and my servant will be healed.â Jesus honored his faith, âIt will be done just as you believed it would.â Jesus who died for us will not withhold any good thing from us if we trust him with all our heart.
Does our faith in Jesus translate into selfless service? The centurion feared in God and cared for his servant and the Jewish community. His genuine faith exemplified in humble service touched Jesus and he healed the dying servant. We embrace this legacy. A bedrock faith motivated by selfless love can move God to do great wonders in our lives.



















