(go to the bottom for the text on Luke 7:1-10 in KJV and ESV)
Dear Child of the living God.
Reading through Luke 7: 1-10 the Elders of the
Jews recommended the centurion to Jesus that he was worth it for Jesus to heal
his beloved sick servant because the centurion loved their nation and had built
a synagogue for them. (Luke 7:4 & 5)
Verses 6 & 7 is a contrast in perception
between the Elders of the Jews and the Roman centurion. The centurion is saying
that he is not worthy that Jesus should come to his house and for him to go to
meet Jesus and make the healing request on behalf of his servant.
The last part of verse 7 to verse 8, the centurion
is expressing his faith in the power of Jesus to heal by simply saying a word.
Hebrews 11:1 talks of faith as the substance of things hoped for and the
evidence of things not seen. The centurion is displaying his faith in action.
He is believing that Jesus has authority to instruct a deadly disease to leave
his servant alone.
The Roman centurion is challenging you and me
regarding our faith in Jesus Christ. Do you believe that Jesus has authority to
calm down the storm in your life and to overcome the difficult situation you
are experiencing? The centurion believed that Jesus Christ had
extraordinary authority and yet he considered himself unworthy to be close to
Jesus physically although the Jews considered him worthy.
Are you worthy to receive the grace of God?
Are you worthy to be alive?
Are you worthy to have good health?
Are you worthy to be blessed in the way God has
blessed you?
Are you worthy of Jesus to come down on earth
and die for you?
I believe that Jesus healed the servant of the
centurion because of the faith of the centurion not because he was worthy of
it. Nothing we do can commend us to God as worthy people because our righteousness
is as “filthy rags” before God (Isaiah 64:6).
What commends us to God is what God Himself has
done for us in sending Jesus Christ to take our place and die for us so that we
can have eternal life and be called sons and daughters of God. While we were
still sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8).
But this salvation does not give us a guarantee
to continue sinning because Jesus told the adulterous woman to go and sin no
more. So our faith and salvation will be reflected in our good works.
Are you therefore worthy? One thing I know is
that you are special and unique to God. No one will ever take your place in God’s
heart should you decide to miss heaven.
Be blessed.
Mphatso Bello.
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LUKE 7:1-10 KING JAMES VERSION
Luke 7:1 Now
when [Jesus] had ended all His sayings in the audience of the people, He
entered into Capernaum.
Luke 7:2 And
a certain centurion's servant, who was dear unto him, was sick, and ready to
die.
Luke 7:3 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.
Luke 7:4 And
when they came to Jesus, they besought Him instantly, saying, “That he was worthy
for whom He should do this:
Luke 7:5 For
he loveth our nation, and he hath built us a synagogue.”
Luke 7:6 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:
Luke 7:7 Wherefore
neither thought I myself worthy to come unto Thee: but say in a word, and my
servant shall be healed.
Luke 7:8 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 7:9 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 7:10 And they that were sent, returning to the house,
found the servant whole that had been sick.
ENGLISH STANDARD VERSION
Luke 7:1 After
[Jesus] had finished all His sayings in the hearing of the people, He entered
Capernaum.
Luke 7:2 Now a centurion had a servant who
was sick and at the point of death, who was highly valued by him.
Luke 7:3 When the centurion heard about
Jesus, he sent to Him elders of the Jews, asking Him to come and heal his
servant.
Luke 7:4 And when they came to Jesus, they
pleaded with Him earnestly, saying, “He is worthy to have You do this for him,
Luke 7:5 for he loves our nation, and he
is the one who built us our synagogue.”
Luke 7:6 And Jesus went with them. When He was not far
from the house, the centurion sent friends, saying to Him, “Lord, do not
trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you come under my roof.
Luke 7:7 Therefore I did not presume to
come to You. But say the word, and let my servant be healed.
Luke 7:8 For I too am a man set under
authority, with soldiers under me: and I say to one, 'Go,' and he goes; and to
another, 'Come,' and he comes; and to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does
it."
Luke 7:9 When Jesus heard these things, He
marveled at him, and turning to the crowd that followed Him, said, “I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith.”
Luke
7:10 And when those who had been sent returned to
the house, they found the servant well.
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