The faith of the centurion

Luke 7:1-10

Key Verse 7:9

When Jesus heard this, he was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd following him, he said, "I tell you, I have not found such great faith even in Israel."

This passage teaches us about the work of faith, which is critical to anyone operating as a fruitful parent (mother or father), teacher, shepherd, pastor, and missionary. 

1. Think about: 1) the position of the centurion stationed in Capernaum; 2) the social status of a servant under the Rule of the Roman Empire of Jesus' day; and 3) the relationship between the two (1-2). What can we learn from the servant? From the centurion?

** The expression "valued highly" (and certainly the word "sick" or "die") indicates that he served his master dearly, for the interest of the master, even to the point of getting sick and die. It reminds us of the need for us to serve the Lord Jesus even to the point of getting sick and die, all for the sake of our Lord Jesus and his name.

In general, his example teaches us how we must overcome our slave mentality. Normally slaves operate like a vending machine. In addition, they tend to work when the eyes of his supervisor are on him, but they start goofing around as soon as they are left to themselves. But, apparently he did not do that. 

Ephesians 6:5  Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ.

Colossians 3:22  Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to win their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord.

Titus 2:9  Teach slaves to be subject to their masters in everything, to try to please them, not to talk back to them,

I Peter 2:18  Slaves, submit yourselves to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh.

** 1) The spirit of provision - providing for those who are under him with what they need (such as security, work to do, protection, etc.)

2) The spirit of appreciation - appreciating especially the value of each individual (as a human being, not just for his or her utility). 

3) The spirit of faith and love. He believed in God and men. He also loved God and men. 

2. Verse 3 includes the expression "heard of Jesus." What does this expression indicate about: 1) the Centurion's relationship with (or level of the knowledge of) Jesus; 2) the significance of people hearing "of Jesus"; and 3) the right way to help people hear "of Jesus" in our day?

** Being a gentile, he did not have a direct, personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Categorically being a Gentile he was not allowed to come close to Jesus who was a Jew. So his knowledge about Jesus was second-handed, at best.

John 4:9  The Samaritan woman said to him, "You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?" (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.)

Acts 10:28 He said to them: "You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with a Gentile or visit him. But God has shown me that I should not call any man impure or unclean.

** It is the way in which people start developing faith in the Lord. 

Romans 10:14  How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?

** Two things to consider: 1) Our preaching of Jesus (telling of Jesus so people can hear of Jesus) must be "of Jesus", for our words (in fact all the words of God in the Bible) must be organized to present Jesus as the key point; and 2) present Jesus as attractively as Jesus himself walking and acting (just as he did in the land of Israel in the day of the Centurion). 

See how many people (Christians, evangelists etc.) talk about their own ideas in their sermons, messages, or regular talks. See how we do not present Jesus as succinctly and attractively as we should. Consider all the good impression the centurion might have received through all the good works Jesus did in his area. 

3. Verses 3-5 describe some elders of the Jews praying to Jesus on behalf of the Roman centurion. In those days the wall of hostility existed between the Jews and the Gentiles. Yet, the centurion overcame the barrier. What does the Centurion's example teach us about the way to overcome all sorts of barriers that might exist (or develop) among us?

** The one word 'love' coupled with the expression "built our synagogue" indicates that true love which is the love in action (especially in giving) is the key to overcoming all the  barriers. 

6:35 But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.

6:38 Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."

4. Verse 6a reads, "So Jesus went with them." The word "So" points to the reason why Jesus started moving to the house of the centurion. What moved Jesus? What does this incident teach us about the prayer that moves the heart of the Lord?

** Jesus came to break the barrier that exists between God and men, and men and men. So when we do what Jesus came to do, what we do then moves the heart of Jesus. This means that we must remove all the barriers that exist between God and each of  us, and between ourselves and our neighbors. God is not going to answer our prayers if we hate one another or do not forgive others as God forgave each of us through His son.

5. The word "friends" in verse 6 indicates that the Centurion had "friends". Who were they? What does the word "friends" tell us about the centurion? 

** Perhaps they were (some other) "Jews" for they had access to Jesus freely. 

** He had many "friends" (in addition to some of the elders who went to fetch Jesus for him) not among his fellow Romans or soldiers, but among the people of his "enemy" nation! 

He literally practiced Jesus' command to love his enemy, not with lips but with his heart, not just in words but in action!

6. Read aloud verses 6-8. What does this passage tell us about: 1) his view of (or attitude towards) Jesus; 2) his view of  himself (before Jesus); and 3) his faith in [the word of] Jesus? What does verse 8 (especially the word "authority") indicate about the way he earned the kind of faith he had? 

** He called Jesus "Lord" whose authority is higher than the highest authority he used to know (like the authority of the Roman Emperor).

** Totally unworthy even to have Jesus under his roof. 

** The only comparable example is the faith of a man with leprosy who fell down before Jesus, asking for Jesus' mercy. His faith was absolute. 

His faith is powerful enough to make the broken relationship between the two ultimately irreconcilable (the holy God and the lowliest kind of sinner) to become good, so the two would be one. 

** One word that stands out is "discipline" (to obey authority). As a soldier he received the discipline to obey authority. He deeply understood what it takes to obey and what power (efficacy) comes out of subordinates obeying the authority above. Through his personal experience he could understand why God works so powerfully in and through Jesus, that is, through Jesus absolutely obeying the perfect word of God the Father. 

Hebrews 5:8 Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered

Read also Hebrews 12:5,7-8,11.

7. Consider what Jesus said to his followers in verse 9. Why did Jesus bother to say this to them? Is there any message(s) that we can apply to ourselves? How does verse 10 tell us about the way Jesus blessed the centurion's faith? 

** He wanted all of his followers to learn of the Centurion, especially his faith. 

** The color of the messages is warning and rebuke, for outsiders (of the church) often demonstrate as having more fear of and faith in the God whom they even do not know well, than the fear and faith those inside of the church fellowship operate with.

** It tells us of the truth that the nature of delivery (of the answer to our prayer request) is in exact reflection of the nature of the faith with which we pray to the Lord.

In Matthew 9:29 Jesus expressed this idea.

Then he touched their eyes and said, "According to your faith will it be done to you". 

The end

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