Chapter 7
Love in
Action (1) - The centurion and his slave.
Luke 7:1-10.
In the
previous section of his Gospel, Luke shows Jesus establishing the New Israel
and implementing the New Law. Having spent some time explaining the theory
behind the new law, he now sets about putting love into action. In this lesson
we see Jesus revealing aspects of what the law of love is all about. To
understand the law of love in its entirety, one needs to examine the whole life
and ministry of Jesus, eventually reaching the climax in the passion of the
cross.
In this
first example we meet a remarkable man of faith. The centurion was a Gentile
army captain who was more than likely in command of Jews who had been recruited
into the military forces. Galilee was not yet ruled directly by Rome, but was
still under the Jewish King, Herod Antipas. Rome allowed him to rule and would
probably have assisted him with infrastructure, including military officers (Morris
p. 136). The troops would have served as a police force to maintain law and
order in the region as well as to ensure that people paid their taxes.
Capernaum was a border town and so the soldiers would have served as customs
officials (Ellis p. 117).
A centurion
was an important man who held a position of great status in the community. Even
though the Jewish people and leaders had little or no time for Romans in
general and Roman soldiers in particular, it is interesting to note how
differently the Jewish people felt about this particular Roman officer. And the
reason was simply because - as Wiersbe (pp. 74-75) puts it:
This centurion was not a Stoic who insulated
himself from the pain of others. He had a heart of concern, even for the lowly
servant boy who was dying from a paralysing disease.
In the
centurion we see therefore the most unlikely character, chosen by our Lord to
reveal one of the greatest miracles even performed by Jesus. Ryle (p. 200) writes:
... without even seeing the sufferer, without
touch of hand or look of eye, out Lord restores health to a dying man by a
single word ... We read of no prophet or apostle, who wrought miracles in this
manner. We see here the finger of God.
This passage
is loaded with wonderful truths.
Firstly, it is important to note that we
are reminded, once again, that no people, irrespective of who they are or what
they have done, are ever excluded from God's love. There can never be any
person or group of people who ever feel that they are unworthy of our Lord's
love - because in fact, all people are unworthy. It is not who we are or what
we have done that makes God's grace and love available to us - it is who Jesus
is and what Jesus has done that we can come to Him. So often people make the
mistake of thinking that a person will be saved because of what they have done.
In this passage, the Jewish leaders suggested that Jesus should help the
Centurion because - as verses 4 and 5 put it:
"He is worthy of having you do this for
him, for he loves our people, and it is he who built our synagogue for
us."
No person
can earn God's favour; no person can deserve God's love or blessing. Christians
are not people who are better than others. The Christian attitude is that of
the Centurion who in verse 6 says:
"Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am
not worthy ..."
We receive
God's love freely, never because we deserve it - but only because God loves us
and blesses us even though we do not deserve it.
Christians
love others, do good deeds and are prepared to sacrifice everything for the
sake of others - but note - not so that they can earn God's love and salvation,
but rather because they have been given God's love and salvation as free and
unconditional gifts. We come to our Lord with our prayers for ourselves and
others, not because we deserve to come to God in this way, but because God
loves us in Jesus Christ and enables us to come to Him by faith in the power of
the Holy Spirit - even though we do not deserve it. The centurion was blessed
therefore, not because of who is was or what he did, but because as Jesus says
in verse 9:
"In all of Israel I've never found
anyone with this much faith!" (CEV)
Faith is the
key - and faith is a gift offered to all people who are willing to accept it.
Paul explains in Ephesians 2:8-9:
You were saved by faith in God, who treats us
much better than we deserve. This is God's gift to you and not anything you
have done on your own. It isn't something you have earned, so there is nothing
you can brag about (CEV).
Secondly, people of faith become
completely different. They no longer behave towards others as they are expected
to by society. When people receive undeserved kindness, they respond by being
kind to others. Why? Because, when God enters the life of a person, they
change. The Centurion had opened himself up to God and the result - he was a
changed person. We see this in the way that he had supported the Jewish people
in their faith. Miller (p. 84) suggests that
He was probably a "God-fearer," who
had been attracted to Judaism by its monotheism and high ethical teaching, and
who even worshipped at the synagogue, but had not been circumcised as a
proselyte ... It had been through the Jews that the centurion heard of Jesus
and his work.
Having come
to faith in Jesus the centurion felt compassion towards others, especially
those in need. The centurion requested a miracle, not for himself, nor even a
member of his family, but for a slave. Barclay (p. 84) suggests that 'He had a
completely unusual attitude to his slave'. He had every right to do whatever he
pleased with his slave, because as we know, slaves had absolutely no rights at
all. Roman law described a slave as a 'living tool'. A master could even kill
his slaves if he so wished. But when Christ enters a person’s life, they treat
all people, irrespective of their political, social, racial, economic standing
or position in society, as very special. We should learn an important lesson
from the centurion's example. We should show kindness to everyone that we have
anything to do with.
Thirdly, we see the importance of
humility in the life of a believer. The centurion realised that he was not
worthy of having the Lord come to his house. Humility is one of the most
powerful indications of the presence of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in
our lives. Humility is not a natural gift in people because we are all born
proud. Jesus frequently had to point out the need for Godly humility, perhaps
best summed up in Luke 18:14 (CEV) where Jesus says: 'If you put yourself
before others, you will be put down. But if you humble yourself, you will be
honoured'. Christ revealed this virtue in his own life. In Matthew 11:29 (CEV)
Jesus says: '... learn from me. I am gentle and humble and you will find rest'.
Paul explains: 'Jesus 'humbled himself and became obedient to death - even
death upon a cross'.
Lastly, we see one of the most perfect
examples of Christian faith in action. Listen to the centurion's words:
But only speak the word, and let my servant
be healed.
The
centurion knew that Jesus could heal - this was not doubted for a minute. He
also knew that if Jesus were just to say the word, then it would happen. He
believed that Jesus had the authority necessary to do anything. As a military
person, he knew that a command would be obeyed! He did not see the need for any
miraculous sign - he simply believed and trusted in Jesus. How many of us pray,
confident that Jesus can heal, save, do whatever we request of him? Are our
prayers not more often merely hoping for the best but not really expecting
anything. There is so much evidence today of the power of Jesus - in fact much
more evidence than was available to people in Jesus' day - and yet so many people
still do not believe!
But notice
that his faith led to action - he did something. Realising that he was
unworthy, he sought the aid of others. The result he received, great blessing.
Faith needs action. We too can follow the example of the centurion by asking
others to pray for us. And when we also believe and trust, our Lord will bless
us. Wiersbe (p. 76) writes:
If this Roman, with very little spiritual
instruction, had that kind of faith in God's Word, how much greater our faith ought to be! We have an entire
Bible to read and study, as well as nearly 2 000 years of church history
to encourage us ... Our prayer ought to be, "Lord, increase our
faith!"
Our Lord has
therefore reminded us again today of the wonderful truth that all people are
special and that no person who comes to Jesus in faith will ever be turned
away. But we need to come to him in faith and in all humility. We need to be
ready do something in response to our faith - be it asking others to pray for
us, go to the doctor - whatever we come to realise we need to do. But we are
assured once more, that God loves us and welcomes all who come to him. Miller (p.
84) concludes:
It is significant that the first incident
that Luke records after the forming of the New Israel and the setting forth of
its law, presents a gentile manifesting the sort of faith which makes one a
member of it.
Have we come
humbly to Jesus and accepted Him and His Word into our lives by faith? Are we
citizens of the New Israel, the Kingdom of God? Is this evident by the way we
treat others? Do we follow the teachings of Christ and the New Law, or do we
follow our own ways and only come to Christ when it suits us or when we want
something for ourselves? Are we people of faith, always asking that the Lord
increase our faith?