FAITH THAT AMAZES JESUS

Passage: Luke 7:1-10

Key verse: 7:9

NIV

The Faith of the Centurion(A)

7 When Jesus had finished saying all this(B) to the people who were listening, he entered Capernaum. 2 There a centurion’s servant, whom his master valued highly, was sick and about to die. 3 The centurion heard of Jesus and sent some elders of the Jews to him, asking him to come and heal his servant. 4 When they came to Jesus, they pleaded earnestly with him, “This man deserves to have you do this, 5 because he loves our nation and has built our synagogue.” 6 So Jesus went with them.

He was not far from the house when the centurion sent friends to say to him: “Lord, don’t trouble yourself, for I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. 7 That is why I did not even consider myself worthy to come to you. But say the word, and my servant will be healed.(C) 8 For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”

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.” 10 Then the men who had been sent returned to the house and found the servant well.

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Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

Jesus Heals a Centurion's Servant

7 After he had finished all his sayings in the hearing of the people, (A)he entered Capernaum. 2 Now a centurion had a servant[a] who was sick and at the point of death, who was highly valued by him. 3 When the centurion[b] heard about Jesus, (B)he sent to him elders of the Jews, asking him to come and heal his servant. 4 And when they came to Jesus, they pleaded with him earnestly, saying, (C)“He is worthy to have you do this for him, 5 for he loves our nation, and he is the one who built us (D)our synagogue.” 6 And Jesus went with them. When he was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends, saying to him, “Lord, (E)do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you come under my roof. 7 Therefore I did not presume to come to you. But (F)say the word, and let my servant be healed. 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.” 9 When Jesus heard these things, (G)he marveled at him, and turning to the crowd that followed him, said, “I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such (H)faith.” 10 And when those who had been sent returned to the house, they found the servant well.

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Footnotes
  1. Luke 7:2 Or bondservant; also verses 3, 8, 10
  2. Luke 7:3 Greek he
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

First, a centurion's sick servant (1-6a). In Capernaum, there was a centurion whose servant was terminally ill. A centurion was an officer in the Roman army. He was a man of authority and privilege. Warfare and power had not corrupted his conscience. This centurion highly valued his sick servant. Moreover, he loved the Jewish people and even built a synagogue for them. He sent some elders to ask Jesus to come and heal his servant. Second, 'But say the word....' (6b-10). Jesus went with the elders. But on the way, the centurion's friends came and told Jesus that his physical presence was unnecessary. The centurion recognized the authority of Jesus' word. When the centurion gave an order, his soldiers did it. The centurion believed Jesus had much greater authority. If Jesus said the word, his servant would be healed. Jesus was amazed at the centurion's great faith. Then Jesus healed the sick servant from a distance by the authority and power of his word.

Prayer: Lord, your word has authority and power over any situation. Please give me faith that amazes you.

One Word: Have great faith in Jesus' word