2011 11-6 “AMAZING FAITH” LUKE 7:1-10

“AMAZING FAITH”
LUKE 7:1-10

I. Introduction
One of the books the Wednesday night men’s group has been working through this year is “Holiness” by J. C. Ryle. It was originally recommended to me by Darrell Bendorf, pastor of Harvard Bible Church. Darrell has been one of my spiritual mentors so I was pleased to follow his advice and delve into it. As the men who have been studying it with me know, it is a book filled with rich truths that too much of the modern church has either lost sight of, forgotten, or never knew.

John Charles Ryle, the author of “Holiness,” lived from 1816-1900. He was an Anglican, the first bishop of Liverpool, and one of the true giants of the nineteenth century church. His preaching, teaching and writing were always strong, clear, and logical. He never did what is so common today. He never began with his own ideas and then tried to find a verse or a passage to support his position. His simply preached and taught what the Bible said. “What a concept!”

The last chapter the men read in Ryle’s book was entitled “Without Christ.” In it we get a biblical description of what it is to be without Christ. Ryle points out three examples.
• First, people are without Christ when they have no head-knowledge of Him. People who have never heard of Jesus are certainly without Christ. Those who hold to the false teaching of universalism disagree, but it’s what the Bible teaches.
• Second, people are without Christ when they have no heart-faith in Him. Those who know about Jesus, but trust in someone or something else for their salvation, are also without Christ. Liberals disagree, but it’s what the Bible teaches.
• Third, people who claim to be believers, those who profess to be Christians, but lack any evidence of conversion, that is, they display no visible indication of the work of the Holy Spirit in their lives, are also without Christ. Today, many evan-gelicals disagree, but it’s what the Bible teaches.

Such is the ground on which J. C. Ryle stands. And it is solid ground. Those who have never heard of Jesus, those who have heard of him but have put their faith in themselves or in something else, and those who claim to be Christians yet live like anything but, are all without Christ. Although it is controversial Ryle’s teaching is undeniably biblical.

Well, what is it to be “with Christ,” or better, “in Christ?” It is to have faith in Him and in Him alone. It is to have hope in Him and in Him alone. Real faith and real hope are not found in what can be seen or touched. Rather, they are found in what Jeff read to open this morning’s service.
Hebrews 11:1
1 Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
Today, as we are continue our verse-by-verse study in Luke’s gospel, we come to an example of real faith in Christ. We’ll see it in the person of a Roman centurion. It is a faith that is proven by a powerful statement of belief and a visible confidence in the person of Jesus Christ. The centurion in Luke 7 not only has his hope in the right place, he has an unwavering faith there as well. It is a faith that even amazed Jesus.
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II. Review
Jesus has just preached the “Sermon on the Plain.” In it He has told the crowds that there are two kinds of people in the world. There are those who live their lives focused on eternal values and the things of heaven, and there are those who live their lives focused on temporal values and the things of this world. The former will be blessed. The latter, to use Jesus’ own words, will be cursed.

Then Jesus astonished His hearers by teaching them the difference between natural human love of the sort that is found in the world, and supernatural divine love that can only be found coming down from heaven. Finally, in the strongest terms, He denounced false teaching, those who purvey it, and those who follow after the false teachers and their lies. Matthew summarized the response of the people to Jesus’ teaching.
Matthew 7:28-29
28 The result was that when Jesus had finished these words, the multitudes were amazed at His teaching;
29 for He was teaching them as one having authority, and not as their scribes.
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III. Text
That brings us to this morning’s text. It picks up immediately after Jesus’ sermon.
*Luke 7:1-10 (Please stand with me in honor of reading God’s Word.)
1 When (Jesus) had completed all His discourse in the hearing of the people, He went to Capernaum.
2 And a certain centurion’s slave, who was highly regarded by him, was sick and about to die.
3 And when (the centurion) heard about Jesus, he sent some Jewish elders asking Him to come and save the life of his slave.
4 And when they had come to Jesus, they earnestly entreated Him, saying, “He is worthy for You to grant this to him;
5 for he loves our nation, and it was he who built us our synagogue.”
6 Now Jesus started on His way with them; and when He was already not far from the house, the centurion sent friends, saying to Him, “Lord, do not trouble Yourself further, for I am not worthy for you to come under my roof;
7 for this reason I did not even consider myself worthy to come to You, but just say the word, and my servant will be healed.
8 “For I, too, am a man under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to this one, ‘Go!’ and he goes; and to another, “Come!” and he comes; and to my slave, ‘Do this!” and he does it.”
9 Now when Jesus heard this, He marveled at him, and turned and said to the multitude that was following Him, “I say to you, not even in Israel have I found such great faith.”
10 And when those who had been sent returned to the house, they found the slave in good health.

Even though we are beginning a new chapter it is important to understand that there is a continuous flow of logic and reason here. Jesus has just concluded His sermon with a parable teaching that saving faith and eternal hope is built upon a rock, whereas a faith that is built on lies and deception is built upon sand.

What comes next is a living, breathing example of saving faith. The centurion isn’t a parable. He’s a fact. The timing of his encounter with Jesus is a perfect follow-up to the Lord’s teaching. This sequence of events has been orchestrated by God.
*Luke 7:1
1 When (Jesus) had completed all His discourse in the hearing of the people, He went to Capernaum.

Jesus’ sermon was probably preached not more than a mile or two from Capernaum, His “adopted” hometown since He had been rejected in Nazareth. Capernaum was the prin-ciple city on the north shore of the Sea of Galilee, and would have been large enough to house a contingent of soldiers. It seems that the populace had a rather exalted view of themselves and their city. We know what God says about pride. Therefore, we shouldn’t be surprised by what Jesus later said to the residents of Capernaum.
Luke 10:15
15 “And you, Capernaum, will not be exalted to heaven, will you? You will be brought down to Hades!”

It’s interesting to note that by the fifth century the city had ceased to exist. Its destruction has been so complete that its exact location is unknown today.
*Luke 7:2-3
2 And a certain centurion’s slave, who was highly regarded by him, was sick and about to die.
3 And when (the centurion) heard about Jesus, he sent some Jewish elders asking Him to come and save the life of his slave.

A centurion was a junior military officer who was in charge of about one hundred sol-diers. A full Roman legion consisted of six thousand men divided into ten cohorts of six hundred each. Each cohort was commanded by a tribune. Then each cohort was further divided into six groups of one hundred soldiers. These were commanded by centurions.
History tells us that centurions were generally men of good character and reputation. The term “officer and gentleman” comes to mind. Roman historian Polybius described cen-turions by saying they were…
“…not so much venturesome daredevils as natural leaders of a steady and sedate spirit, not so much men who will initiate attacks and open the battle as men who will hold their ground when…hard pressed and be ready to die at their posts.”

A number of centurions are mentioned in the NT. They are always spoken of with favor. At least two other centurions – both the one in charge of Jesus’ crucifixion, and Corne-lius, in the Book of Acts – put their faith in Christ.

The centurion here in Luke 7 is a wonderful example of one with a rich and abiding faith. This faith can be seen in his love for his slave, his love for the Jews and the nation of Israel, his personal humility, and his total and absolute trust in Jesus.

In v. 2 we are told about the centurion’s slave. While this slave was purchased, owned, and in total subjection to his master, he was also loved by him. In fact, in v. 7, the slave is referred to as a “pais” (pa-heese), which means “child” or “son,” indicating that he may have been very young. In any case, it is clear that the centurion loved the boy. And though we do not know the exact nature of the illness, Matthew’s gospel tells us the boy was, “…lying paralyzed at home, suffering great pain” (Matthew 8:6).

In v. 3 we see that the centurion knew about Jesus. The Lord was well-known throughout Israel at this time. Thousands were following Him wherever He went so you can be sure those in power were well aware of Jesus and His whereabouts at any given time.

It is here in v. 3 that we get a sense of the centurion’s humility. Instead of going to see Jesus himself, he asks some Jewish elders to go for him. Why? First, he was a Gentile and he may have thought this great Jewish teacher and healer wouldn’t respond positively to him. Second, he just didn’t think he was worthy to go to Jesus in person.
*Luke 7:4-5
4 And when they had come to Jesus, they earnestly entreated Him, saying, “He is worthy for You to grant this to him;
5 for he loves our nation, and it was he who built us our synagogue.”

What is your first reaction when you read v. 4? Is it, “They like this man so they will try to help him? That’s really nice of them.” But take a moment and read between the lines. This centurion, this Gentile, already knows that he isn’t worthy of receiving a blessing from Jesus. But don’t forget this. He has powerful military authority over these people, and if he chose to push it, he could demand that they obey him. He could, but he doesn’t. Instead, he humbly appeals to them for their help.

But now look at what the Jewish elders say to Jesus. They tell Him that the centurion is worthy. Do you see what’s going on here?
The centurion, the “pagan,” humbles himself. He is unworthy before God and he knows it. But the Jews, the religious people, assume a works-righteousness is in play. They tell Jesus, based on the centurion’s good works, he is worthy to have his request granted.

Look at v. 5. This Gentile centurion is, by the world’s standards, a “good man.” He loves Israel and the Jews and he has been generous to them. Centurions earned anywhere from fifty to one hundred times as much as the lowest paid soldiers. So he has, by his own hand or with his own money, or both, built the Jews a synagogue in Capernaum. And somewhere along the way he has recognized who Jesus is, and he has believed.

But the Jews go to Jesus and argue that, because of the centurion’s personal merit, he should be helped. That sounds good, doesn’t? Isn’t that just the way religious people think? “I am a good person. I do all sorts of good things, or at least, the good things I do outweigh the bad things I do. Therefore, I deserve good things from God.”

But where is personal humility before God? Where is a sense of personal unworthiness before Him? Where is the understanding that, as Isaiah said, “All of our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment…”(Isaiah 64:6)?

It’s our pride that derails us. We think we’re good enough to impress God, but we’re only fooling ourselves. Ask yourself this. What good things have you done that would so impress God that He would send His only Son to die for you?

But millions of people seem to think that their own supposed merit will be sufficient to have Jesus take them to heaven and, in the meantime, do for them whatever it is they want Him to do. By human standards this centurion is a good man. But the problem is that the religious Jews think that’s enough. The irony is that the centurion knows better.

Listen carefully please. Loving Israel and the Jews is a good thing. Helping them is a good thing. Blessing them is a good thing. How many nations, empires, and civilizations have hated them, tried to destroy them, and cursed them? How has it worked out for those nations, empires, and civilizations that have done those things? God tells us.
Genesis 12:3
3 “And I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse…”

God’s Word should be enough for us, but for any who choose to ignore it, all they need do is look at the last four thousand years of human history.

Consider some of those who hated God’s people, tried to destroy them, and cursed them. History gives us Egypt, the Philistines, the Assyrians, the Babylonians, the Persians, the Greeks, and the Romans. Then, since the time of Christ, there have been the Byzantines, the Nazis, and the Soviet Union. And don’t forget the Spanish Inquisition. They are all gone, left to rot in the garbage dump of history. God has cursed them all. Now today, we have Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran. Do you think they will fare any better?
Again, loving Israel, helping them, and blessing them is a good thing…BUT you can’t be saved by doing it. The centurion in Luke 7 knows it, even though God’s chosen people don’t seem to get it. And so the centurion humbles himself before God. He puts his faith and his hope in Jesus, not in his own person, his position, his power, or his friends. And in doing so, this Gentile, this pagan, pleases God.
Hebrews 11:6
6 And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.

So the centurion “seeks.” And it is here at this very point in Luke’s gospel that some-thing major takes place. For the first time Jesus turns away from the Jews, and toward the Gentiles. Now to be sure, our Savior will not permanently turn His back on the Jews, but He does turn away and begins to minister to Gentiles.

We need to remember that God’s plan for Jesus was always “…to the Jew first.” After all, He is the Jewish Messiah, isn’t He? So the message came first to the nation of Israel, God’s chosen people. Jesus even said so.
Matthew 15:24
24 “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”

It was Israel that was to take the gospel to the whole world. And it was the apostles, all of them Jews, who first preached the gospel and who established the church, wasn’t it? In the beginning the church was virtually all Jewish. But the problem was that most of the house of Israel refused to receive Him.
John 1:11-12a
11 He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him.
12a But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become child-ren of God…

Israel’s refusal to receive their Messiah paved the way for us to know Christ. It was their national sin of rejection that made our salvation possible.
*Romans 11:11-12
11 I say then, they did not stumble so as to fall, did they? May it never be! But by their transgression salvation has come to the Gentiles, to make them jealous.
12 Now if their transgression be riches for the world and their failure be riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their fulfillment be!

Their closing the door on Jesus literally opened it for us. And even though their hearts are presently hardened against Christ and His gospel, God has no intention of abandoning the Jews or the nation of Israel. Those who hate them and try to destroy them would be wise to remember that. Israel and the Jews will not be destroyed because Israel and the Jews cannot be destroyed. Paul explains what will happen to God’s chosen people.
*Romans 11:25-27
25 For I do not want you, brethren, to be uninformed, of this mystery, lest you be wise in your estimation, that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in;
26 and thus all Israel will be saved; just as it is written, “The Deliverer will come from Zion, He will remove ungodliness from Jacob.”
27 “And this is My covenant with them, when I take away their sins.”

The door has been open for two thousand years. Millions of Gentiles, as well as Jews, have entered in and become Christians. However, as a nation Israel remains hardened. But at the Second Coming, Jesus, the Deliverer, will reveal Himself to His people. Then they will all receive Him. He will forgive their sins just as He has forgiven yours and mine. But that hasn’t happened yet.

While Jesus was here more and more Jews turned against Him. However, that did not stop the truth from going out. And as the truth went forth, more and more Gentiles were exposed to it and believed. So we can see that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is for “…every tribe and tongue and people and nation” (Revelation 5:9). Paul says so right at the begin-ning of Romans.
*Romans 1:16
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salva-tion to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek (Gentile).

One of the earliest Gentiles who heard, and believed, and received was the centurion of Luke 7. That is why this is such a pivotal point in Luke’s gospel.
*Luke 7:6-8
6 Now Jesus started on His way with them; and when He was already not far from the house, the centurion sent friends, saying to Him, “Lord, do not trouble Yourself further, for I am not worthy for you to come under my roof;
7 for this reason I did not even consider myself worthy to come to You, but just say the word, and my servant will be healed.
8 “For I, too, am a man under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to this one, ‘Go!’ and he goes; and to another, “Come!” and he comes; and to my slave, ‘Do this!” and he does it.”

The genuineness of the centurion’s humility and conviction of his own unworthiness is seen in these three verses. Remember that his friends, the Jewish elders, say he deserves Jesus’ help because he is a “good man.” But he understands that he deserves nothing and says that Jesus shouldn’t even lower himself to enter the centurion’s house. But then he goes even further. He is so confident in the person of Christ and in His divine power that he knows Jesus doesn’t even need to be present to work the hoped for miracle. As Jesus comes near to his house the centurion sends another servant to say, “Lord, there is no need for you to come any closer. Just speak the word and the boy will be well.”
This is a beautiful picture of saving faith, amazing faith. This is the same as the faith Simon Peter displayed when he came to the realization of who Jesus was. In Luke 5:8 he fell at Jesus’ feet and said, “Depart from me for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” And in Luke 18:13 it’s the same as the faith of the tax-collector when the full weight of his own sin became obvious to him. “God, be merciful to me, the sinner!”

These are not the words of proud men relying on their religions to save them. These are the words of humble men who have come into the presence of God and know it. They have seen Him for who and what He is, and in the process, they have seen themselves for who and what they are. King David spoke of the condition of the heart of men like Simon Peter, the tax-collector, and this centurion.
Psalm 51:17b
17b …a broken and contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.

What a lesson for you and me! God saves those who know they are sinners, not those who think they aren’t. In Paul’s first letter to his young protégé Timothy he said this…
1 Timothy 1:15
15 It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all.

That is not false humility on Paul’s part designed to impress young Timothy. That is the apostle’s honest recognition of his own spiritual condition once he had seen the beauty and holiness of Jesus. Do you know who He really is? Is your heart broken and contrite before Him? Such is the recognition of the centurion’s sin. He knows who Jesus really is. And he knows Jesus doesn’t need to be present to be obeyed.

In Luke 6:8 the centurion says that when he issues orders they are carried out whether he is present or not. He just has to say the word. So he knows Jesus can do the same thing. Let me paraphrase what this man is saying to Jesus. “Just say the word, Lord. I know that the sickness will flee from my slave if You just say the word.”
*Luke 7:9-10
9 Now when Jesus heard this, He marveled at him, and turned and said to the multitude that was following Him, “I say to you, not even in Israel have I found such great faith.”
10 And when those who had been sent returned to the house, they found the slave in good health.

Does it surprise you that “…Jesus marveled…” at the centurion’s faith? The word is “thaumazō,” (thou-mad´-zo) meaning to be amazed. How can God be amazed by any-thing? There is nothing He doesn’t know. There is nothing that can surprise Him or catch Him off guard, and yet, Jesus is amazed at the faith of the centurion. Isn’t it won-derful that a simple, child-like faith in Jesus can do that for the Lord Himself? I suspect it is because it is so rare to find such faith on earth.
The NT tells us of another time when Jesus was amazed. Using the very same Greek word “thaumazō,” Mark tells us Jesus was amazed at the lack of faith among the people in His hometown of Nazareth. In fact, the NIV says exactly that.
Mark 6:6
6 And He was amazed at their lack of faith.

At this point Luke 7:10 seems almost an epilogue. “And when those who had been sent returned to the house, they found the slave in good health.”

Even if the verse wasn’t there you’d know what it says, wouldn’t you? But Matthew wants us to be sure we know that Jesus healed the boy without ever going near him or entering the centurion’s house.
*Matthew 8:13
13 And Jesus said to the centurion, “Go your way; let it be done to you as you have believed.” And the servant was healed that very hour.
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IV. Conclusion
Here’s what I want you to take with you this morning. Consider again what Jeff read to open the service.
Hebrews 11:1, 6
1 Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
6 And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.

Do what the centurion did. Humble yourself before God, recognize your own unworthi-ness to receive any good thing from Jesus. Believe that He is God in human flesh and that He came to earth to die for your sins so that you might live. Put your faith in Him and in Him alone. And then… “Go your way; let it be done to you as you have believed.”

~ Pray ~