Luke 7 begins with an incredible story of healing. A Centurion requests that Jesus heal his slave. The Centurion, a Roman official and military leader, has acted with kindness toward the Jewish people; therefore, he has garnered support from the Jewish elders in his town (vv.1-6).
Jesus agrees to go to the sick slave but the Centurion sends word of his FAITH in Jesus. He simply asks Jesus to pronounce the healing. Since Jesus is a man of authority, he knows that Jesus can simply order the slave heaved without even visiting (vv.7-8). vv.9-10 note that Jesus was amazed at the man’s faith and states that it is greater than any He has seen in Israel.
NOTE: The Centurion did not set out to display AMAZING Faith…he just did. If you did a word search on the times that Jesus was amazed, you would see that it was only when people acted in such abandoned ways that they simply believed Jesus at His word. They believed in His ability without question. They trusted in Him without reservation…and He demonstrated great power in response to their faith. If you want to see Jesus move in AMAZING ways…trust Him with AMAZING faith.
In vv.11-17 we find the raising of a dead man to life. This was accomplished in response to Jesus’ perception of the grief of the widow mother (v.13). This son was likely the only means of support for his mother since she was a widow. Her life was effectively over. Yet, Jesus was compassionate toward her…and changed two lives in one act.
VV.18-23 have always struck me in a curious way. John is in prison and sends two of his disciples to ask Jesus if He is the Messiah. I have wondered…was John’s faith suspect at this point? I have questioned if the deputation was for the disciple’s benefit? I think the answer is YES. John was discouraged and was also soon to be executed. he wanted the disciples to know who Jesus was and to believe in Him based on an authority higher than his own words. So, he sent them to Jesus. Jesus did not simply say yes…but He performed many SIGNS in their midst so that the Scriptures would be fulfilled. Now the source of authentication was not Jesus’ words…or John’s words…but the Word of God.
NOTE: Perhaps, what is missing in many of our evangelistic encounters is the authority by which we proclaim Jesus. We tell people to trust in the Jesus who changes lives…yet many who claim to be His disciples live unchanged lives. Those believers who have been changed…then fail to point out the obvious lack of transformation in those who are simply…how should I say…faking it. I say, let the ministry of Jesus stand on its own. He still changes lives but we must have enough faith to believe that and we must have enough integrity to point it out when we see it…and when we don’t.
VV.29-30 are powerful. At the words of Jesus…those who acknowledged God’s justice were baptized for repentance according to the baptism of John. Those who REJECTED GOD’S PURPOSE for themselves, refused to be baptized (an acknowledgment of God’s justice.) Notice that it is God’s purpose that all people acknowledge Him as God and yield to Him in repentance. God is not willing that any would perish….( 2 Peter 3:9).
The final story in the chapter is that of the sinful woman and the exchange between Jesus and the Pharisee, Simon. Those who have realized the magnitude of their forgiveness, worship Jesus is unreserved ways. Those who feel that He had little to forgive…are more reserved in their appreciation of Him. The issue is not forgiveness…which occurs in both cases…but in our appreciation of it. How much do you APPRECIATE Jesus’ forgiveness? Can someone tell it…by looking at how you live your life?
Proverbs 29:27 is the takeaway today. “An unjust man is abominable to the righteous, and he who is upright in the way is abominable to the wicked.” (Read that about 5 times slowly. Then think about every conflict you have ever been part of or observed. Things will become quite clear. The question is…were/are you wicked…or upright in your position?)
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