March 25

Luke 7 - Understanding Jesus' Authority

The centurion is an interesting character.  He appears as a devout, kind, humble man who has an unusual attitude towards this particular slave. Back in that day, under Roman law, a master had the right to kill his slave, and it was expected that he would do so if the slave became ill or injured to the point where he could not work. So why would this centurion even entertain the thought of wanting to have him healed?  It's also important to remember that culturally, a centurion was not only a Gentile, but a Roman soldier, which was representative of Israel's oppression. So why would he even approach Jesus?  Obviously the centurion did not think himself worthy of a personal meeting with Jesus, or he wouldn't have sent the Jewish leaders as his representatives seeking help as it was completely against Jewish custom for a Jew to even enter a Gentile's home. Perhaps Jesus recognized the incredible balance the centurion demonstrated of humility mixed with child like faith. "Two features of character blend in him which do not often meet in such graceful harmony. He won the high opinion of others and yet he held a low estimation of himself." (Spurgeon) On the one hand, the centurion didn't feel worthy enough to even have Jesus in his home, but on the other, he knew Jesus was the only one who could save his servant.  Once again, breaking cultural barriers and demonstrating it's never the wrong time to do the right thing, Jesus did not hesitate. I think what Jesus was trying to illustrate here is the breadth of His love for humanity and how precious our faith, (even just as much as a mustard seed), is to Him. The centurion fully understood that Jesus' healing power was not a magic trick. Instead he knew Jesus had true authority and could command things to be done and see them completed outside His immediate presence. The centurion understood the military chain of command. He knew how the orders of one in authority were unquestioningly obeyed and that's what he trusted in Jesus. Jesus answered the centurion's unselfish request and proved what the centurion had faith in all along, that Jesus has all authority in heaven and on earth. I pray that we have faith as solid as the centurion and we carry the message of hope in Jesus into the world today.

Randi