We must understand that the jewish people hated the romans as the. Returning home, the messengers find the slave healthy. The following is an excerpt from the macarthur new testament commentary on luke 7. The faith of the centurion sermon by shine thomas, luke 7. Jesus commended the centurions faith and stated that the servant was already healed. Being a moral, upstanding citizenlike the centurion will not earn you forgiveness or salvation. This is what jesus told the jews when he was amazed by the faith of the roman centurion. At the crucifixion, this centurion watched jesus dying, and so keen and accurate was his observation that he said, surely this man was the son of god. Jesus healed his servant just by saying he will be healed. The marvel is not that the centurion, in great faith, has approached jesus on behalf of his son, his serving boy. Typically there were about 60 centurions in a legion. The faith of the centurion 5 when jesus had entered capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help.
In the book of acts, we find cornelius, a devout man, the first gentile believer to be baptized by the church. This gentile soldier who made a living of war demonstrated faith that far exceeded what jesus was finding in his ministry to the jews. Did jesus and the centurion speak to each other personally. Jesus once praised a roman centurion for his faith in jesus authority. Jesus heals the centurions servant lesson 6 following jesus means having faith.
The less faith we have, the less we esteem jesus, and the more faith we have, the less we esteem ourselves. Instead of having jesus enter his house, the centurion proposed that he just say the word, and his servant would be healed. Centurions commanded a century of around 80 legionaries. The healing of the centurions servant, or the faith that. How did the centurions insights about authority impress.
But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift prescribed by moses, as a testimony to them. On one occasion when jesus entered capernaum, he was asked to heal a certain centurions servant. Jesus commends the centurion s humility and his understanding of jesus authority. Centurion soldier encounters jesus childrens lesson. The book starts with the trial and crucifixion of jesus of nazareth, as seen through the eyes of lucius, a centurion. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. Spurgeon, at the metropolitan tabernacle, newington. Hook lesson introduction tell a story about a time when you were sick. The centurion showed his great faith partly by believing that jesus could heal by a word, but chiefly in his lofty conception of jesus as compared with himself. Why was jesus so impressed with the faith of the roman centurion. The centurions wife acts of faith, book 1 oke, janette, bunn, davis t.
In the centurion soldier encounters jesus childrens lesson, children will learn that jesus words are powerful and can bring healing. Often, we hear and say that we believe in jesus christ, or that our faith in god is very firm, or that we trust god completely. He believes that all that is necessary is for gods word to be spoken for healing to occur in even the most desperate case. We should remember that this man asked nothing for himself, only for his servant, and yet he. For this reason i did not even consider myself worthy to come to you, but just say the word, and my serva. When jesus came down from the mountain after he gave the sermon on the mount, crowds of people followed him a leper came and kneeled down, bowing to him and said, lord, if youre willing, you can make me clean. The centurions faith and humility answers in genesis. Tell the children that even the strongest adults can become very weak when they get sick.
Healing the centurions servant is one of the miracles said to have been performed by jesus of. Biblical faith is a faith that is grounded in truth, and it not faith if it is not grounded in truth. This book follows the intwined lives of pilates niece and servant, leah, and a roman centurion, alban, as they become betrothed, search for answers regarding christianity. Bible point bible verse faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen. His faith is an absolute trust that there is power and authority in jesus christ, a. Jon bloom serves as author, board chair, and cofounder of desiring god. The curing of the centurion s son, through the faith of another, hints at the possibility of a similar cure for the sons of the kingdom. Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith hebrews 12. The centurion sent the elders of the jews to ask jesus to come and heal his servant, who was near death.
The story is not recounted in the gospels of either john or mark. The religious people still do not understand that it is all about grace, not works or merit. They will learn what it means to have faith in the god that is able to meet all of our needs. In the account of jesus healing the centurions servant, there appear to be differing accounts. Even though the centurion was an honorable man, he still needed to place his faith in jesus. Of course, the biggest difference between the accounts is in the fact that luke mentions that there are intermediaries between the centurion and jesus. How did the centurions insights about authority impress jesus. Impressed, jesus comments approvingly at the strong religious faith. Why was jesus so impressed with the faith of the roman.
This account of the healing seems almost a footnote. The centuries centuriae commanded by the centurion. Posted in bible studies, moments with jesus, the gospel of luke tagged asking jesus to be healed, centurion, centurion s servant, centurion s servant healed, faith, healing of jesus, humility, luke 7 commentary, luke 7. The faith of the centurion the faith of the centurion. Healing the centurion s servant is one of the miracles said to have been performed by jesus of nazareth as related in the gospels of matthew and gospel of luke both part of the christian biblical canon. In asking christ to heal his servant by his word, he shows that he trusted gods word. Because of the centurions faith, humility, and love, the jews who were acquainted with him are supportive of his efforts to plead with christ for his dying servants healing. This particular centurion had a slave, that he loved, who had fallen ill.
That faith, as defined by the great guru, is presumption. Growing closer to jesus students will n identify the confidence faith. Aware of jesus authority, the centurion has committed the wellbeing of his beloved slave into jesus hands. The centurions faith is commendable because he had received the word of god. A centurion, who is a roman officer in charge of one hundred troops, comes to jesus urgently requesting his servants healing vv. Most jews are hostile toward these foreign occupiers, but christ feels for the mans beloved servant and acquiesces to the mans request v. The centurion is a christian historical fiction novel by ken gire, taking place in jerusalem and the expanding roman empire during ad 33 ad 65. His faith is not tied to his family or a body of information he has learned as a child. The jewish nation, and all others, can learn from this outsider. In a way, having faith in god seems to be as easy as simply joining a church community and saying a few words in public. Jesus heals a centurions servant, a man who is near death. Jesus heals a centurions servant pastor mark driscoll.
The centurion s wife acts of faith, book 1 paperback january 1, 2009 by janette oke author, davis t. Skeptics allege that a contradiction exists between matthews account of. For jesus help, no other merits are required, though the centurion, his servants and the jewish eldersand maybe usexpect that to be the case. The centurion gets far more than he asks for, and this is a result of his faith, not his authority as a commanding officer in an occupation army. Jesus attests to the centurions remarkable faith and then the delegation returns to the centurions house to find the servant healed. The healing of the centurions servant, or the faith that astonished. This past week, in a scholarly part of my reading, i read a definition of faith. This lesson is intended for preschool because of its length, but can be. But jesus is surprised by the depth and quality of the centurions faith. Whether it was jesus, a prophet, or an apostle, he healing was always performed in person. The faith of the centurion 4 then jesus instructed him, see that you dont tell anyone. The centurion gives a surprising response to jesus statement that he will come to the servant in verses 89.
Some christians feel that because jesus did not rebuke the roman centurion for military service, then jesus is condoning military service. And when he was now not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to him, saying to him, lord, do not trouble yourself. A centurion is a roman soldier who commands 100 soldiers. While jesus authority to command healing is important to the story, it almost takes second place to the amazing faith of the centurion. It is the moment in marks gospel when jesus is finally acknowledged as gods son, by a gentile centurion, forming a nice inclusio with gods announcement of jesus as his son in. The centurion came to a faith that was grounded in truth. The centurion had so much faith in jesus, he didnt even need jesus to go to his house. And the centurions faith in jesus power was confirmed. When he heard that jesus was coming he sent elders of the jews to ask jesus to heal his slave.
A harmony of the four gospels, 2nd ed, baker books pub. He is author of three books, not by sight, things not seen, and dont follow your heart. This gentile recognizes jesus power and authority while others see jesus as merely a healer or rabbi. The centurions faith is apparent in his understanding of jesus godgiven.
1605 1498 434 421 261 1037 73 1298 1158 1070 1162 969 1226 659 582 902 1267 990 127 820 1202 1461 995 1204 1243 92 607 63 734 1325 512 700 1218 419 399 296 199 831 1429 225 388