Following after Jesus #50

As we have seen, Jesus was met with a lot of resistance as He went around the cities of Galilee. He ended up teaching on hillsides and from boats. He then headed back to His home base in Capernaum. Luke 7: 

After he had finished all his sayings in the hearing of the people, he entered Capernaum. 2 Now a centurion had a servant who was sick and at the point of death, who was highly valued by him. 3 When the centurion heard about Jesus, 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, “He is worthy to have you do this for him, 5 for he loves our nation, and he is the one who built us our synagogue.” 6 And Jesus went with them. When he was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends, saying to him, “Lord, 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 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, he marveled at him, and turning to the crowd that followed him, said, “I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith.” 10 And when those who had been sent returned to the house, they found the servant well.

This Roman leader had heard about Jesus. This man was honored by the Jewish leaders, who were willing to go ask Jesus on his behalf to come heal his servant.  These leaders were also willing to plead his case.  This was not normal for Jewish leaders to endorse going to the house of a Gentile. They really thought highly of this Centurion. Notice what God arranges. God wanted them to hear that this great man thought that Jesus was so much greater than Him, that Jesus was too holy to enter his home.  He is like a Gentile John the Baptist, who said he was not worthy to touch the feet of Jesus. As centurion this man had a lot of authority in that city, but by his words and actions he understood that Jesus had so much more authority. And, most of all this man believed that Jesus could and would heal his servant. This man had faith. Rarely did Jesus demonstrate surprise. But here He is pleasantly surprised by this man's faith and understanding. Finally notice how much this event was for the sake of these Jewish elders who had been sent: 10 And when those who had been sent returned to the house, they found the servant well. They became eyewitnesses of Who Jesus was and what He could do, so they could later tell Luke their story.