Getting to know Jesus #21

We have just listened to Jesus say what is important to Him to see from His followers: a humble heart that repents, a willingness to forgive, resisting our tendency to judge, and total trust in His plan and provision. In Luke 7 he shows us an example in an unexpected place:

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", says Jesus, "is what faith looks like." This powerful man knows his place; he recognizes the power and authority of God. He is willing to humbly ask for help. He believes that God is good and able to help. One of the greatest parts of this account is something I think we often miss: the messengers the centurion used - the elders of the Jews. Many of these men were among those resistant to the Gospel. They did not really believe in or trust Jesus; they just wanted a political favor to stay in the centurion's good graces, so they were willing to be the middlemen. They were able to witness firsthand the power of Jesus and the faith of this leader who probably never darkened the door of the synagogue he helped them build.  It was an "in your face" witness to them from God: "Are you going to believe in My Son, or not?"