Such compassion on a servant was unheard of at the time of Jesus. The word dear literally means he was held in high honor or value. We get a glimpse of his character in Luke 7:2, where we read that he had a servant who was dear to him. But such was not the case with this centurion. Not only where they symbolic of Roman rule, they often abused their power and took unjust liberties. Most of them were Gentiles, though sometimes they were half-Jews – Samaritans, so the Jewish people tended to despise centurions. Centurions were Roman Army officers who generally commanded 100 soldiers. Luke 7:2 goes on to tell us that in Capernaum was a centurion. This is where Jesus spent much of His time, and performed many of his miracles. Jesus has finished the teachings in Luke 6, and he now enters Capernaum, a small fishing village near the Sea of Galilee. And a certain centurion’s servant, who was dear to him, was sick and ready to die. Now when He concluded all His sayings in the hearing of the people, He entered Capernaum. The scene is set in Luke 7:1-2 where we are introduced to a Centurion and his sick servant. The first lesson is about developing great faith. Now, in Luke 7, 8 and 9, Christ is going to teach by example what it takes to be his disciple. He has taught them with words what it means to follow Him. Luke 6 contains Christ’s discipleship manual. This passage comes right after the conclusion of Jesus’ instructions to his disciples on how to be a disciple. Luke 7:1-10 will provide some help on understanding what great faith is and how to get it. As I studied the passage, I came to a new understanding of what great faith is, how it is developed and how great faith produces great results. ![]() It comes from a shocking person, and produces some shocking truths. In Luke 7:1-10, Jesus encounters a man who had great faith. Then I came to Luke 7 in my study this week. I must not even have little faith.įurthermore, if Peter’s faith, which got him to step out of a boat into a howling storm was little faith, then what in the world does great faith look like? I don’t think I would have gotten out of that boat. ![]() Whatever kind of faith they had, I’m in the same boat. What about the other disciples still holding on to the boat for dear life? What about them? If Peter is a man of little faith, what are they? Men of no faith? They must have some faith. Peter? A man of little faith? He’s the one that got out of the boat! But as Jesus stretches out his hand to Peter, Jesus says to him, “Oh you of little faith. He cries out to Jesus, “Lord, save me!”Īnd of course, Jesus does. His logic and his faith begin to war with one another, so he begins to sink. The wind is above him, the waves are all around him. But after a few steps, Peter’s brain kicks into gear, and realizes that what he is doing is impossible. So, Peter steps out of the boat, and walks across the water to Jesus. But some of them think it is Jesus, and Peter says, “Lord, if it is you, tell me come to you on the water.” And when the disciples see him, some are afraid it is ghost. That’s a long time to be in the middle of the storm.īut when Jesus is done praying, he gets up and walks on the water to them. A careful reading of the text indicates they had been struggling with the wind and the waves for about six hours. They are struggling for their very lives. So here they are, in a small boat, on the stormy sea, alone. But now, Jesus is not with them because He stayed on the shore to pray. Earlier, in Matthew 8, a similar storm had threatened their lives, and Jesus had calmed the storm with a word. As the disciples cross the Sea of Galilee, a great storm comes up, and they fear they are going to drown. ![]() I was shocked a few weeks ago, to read in Matthew 14 Christ’s rebuke of Peter.
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