Luke 7:1 After he had finished all his sayings in the hearing of the people, he entered Capernaum.
Jesus has just taught the crowds who were amazed at His teaching (probably under the watchful Roman eyes of their area squad of the Legion).
Jesus taught His own people with such sayings as:
- Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you.
- Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.
- The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good.
- “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you?
The multitudes followed Jesus from place to place (under watchful Roman eyes, along with ears to hear the true motives of this Jewish teacher who taught in the synagogues of the towns and on the distant hillsides) … waiting to see what their promised Messiah would do. (The Roman authorities and Jewish authorities wanted to know that as well.)
Jesus has told the crowds, “For no good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit, 44 for each tree is known by its own fruit.”
What is the fruit of Jesus’ ministry? For most of the crowds just watch. Many bear no good fruit.
Jesus returns to his new home, followed by the crowds of onlookers.
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.
This Roman soldier had a servant, possibly a captured slave from their many battles of the Roman campaign and rule of the region (perhaps even a zealous Jew). We know that the culture of the City of Rome required many slaves (25% of the population). This person (slave or servant) was valuable to the Roman Centurion (a General in charge of many men, in addition to his own servants).
Propriety and protocol require communication at the proper levels of leadership to approach a common Jew like Jesus; therefore the centurion sends another servant to communicate with the servant of a Jewish elder about dealing with this common Rabbi of the hillsides about possibly helping him in a personal matter of his gentile (Roman) household.
The Elders themselves (highly esteemed and with the authority of Jewish leadership of their fellow Jews like Jesus) come to the Rabbi Jesus and ask Him a favor. No faithful Jew would refuse such a request directly from an Elder.
4 And when they came to Jesus, they pleaded with him earnestly, saying, “He (this gentile, Roman centurion) 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.”
So the Jews then begin a short journey toward the Roman encampment nearby, but not in Capernaum.
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.
Fruit of His teaching! AND from a Roman gentile.
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.”
And Jesus had just asked on the hillsides:
“Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you?”
Beloved believer, you who this day claim Christ by calling yourself a christian; do you hear now Jesus’ teaching to faithful followers of God?
It is a further lesson for the ears of skeptical Jews and their local Elders:
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.”
And later report would come back to Capernaum from the gentile Roman camp of this miracle that did not even require the touch or near presence of Jesus:
10 And when those who had been sent returned to the house, they found the servant well.
Adoption and mercy for gentiles like most of us. Jesus IS Lord of all.
We cry out to Christ, “Lord, Lord.”
Do you have the faith of this centurion?
Is He your Lord?
