Knowing the Word in Luke 7:1-10, Jesus Heals a Centurion's Servant

Luke is the gospel writer most interested in the Gentiles, being one himself. The following story is about a Gentile centurion who became interested in Jesus. This story would have encouraged Gentile church members, who had not seen Jesus themselves, but had received the gospel through Jewish messengers. Every centurion mentioned in the New Testament is a man of character. This story shows the centurion to be humane, wealthy, and pious. He loves the people and the nation he has conquered, and he even built them a synagogue where they could worship their God. He was concerned because his servant was near death and dear to him. He sent intermediaries to Jesus thinking they would be more acceptable to Jesus than a Gentile. He knew that pious Jews would not enter the home of a Gentile. He must not have heard yet that Jesus held no biases. All that was necessary for the healing, however, was the spoken word, as God spoke in creation, not the presence of Jesus.

1 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.

Prayer: O glorious God, the whole of creation proclaims your marvelous work: increase in us a capacity to wonder and delight in it, that heaven’s praise may echo in our hearts and our lives be spent as good stewards of the earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Christopher Irvine