September 18: Luke 7:1-10
Key Verse: Luke 7:9
When Jesus heard this, he was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd following him, he said, ‘I tell you, I have not found such great faith even in Israel.’
Devotion:
I love reading the words slowly through this telling of the healing of the centurion’s servant because it show the centurion had faith in what Jesus could do. The centurion had made friends with the Jews by constructing a synagogue for them and he seemed to take care of them. He called a few of the Jewish elders and asked them to go to Jesus and ask for healing of this servant whom he valued greatly.
Why didn’t he go himself? As a centurion the local people would have come to respect him and the authority he stood for. If he had approached Jesus he would have an armed escort (because that is what they did) and that could have panicked the local people; so he chose to send some Jews in his stead.
I’m sure Jesus was intrigued by what He heard and wanted to go and see this centurion himself. So He started on the walk to go and find the centurion; which I’m sure must have gathered a bit of a crowd too. The centurion’s reaction was to send others from his household to tell Jesus He did not need to come to the house but just to say the words and his servant would be healed.
Jesus’ reaction was to tell the people around Him this centurion had greater faith than anyone else He had met, throughout Israel! Why did Jesus believe these words from the people? I think because the centurion, being of great stature amongst the people, humbled himself before Jesus saying he was not worthy for Jesus to come to him...
Points to Ponder:
Do you expect Jesus to answer your prayers?
Do you humble yourself before Christ during your prayers?