November 1, 2021
Please use the comment section on this page to share insights from today’s reading OR your own personal Bible reading.
Reading along with us in Luke? Here’s today’s reading:
Luke 7 (NIV)
The Faith of the Centurion
1 When Jesus had finished saying all this to the people who were listening, he entered Capernaum. 2 There a centurion’s servant, whom his master valued highly, was sick and about to die. 3 The centurion heard of Jesus and sent some elders of the Jews to him, asking him to come and heal his servant. 4 When they came to Jesus, they pleaded earnestly with him, “This man deserves to have you do this, 5 because he loves our nation and has built our synagogue.”...........Continue Reading
The importance of faith is so clear in this chapter from the centurion realizing His earthly position paled in comparison to Jesus to the woman would cleaned Jesus’ feet with her tears and her hair giving all she had left to him.
We must come to the cross repentant and humbly receive the gift of His sacrifice that we do not deserve and yet He provides….He asks us to simply believe and receive that forgiveness!
To what, then, can I compare the people of this generation? What are they like? They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling out to each other:
“‘We played the pipe for you,
and you did not dance;
we sang a dirge,
and you did not cry.’
For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon.’ The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’But wisdom is proved right by all her children.
The examples of faith shown in this chapter are inspiring. The centurion knows he does not deserve to have Jesus under his roof just like the “sinful woman” knows her sinful condition yet Jesus does a miracle for each.
Verse 23: “Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.”
The centurion. Asked the Jewish elders to intercede for him in contacting Jesus. Seems odd. But who else to go to. Surprised they even considered it from a gentile Roman soldier. But what faith by just hearing of healings Jesus had done. He certainly knew nothing of a messiah that was to come. The woman who lost her son. Great compassion Jesus has for her as her only support financially. And otherwise had died. Jesus still cares about our situations and all’s we have to do is ask for help. Never would think John would ask that question. Are you the messiah. The one who was clearing a path for Jesus. Guess it’s ok if we doubt or question. Jesus certainly did not rebuke him but reminded him of what God in flesh had done recently on earth. Love who Jesus spent time with. I did not come for the healthy. But the sick. Love the parable of the two men owing money. Kind of glad I was a very good sinner for 30 years. Why I love the lord much!! Been forgiven of much!!
Luke 7 How amazing it must have been to follow Jesus when He walked the earth.
Luke 7
What a great example of faith this centurion is. He is right. Jesus, if He is Who He is, does not need to be present in order to act. He just needs to say the word and what He says will be done. May we believe Him in that way and trust that He will do what is right and best and have the peace that is commensurate with the faith we have. And just in case you wonder just how powerful Jesus is, He comes along a funeral procession, is moved with compassion for a widow that has lost her son, touches the coffin, and He raises the son from the dead. There is no greater power to be expressed, no greater problem to be resolved than overcoming death. And yet Jesus does it with a touch of His hand. It’s no wonder news spread about Him and continues to to this day.
And poor John the Baptist. We can all imagine those times of doubt and confusion. He had done a lot to prepare the way for the one who was coming. He just wanted to make sure Jesus was the One. Well the proof is in the pudding, as they say, so tell John what you see, tell Him what I have done. He knows the works of Messiah. Well Jesus was doing them. I see in what Jesus says here the encouragement for John in the state that he was in, and also a confrontation of his doubt….don’t fall away on account of me. It is often important to set people straight but build them up as you do.
And what a great interaction with this woman. She knows who Jesus is. And she knows who she is. And she knows that she needs Him so let me come to Him in the way that I deserve….on my knees worshipping. And the legalistic Pharisee just doesn’t get it. You wonder how those words hit her soul, “Your sins are forgiven”. It’s exactly what her sins and our sins need, yes? And because they are forgiven, now go in peace…..
Luke 8 the love and compassion of Jesus was shown so many times in this chapter. Thank you, Father, for sending your Son to save us.
Luke 7
“For this reason I say to you, her sins, which are many, have been forgiven, for she loved much; but the one who is forgiven little, loves little.”
This verse struck me. Often those who come to Christ later in life and have lived lives of sin have a great feeling of forgiveness and love. Sometimes the person born in the Church does not always understand. I feel like I have had times where I was both the person who does not feel guilty and the person desperate for forgiveness. However, this may be a matter of our attitude and not our righteousness. The sinner understands their need for forgiveness because the world constantly reminds them, their sins are outward and obvious to society. But we all have sinned greatly and are in desperate need of forgiveness no matter who we are or what our situation is.
It’s interesting that Steve pointed out these same verses…. :/
But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the will of God for themselves, not having been baptized by him.
“And the Lord said, “To what then shall I liken the men of this generation, and what are they like? 32 They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling to one another, saying:
‘We played the flute for you,
And you did not dance;
We mourned to you,
And you did not weep.’
33 For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon.’ 34 The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Look, a glutton and a winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ 35 But wisdom is justified by all her children.”
I was thinking about God’s expectation of Israel and their response. God’s plan was to introduce the Kingdom of Heaven, and their Messiah, but they “rejected the will of God” by rejecting John’s baptism. Jesus likens them to manipulative children. I think we are seeing the same thing in our society today. A minority in our culture is playing particular “music” in order to elicit a certain response, and then throw out accusations when you do not play along.