SCRIPTURE, BY DEBORAH HILLMAN
Scripture Lesson Text
Luke 7:1-10
Related Scripture: Matthew 8: 5-13; Acts 10: 23-29, 34-35; Mark 7: 24-30; Luke 17: 11-19
In this week’s lesson we learn of Jewish elders asking for healing from Jesus for the Roman centurion’s servant who was near death. He understood who Jesus was, His authority and that He merely had to speak a word and healing was done. Jesus knew the centurion had great faith and humility, and Jesus healed the servant.
Related Scripture: Matthew 8: 5-13 reinforces the scriptures of faith in Luke 7: 1-10 expressing great faith in Jesus’ authority to heal those that believe he is the Messiah. Acts 10: 23-29 tells us that Peter invited centurion soldiers to lodge with him for the night even though it was against the law for Jews and Gentiles to lodge together. These verses describe the onset of the last step of Jesus’ command for the disciples: to spread His story in Jerusalem, Judaea, and Samaria and to the ends of the earth. Acts 10: 34-35 emphasizes that Jesus saw no difference in the Jewish or Gentile and in his sight they were all one.
Mark 7: 24-30 relates the familiar story of the Syrophenician woman, who comes to Jesus for the healing of her demon possessed daughter, who is an “ unclean” Gentile. She recognized Jesus’ authority, and to confirm her faith, Jesus miraculously heals her daughter. Luke 17: 11-19 speaks of Jesus’ healing authority as he entered the village, ten men with leprosy cried out for healing. All were healed, but only one came back to fall at Jesus’ feet and thanked him. All ten had been ‘cleansed’ but this man had been made ‘well’.
SYNOPSIS, BY RAUFU SPAGNOLETTA
At the time Jesus entered Capernaum, a centurion having heard of Jesus, sent elders of the Jews to ask Jesus to come and heal his beloved servant who was very sick, and near death. In this event, Luke, introduces us to a Roman officer who, unlike the religious leaders, believed Jesus was the Messiah and understood His power and authority over disease! When the Jews came to Jesus, they begged Him earnestly to come, saying, “He was worthy of this request, for he loves our nation; and has built us a synagogue.”
Jesus went with them but before He reached the house, the centurion sent friends to tell Him, “Lord, do not come; for I am not worthy for You to enter under my roof and I am not worthy to come to You. You need only to say the word and my servant will be healed.” “I know this because I am a man under the authority of other men; And I have soldiers under my authority.”
“I tell one soldier, ‘Go,’ and he goes; And I tell another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; And I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and my servant obeys me” (ESV). Jesus marvelled at what He heard, declaring to the people following Him, “I haven’t seen faith like this in all of Israel!” The group sent to Jesus returned home and found the servant completely healed.
PRACTICAL APPLICATION, BY JANICE HALL
In today’s lesson we are reminded of the importance of faith, when we pray. The author emphasizes an important principle, to not only realize the importance of faith, but also God’s will when praying for healing. The centurion displayed two very great attributes of healing faith; to be humble, and the absolute belief in the power of Jesus to do what He desires. The word, (Philippians 4:6) reminds us to make our requests known with the knowledge of God’s grace and goodness and to know God has the final answer. The centurion’s understanding of Jesus’ spiritual authority made Jesus marvel.!
God can and does heal. Throughout Jesus’ ministry, He performed miraculous healings
that glorified God and deepened faith.( Matthew 4:23, Luke 4:40). We see in the word of God, it encourages us to pray in earnest. If the Holy Spirit moves us to pray for healing, whether for ourselves or a neighbor, we should do so with fervor. Yet while we pray, we must be attentive to one thing, although God can heal, we must never presume that He must.
The most important thing to keep in mind when God does not answer our prayers for healing, is that He loves us more than we can comprehend. It is because of His great love that we can rest in His sovereignty and know that He holds eternity in His hands.
“ Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end.”( Ecclesiastes 3:11 NLT)
