FAITH WHERE WE LEAST EXPECT IT!2nd Sunday after Pentecost

29th May 2016

Today…What period of time are we living in?

Today…What type of world are we living in?

Where is God in all this?

How do we have faith in times like this?

Where do we draw strength?

???

• 7:1 After Jesus had finished all his sayings in the hearing of the people, he entered Capernaum.

• 7:2 A centurion there had a slave whom he valued highly, and who was ill and close to death.

• 7:3 When he heard about Jesus, he sent some Jewish elders to him, asking him to come and heal his slave.

• 7:4 When they came to Jesus, they appealed to him earnestly, saying, "He is worthy of having you do this for him,

• 7:5 for he loves our people, and it is he who built our synagogue for us.”

Luke 7: 1-10…

Quick contemplation…PEOPLE ON THE SCENE

JESUS

ELDERS

CENTURION

SICK SLAVE

CENTURION’S FRIENDS

• 7:6 And Jesus went with them, but when he was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to say to him, "Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you come under my roof;

• 7:7 therefore I did not presume to come to you. But only speak the word, and let my servant be healed.

• 7:8 For I also 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 slave, 'Do this,' and the slave does it."

• 7:9 When Jesus heard this he was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd that followed him, he said, "I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith."

• 7:10 When those who had been sent returned to the house, they found the slave in good health.

Luke 7: 1-10…

Quick contemplation…What was the centurion’s IDENTITY?

GENTILE! What else?

1. Elders of the community willing to speak to Jesus on behalf of an outsider.

2. He should be considered a friend of the Jews as he paid for their synagogue.

3. He is willing to reach out to the rabbi on behalf of his slave. He cares enough about this person to seek Jesus help.

4. The centurion has heard about and honors the power of this teacher and healer.

5. He also respects Jesus enough to send another delegation to tell Jesus

that he does not have to come to the house.

Quick contemplation…What did Jesus do?

He was AMAZED!

The amazing element of this story if that Jesus is the one who is amazed -- not the centurion, not the various groups

that go to speak with Jesus, but Jesus himself.

Jesus is astounded at the faith of this “enemy”, this gentile. This man’s faith engenders a “long-distance”

healing.

What did we learn?This is a story about identity and authority.

The centurion recognized who Jesus was -- did the elders and residents of Capernaum?

Jesus heals the slave of the centurion because of his owner’s faith.

Are we willing to approach Jesus, for ourselves, for our friends, for our enemies?

How then shall we find faith?

Knowing our IDENTITY:“Children of God”

How then shall we live?Build the Father – Child relationship

Learn with Him

Rest with Him

Experience life with Him

Trust in Him