Luke 7:1 After he had finished speaking in the hearing of the people, he entered into Capernaum. 2 A certain centurion’s servant, who was dear to him, was sick and at the point of death. 3 When he heard about Jesus, he sent to him elders of the Jews, asking him to come and save his servant. 4 When they came to Jesus, they begged him earnestly, saying, “He is worthy for you to do this for him, 5 for he loves our nation, and he built our synagogue for us.” 6 Jesus went with them. When he was now not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to him, saying to him, “Lord, don’t trouble yourself, for I am not worthy for you to come under my roof. 7 Therefore I didn’t even think myself worthy to come to you; but say the word, and my servant will be healed. 8 For I also am a man placed under authority, having under myself soldiers. I tell this 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 turned and said to the multitude who followed him, “I tell you, I have not found such great faith, no, not in Israel.” 10 Those who were sent, returning to the house, found that the servant who had been sick was well.
Immediately after telling his apostles that their responsibility as disciples of the Kingdom was to do unto others as you would have them do unto you, Christ had the opportunity to put this ethic into practice. The beloved servant of a captain in the Roman army was near death. Normally a soldier in his position would be hated by the Jews, however this centurion was a God fearing-man who had paid for the building of the synagogue in Capernaum. This act of generosity had so impressed the Jewish elders that when the centurion asked them to see if Jesus would heal the servant, the elders didn’t hesitate to beg Jesus earnestly for a miracle.
The interesting twist in this event was that the Jewish elders who, as we have seen, were always concerned about earning the favor of God by their good works, tried to convince Jesus that the centurion deserved to have his request for healing answered saying: He is worthy for you to do this for him…
On the other hand, the centurion, upon seeing Jesus, was overwhelmed with his unworthiness compared to the power, majesty, and authority of the Creator of all. Understanding his sinfulness the centurion stated that he was not worthy: For I am not worthy… therefore I didn’t even think myself worthy to come to you.
The centurion explained that if, as a military officer with limited authority, he knew that his orders would be carried out, then certainly Jesus, the all-powerful Creator who holds all things together, Colossians 1:17, had but to say the word, and the servant would be healed.
Jesus marveled at the centurion’s insight. The Jews were trying to earn salvation by attempting to prove their worthiness by their works. The centurion, although he was a great benefactor to the Jews, understood that his good works counted for nothing. He placed his faith, not in his works or in his authority, but in Christ alone. He placed himself under Christ’s authority. Christ praises the centurion for his faith: “I tell you, I have not found such great faith, no, not in Israel.”
The Jewish elders were making the same mistake that Cain made in thinking that he could come before God on the basis of his good works. Genesis 4:3 fact, this is the same mistake that all world religions make; thinking that the sinner, by his good deeds, can earn his way into God’s presence.
Do you believe, like these Jewish elders, that God would be lucky to have you in His Kingdom? After all, because of the great things that you do, you would be a great asset to God. Or, like the centurion, do you recognize you are a wretched sinner unworthy to have Christ even enter your home? If so, you are exactly who Christ came to seek and to save. Those who are healthy have no need for a physician, but those who are sick do. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. Luke 5:31-32 God accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right. Acts 10:35
Luke 7:11 Soon afterwards, he went to a city called Nain. Many of his disciples, along with a great multitude, went with him. 12 Now when he came near to the gate of the city, behold, one who was dead was carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. Many people of the city were with her. 13 When the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said to her, “Don’t cry.” 14 He came near and touched the coffin, and the bearers stood still. He said, “Young man, I tell you, arise!” 15 He who was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he gave him to his mother.
16 Fear took hold of all, and they glorified God, saying, “A great prophet has arisen among us!” and, “God has visited his people!” 17 This report went out concerning him in the whole of Judea, and in all the surrounding region.
Can the dead raise themselves to life?
Just as the physically dead are powerless to raise themselves to life, so too are the spiritually dead unable to raise themselves to life. Jesus has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace… Our Savior, Christ Jesus, has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. 2 Timothy 1:9-10
In raising this young man to life Jesus demonstrates that the undeserved and unrequested grace of Christ is the only thing that can bring the dead to life. Jesus came to set the captives free, and we are all ultimately captive to death. Christ came to free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. Hebrews 2:15 Here Christ demonstrates in a powerful way what we will all experience through his gift of faith; resurrection.
The Bible describes death as an enemy. It is not the only enemy of the Christian, but it is described as the “last enemy.” In 1 Corinthians 15:25-26, Paul affirms that Christ will reign until He has put all enemies under His feet, and the last of those enemies will be death. It should be a great comfort to the believer to know that the One in whom he places his trust is Christus Victor. We see this clearly in Hebrews, Jesus is the “supreme champion” of His people.
(R.C.Sproul, The Last Enemy, Tabletalk Magazine, Ligonier,org)
Upon seeing the dead raised to life, the people, in great fear, glorified God, recognizing that God has visited his people.
Luke 7:18 The disciples of John told him about all these things. 19 John, calling to himself two of his disciples, sent them to Jesus, saying, “Are you the one who is coming, or should we look for another?” 20 When the men had come to him, they said, “John the Baptizer has sent us to you, saying, ‘Are you he who comes, or should we look for another?’”
21 In that hour he cured many of diseases and plagues and evil spirits; and to many who were blind he gave sight. 22 Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John the things which you have seen and heard: that the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them. 23 Blessed is he who finds no occasion for stumbling in me.”
Have you ever suffered from self-doubt? Have you ever second guessed yourself? You are not alone. Even the greatest prophet had doubts. Luke 7:28
John the Baptist is sitting in Herod’s prison: When John rebuked Herod the tetrarch because of his marriage to Herodias, his brother’s wife, and all the other evil things he had done, Herod… locked John up in prison. Luke 3:19-20 With time on his hands and because he is beginning to question himself and his ministry, he sent two of his disciples to confirm if Jesus is really the Messiah. In answer to John’s question Jesus assures the prophet that he is the Christ. The incontrovertible proof being that the ancient prophecies of Isaiah are literally being fulfilled.
What had Christ proclaimed at the beginning of his ministry in Luke 4:18-19?
The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to heal the broken hearted, to proclaim release to the captives, recovering of sight to the blind, to deliver those who are crushed, and to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.” Isaiah 61:1-2
In answer to John’s question, Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John the things which you have seen and heard: that the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them.
Based on the incontrovertible evidence, John was assured that he had not lived his life in vain. As he sat in prison awaiting execution John could be assured that his life’s work, to declare the coming of the Messiah, was vindicated. Christ was the promised Messiah foretold from the foundation of the world.
What do you see as your life’s work?
Of course we all have many God given responsibilities, labors, and passions, but as servants of our Lord Jesus we must never forget or neglect our calling to be fishers of men. How can our friends, family, and those we meet along the way, believe unless they hear? And how can they hear unless we take the time and have the courage to tell them? Romans 10:14
Luke 7:24 When John’s messengers had departed, he began to tell the multitudes about John, “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? 25 But what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft clothing? Behold, those who are gorgeously dressed, and live delicately, are in kings’ courts. 26 But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and much more than a prophet. 27 This is he of whom it is written, ‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you.’ Malachi 3:1
28 “For I tell you, among those who are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptizer, yet he who is least in God’s Kingdom is greater than he.”
29 When all the people and the tax collectors heard this, they declared God to be just, having been baptized with John’s baptism. 30 But the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected the counsel of God, not being baptized by him themselves.
In another slap against the Pharisees and the lawyers, Jesus asked the people: “Did you go out into the wilderness to see a soft, effeminate man, the kind of man who preens delicately around in the King’s courts in soft clothing? No, you went out to see God’s messenger dressed in camel hair clothing, foretold 500 years ago by the Prophet Malachi.” John the Baptist prepared the way for the arrival of Christ, with his thundering call to repentance. John then had the honor of introducing Christ to the people, after which, in humility, he stepped back from the public eye. John 3:30
John was the last of the Old Covenant prophets and though he knew Christ he still did not have the complete picture of the resurrection that has been granted to New Covenant believers. As Christ would tell his disciples:
Turning to the disciples, he said privately, “Blessed are the eyes which see the things that you see, for I tell you that many prophets and kings desired to see the things which you see, and didn’t see them, and to hear the things which you hear, and didn’t hear them.” Luke 10:23-24
When the people who had repented of their sins and been baptized by John heard these things they declared God to be just. However, the Pharisees and lawyers who had refused to accept John’s call to repentance and baptism rejected the counsel of God.
Luke 7:31 “To what then should I compare the people of this generation? What are they like? 32 They are like children who sit in the marketplace, and call to one another, saying, ‘We piped to you, and you didn’t dance. We mourned, and you didn’t weep.’ 33 For John the Baptizer 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, ‘Behold, a gluttonous man, and a drunkard; a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ 35 Wisdom is justified by all her children.”
In conclusion, Jesus accuses the Pharisees of being childish. They still have the beam in their eye and are unable to see that they are both overly judgmental and inconsistent. They rejected John the Baptist’s call to repentance, accusing him of being harsh and severe. In today’s evangelical language they might say he was fundamentalist, or TR, or Confessional, intolerant, or conservative because his message was not winsome and welcoming.
On the other hand, because Jesus attended weddings and dinner parties, associating with the outcasts and lowly of society, he was accused of violating the man made religious laws. Again, in today’s evangelical language Christ might be accused of being liberal and progressive because he was a friend of tax collectors and sinners.
But, rather than being childish, quarrelsome, and one dimensional, the Pharisees should have embraced the whole truth. The call to repentance is necessary for it forces men to realize their utter bankruptcy before the holy God; they must realize that they cannot save themselves.
If you can’t save yourself, where are you to go?
Christ provided the answer. You are to go to Christ. He went among the poor, the lowly, those in society who were rejected, and who, in their humility, recognized their sin and therefore their need. Christ is the Good News. Christ is Immanuel, God with us. Isaiah 7:14
Finally, Jesus concludes by saying, Wisdom is justified by all of her children. In today’s language we might say, “the proof is in the pudding”, meaning that the effectiveness of something can be found in putting it to the test. In other words, wisdom is validated by the fruit it produces.
Jesus lays out his meaning in binary terms. Either the people accepted the call of John the Baptist to recognize their sins, repent and be baptized or they rejected the baptism of John. Those who came to John the Baptist and repented of their sins, preparing their hearts for Christ, found that they were granted forgiveness. Those who fled to Christ, the Lamb of God, in faith, found themselves welcomed into the joy, peace, and cross-cultural fellowship of his Kingdom.
Those, like the Pharisees, who refused the baptism of John, refused to repent, and refused to accept that Christ was the Messiah, as foretold by the prophets, were left in their sin. For them Christ was the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, Revelation 5:5, bringing judgment.
This is the tension that runs throughout the Gospel of Luke, the contrast is between those who accepted the baptism of John the Baptist preparing their hearts to accept Christ’s Kingdom and those who rejected the baptism of John the Baptist because they saw no need to repent.
I stole down to the waterfront
To escape the desert heat
What on earth you gotta do around here
To try and get yourself a drink?
Heard John the Baptist preaching
“Make way for the King
But if you wanna recognize him
You gotta tell me all your sins.”
(Bill Mallonee, Vigilantes of Love, Welcome to Struggleville)
The Pharisees and lawyers could not recognize the King because they did not repent of their sins and accept the baptism of John as he prepared the way for the announcement of the Messiah.