A DISPLAY OF GREAT FAITH

PROCLAMATION

“When Jesus had finished … He entered Capernaum.  There a centurion’s servant, whom his master valued highly, was sick and about to die.  The centurion heard of Jesus and sent some elders of the Jews to Him, asking Him to come and heal his servant. … The centurion sent friends to say to Him: ‘Lord, don’t trouble yourself, for I do not deserve to have You come under my roof. … But say the word, and my servant will be healed. … 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.’  Then the men who had been sent returned to the house and found the servant well.”  Luke 7:1-10 (NIV)

 

EXPLANATION

These words are from the gospel, the good news regarding Jesus, The Christ, according to Luke, the physician.   After Jesus went down from the mountainside, (Luke 6:12-17) He spoke to His disciples and to those who followed Him. (Luke 6:20-49)  When He had finished speaking, He left there and entered Capernaum.  This is where He healed the servant of the centurion who had displayed such great faith in Him.  Afterwards He went to the town of Nain and raised the widow’s son from the dead. (Luke 7:11-17)  Then He told the disciples of John The Baptist to go and tell him what they had seen and heard. (Luke 7:18-35)  Later on, Jesus accepted an invitation to dinner in the home of one of the Pharisees.  While He was there a woman anointed His feet with perfume.  When the Pharisee, who had invited Him to dinner, saw this, he commented to Jesus that the woman was a sinner.  Jesus replied to him with The Parable of The Two Debtors. (Luke 7:36-50)

 

APPLICATION

On more than one occasion Jesus responded to His disciples, ‘O ye of little faith.’  The same can be said of believers today.  Without faith it is impossible to please Him. (Hebrews 11:16)  He said, if we had the faith which was the size of a mustard seed, we could speak and move mountains. (Matthew 17:20)  This centurion displayed such great faith in Jesus that it impressed Him. (Luke 7:9)  As believers, we are to walk by faith and not by sight. (2 Corinthians 5:7)  We need to exercise our faith in order for it to grow.  The testing and trying of our faith produces perseverance. (James 1:3)  The Bible says, “Blessed is the one who perseveres under trials…” (James 1:12)  So, let us keep the faith, and exercise our faith, and pray for an increase in our faith which will allow us to please The Lord God even more.