The Faith of The Centurion
Date: July 23rd, 2023
Acrylic on plywood: 35” X 48”
Scripture: Luke 7:1-10
When Jesus had finished saying all this to the people who were listening, 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. When they came to Jesus, they pleaded earnestly with him, “This man deserves to have you do this, because he loves our nation and has built our synagogue.” So Jesus went with them.
He was not far from the house when 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. That is why I did not even consider myself worthy to come to you. But say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”
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]
Erin, an associate pastor at Hope Covenant, talked about how the centurion didn’t know Jesus personally, but he had been listening to a lot of people talk about the miracles Jesus was doing. We, too, can listen for whispers of God everywhere–in conversations, in the news, etc. We can let his voice fill our thoughts, so the words we speak will convey Jesus.
Erin mentioned her feelings of unworthiness to do today’s sermon, but how Vicky, a sister in the faith, encouraged Erin by reminding Erin that she’s been gifted by Jesus to preach the Gospel. Erin listened. Then, she believed that Jesus could speak through her…and I heard a lot of Jesus' voice in Erin’s today!