And a certain centurion’s servant, who was dear to him, was sick and ready to die. (Luke 7:2)
The Centurion was not only a Gentile, but a Roman soldier, and an instrument of Israel’s oppression by the then Roman empire.
Under Roman law, a master had the right to kill a slave who was non-performing for reasons such as sickness etc. But this Roman Centurion displayed unusual kindness towards his servant proving that he was indeed a kind man.
The question was, how could this Gentile centurion, who according to the law of Moses was unclean, manage to convince a Jewish rabbi to come into his house and pray for his sick servant?
The centurion discussed the matter with the Jewish elders, and they went out to meet Jesus and plead the cause of the Roman centurion. The Bible record reads: “And when they [the Jewish elders] came to Jesus, they begged Him earnestly, saying that the one for whom He should do this was deserving, ‘for he loves our nation, and has built us a synagogue’” (Luke 7:4–5).
Carefully notice the reasoning the Jewish elders used with Jesus. They pleaded the cause of the centurion because he demonstrated his love for the nation of Israel by building a synagogue. The centurion’s practical act of kindness toward the Jewish people was good enough for Jesus to be willing to enter the home of the gentile centurion to pray for his sick servant.
Miraculously, the sick servant was healed due to his master’s extraordinary display of kindness to the Jewish people and faith in Jesus: “‘But say the word, and my servant will be healed.’ . . . And those who were sent, returning to the house, found the servant well who had been sick” (Luke 7:7, 10).
The message is very clear! When you carry out practical acts of kindness for the Jewish people, God will release His supernatural power to bless you and your household. What He did for the centurion He can do for you even today!
The question is: What have you done to bring practical blessings to the Jewish people and the nation of Israel?
One of the things that you can do is to pray for the nation of Israel regularly.
And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.” (Luke 7:23)
John the Baptist was privileged to baptize Jesus in water knowing fully well that He was the coming Messiah but somewhere along the line (especially after he was locked up in prison), he doubted His ministry and sent his disciples to go and ask Jesus if He really was the Messiah.
John was a student of Isaiah’s prophecies. The word that came to him could be traced to Isaiah’s writings. And John referred to Isaiah when the priests and Levites asked him to identify himself. When they inquired, “Who are you, really?” John always answered, “I am not the Christ.” Finally, when they pressed him further, John identified himself as the one about whom Isaiah prophesied. He told these religious leaders, “I’m who Isaiah says I am. I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord’” (see John 1:19–23).
John the Baptist must have wondered why he was still in prison, why hadn’t Jesus delivered him. After all, Isaiah had prophesied that the Messiah would set the captives free when He came. And, if Jesus’ words about John were true, wouldn’t this man be one of the first to be delivered?
Clearly, John was offended towards Christ.
The standard of a Prophet
Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he spoke to himself, saying, “This Man, if He were a prophet, would know who and what manner of woman this is who is touching Him, for she is a sinner.” (Luke 7:39)
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