An Example in Flesh and Blood [4-27-25]

April 27, 2025

Luke 7:1-10

“An Example in Flesh and Blood”

Luke makes a brilliant transition from chapter six to chapter seven. If you remember, chapter six is what’s more familiarly known as “The Sermon on the Plain.” This is an abbreviated version of Matthew’s “Sermon on the Mount” of chapters five through seven. Here’s the briefest of summaries of Luke 6:

Chapter six presents Jesus' teachings on discipleship and living a righteous life. It opens with the Beatitudes, pronouncing blessings on the poor, the hungry, the mournful, and the persecuted. Jesus emphasizes the importance of inner qualities like humility, mercy, and peacemaking, thus challenging all would-be followers. He challenges social norms, encouraging followers to love their enemies, turn the other cheek, and give generously. The chapter highlights the importance of following Jesus' teachings rather than just hearing them.

We know Luke isn’t a firsthand witness to what Jesus says and does. He states as much in chapter one:

“Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things that have been accomplished among us, just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word have delivered them to us, it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, that you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught.”

Luke takes these accounts and arranges them in as chronologically accurate way as he can. He also aims for good storytelling flow. There is logic and purpose to how things move forward.

It seems critical to Luke that this specific story opens chapter seven. This particular miracle, involving this particular man, absolutely had to follow the teaching on discipleship and living a righteous life. To put it in a culinary context, chapter six sets the table for the feast of chapter seven.

The first thing we need to understand is the centurion is not Jewish. While 

an officer in the Roman army…in charge of 80-100 men…chances are he’s not ethnically Roman. The Roman army would select men from territories they governed who showed leadership potential. That’s the most likely story of our guy.

Think back on some of our major points from chapter six. While we don’t do good to earn God’s grace and mercy, it’s because God has poured His grace and mercy into our lives through the gift of Jesus Christ that we do good. Remember, it costs us nothing to be kind, decent people. So, remembering that Luke is writing to people outside of the Jewish tradition, he introduces us to a Gentile as the embodiment of what Jesus teaches. In other words, everything Jesus talks about in the Sermon on the Plain that defines a person of faith is seen in the centurion. Faith is a gift from God. It is active in the centurion. So chapter seven is importantly connected to chapter six.

Here's the overarching point you might want to write down:

JESUS ACTS GRACIOUSLY TOWARD HUMANS ON THE BASIS OF 

THEIR TRUST IN HIM AND RECOGNITION OF THEIR OWN 

UNWORTHINESS.

That whole unworthiness point is crucial.

Let’s remember together how Jesus describes a true disciple. He uses clear, concise terms. A true disciple is humble, repentant over sin, loves his or her enemies, is generous, merciful, compassionate, does good, is devoted to the Lord, and obedient. And how does Jesus conclude his counter-intuitive teaching of chapter six? The person who lives this way is like the one who builds their house on the rock. They survive the judgment.

Having said all that…especially the part about no way, no how can we ever earn God’s grace and mercy…we now pause at the crowd saying to Jesus, “He is worthy to have you do this for him.” That’s the crowd’s assumption. Luke isn’t introducing some new, twisted theology. They definitely didn’t learn or hear it from Jesus. They consider the man worthy.

Now, we can’t judge them too harshly. After all, that’s the worldview of 

many people today. Even a percentage of church-going folks. You hear it in 

the things people say. “She’s good at heart.” “Good people go to heaven.” “My client is not a bad man. He just did bad things.” “Why do bad things happen to good people?” But the Biblical truth is much different. While verse four embodies a system of assumed worthiness, God’s Word tells a different story.

I love how author and pastor Shane Pruitt captures it:

“Jesus didn’t spend time and eat with sinners because He wanted to appear tolerant and affirming. He spend time with them to show them He is God, and how to live differently. The Gospel is not about affirmation, but transformation.”

Pruitt raises the question, transformation from what? Transformation from bad, sinful people to good, decent, obedient people. Are you with me on that?

No one is worthy of God’s grace and mercy. As Paul tells it in Romans 3:11-20:

“None is righteous, no, not one;no one understands;    no one seeks for God.All have turned aside; together they have become worthless;    no one does good,    not even one.”“Their throat is an open grave;    they use their tongues to deceive.”“The venom of asps is under their lips.”“Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness.”“Their feet are swift to shed blood;in their paths are ruin and misery,and the way of peace they have not known.”“There is no fear of God before their eyes.”

Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God. For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.

If that isn’t powerful enough testimony, here’s Psalm 107:17-18:

Some were fools through their sinful ways,

    and because of their iniquities suffered affliction; they loathed any kind of food,    and they drew near to the gates of death.

Make no mistake. If we were good and worthy, then Jesus wouldn’t have had to die on the cross for our sin. We need that understanding of human nature in order to be followers of Jesus Christ. We are far from worthy. Our hearts and minds fully grasp the truth of Isaiah 53:4-6:

Surely he has borne our griefs    and carried our sorrows;yet we esteemed him stricken,    smitten by God, and afflicted.But he was pierced for our transgressions;    he was crushed for our iniquities;upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,    and with his wounds we are healed.All we like sheep have gone astray;    we have turned - every one - to his own way;and the Lord has laid on him    the iniquity of us all.

Here's the best part. It gets to the heart of the centurion. God speaks grace and mercy into his life. And he receives it as the gift it is. Not deserved. Not asked for. Given before he knew he needed it. “I am not worthy to have you come under my roof.” That’s the message he sends to Jesus. In Christ, God has chosen him. God has given him the gift of faith. He understands sin and repentance. And he will soon grow in knowledge of grace and mercy.

Here's where he gets a glimpse. When he says, “Do not trouble yourself,” the word for “trouble” means, literally, to be extremely agitated or annoyed. He doesn’t feel worthy to be in the presence of Jesus Christ. He is ashamed of himself. Yet he believes Jesus is someone sent by God who acts on God’s authority. See how he is moving toward faith in Jesus Christ as God’s Son. That’s why, in verse nine, Jesus says, “I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith.” Why does Jesus say that? Because the centurion’s faith assumes that Jesus has the same power as God.

And now we know why Luke includes this pivotal encounter in the story of God’s salvation history. 

Here's the beauty of God’s gift of faith:

• Faith is not based on works.

• God will help despite who one is or what one has done or not done.

• Our hope is based on the goodness and power of Jesus, not on our own goodness and power.

• We don’t need to be worthy to receive Christ’s help.

Here’s the last thing you might want to write down:

JESUS WILL NOT FAIL YOU.

That’s the point of the little parable the centurion passes on to Jesus:

“But say the word, and let my servant be healed. For I too am a man set under authority, with soldiers under me: I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”

Do you hear it? It is a monumental statement of faith in Jesus Christ as the Son of God. The centurion is saying, “You have authority over life and You have authority over death.” What is that saying? What is that affirming? He’s saying, “You are God. You are Lord. You speak and it will be done.” {Connect that with Genesis 1, “And God said, let there be…and there was.”}

Knowing these things, let’s now turn again to Luke 7:1-10:

After he had finished all his sayings in the hearing of the people, he entered Capernaum. Now a centurion had a servant who was sick and at the point of death, who was highly valued by him. When the centurion heard about Jesus, he sent to him elders of the Jews, asking him to come and heal his servant. And when they came to Jesus, they pleaded with him earnestly, saying, “He is worthy to have you do this for him, for he loves our nation, and he is the one who built us our synagogue.” And Jesus went with them. When he was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends, saying to him, “Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you come under my roof. Therefore I did not presume to come to you. But say the word, and let my servant be healed. For I too 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 servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” When Jesus heard these things, he marveled at him, and turning to the crowd that followed him, said, “I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith.” And when those who had been sent returned to the house, they found the servant well.

We’ve saved one of the best parts for last. The healing, mentioned in verse ten, is almost an afterthought. The real meat of the passage is verse nine. Jesus marvels at the faith of the centurion. And this gift from God cannot be earned. It is something that one can only receive. And it is given to prodigals and prostitutes and Gentile soldiers and tax collectors and people worshiping at 5290 Milwaukee Road any other sinners who know they are far away from God.

Let’s close with a wonderful affirmation. I hope it speaks for all of us. More than anything, I want it to speak for all of us:

“I am 100% certain that if I died tonight I’d be in heaven with my Savior. I’m sure of this because of what He did – He lived a perfect life of obedience to the law, and on the cross He paid for every sin I’ve ever committed or will ever commit.

Because my faith is His work, and not in any works of my own, His 

righteousness has been imputed to me. I’m so thankful that I can rest in what He’s done, and that I’m freed from the burden of sin, and from the burden of the law.”

Let’s close by reading together 2 Corinthians 5:21:

For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Amen.