Luke 7:1-10
How Far Will You Go?
Woodlawn Baptist Church
October 29, 2006
Introduction
The account which we have just read is really a remarkable account of the amazing grace of our Savior, the great faith of a Gentile soldier, and of the common misconceptions of the religious people of the day. Luke records that after Jesus wrapped up his Sermon on the Mount, he entered Capernaum. It wasn’t as though Jesus taught in the morning and then entered town that afternoon. Capernaum was many miles from where Jesus had been teaching, so this would have been days later.
We are told about a centurion, a professional officer in the Roman army who would have commanded a unit of about 80 men. The Roman centurion was the equivalent of today’s Army Captain, and senior centurions equivalent to our Majors. This man had probably been charged to keep peace in Capernaum and the surrounding area, had probably lived there for several years and had developed a good relationship with the people. We’re also told that he had a slave that was terminally ill, but that this slave was very special to him. Slaves that became too sick to serve their purpose were usually kicked to the curb and left for dead, but those who were especially good would have been hard to replace. At any rate, our centurion wanted his slave to live, thus the delegation to Jesus for help.
The centurion was a Gentile – an outsider, and while he may have enjoyed a good relationship with the local Jews, he would always be considered an outsider. In fact, while the Jews may have been courteous to him, they despised the Gentiles. They despised anyone who wasn’t a Jew and considered them to be outside the grace of God. Like the Ethiopian eunuch we studied last Sunday night, he could come to the synagogue, but not in it. He could provide food for the Jews, but couldn’t eat it with them. He could provide them the freedom to celebrate their feasts, but could not celebrate with them. He was a Gentile: a dog and an enemy of Israel.
But this Gentile wasn’t just any dog, he was a good politician. During his stay in Capernaum he had funded the construction of a new synagogue. As much as the Jews hated the Romans and their rule over them, they had crawled in bed with this Roman soldier to play political games with him for their own personal gain. Now he calls in a favor and sends them to meet with Jesus. He knows Jesus is a great man, perhaps even a god, but a great Jew with whom he has no access. But these Jews – they can go and talk with Jesus for him – could they get Jesus to come?
When they got to Jesus the Jews began their pitch. “Look Jesus, if anyone is deserving of your goodness it is this man. We know he’s a Gentile, but look at all the good he’s done for us. We really need you to come through for us on this thing.”
Verse 6 says that Jesus went with them, but as He was going the centurion sent a second delegation, this time with a different message. I tend to think that as he waited he had begun to think about how the Jewish leaders might misrepresent him. Surely he wouldn’t want to give the impression that he was something great when he was just a man in need of help. “Lord, don’t trouble yourself because I’m not worthy to have you in my home.” He then explains just how well he understands authority and Christ’s ability to say the word for a thing to be done.
When Jesus heard all this the Bible says He marveled, then turned to the crowd that was following Him and told them, “I have not found so great faith, no, nowhere in all Israel.” When both delegations returned to the centurion’s home they found that the slave had been made whole.
I said a while ago that this is a remarkable account of the amazing grace of our Savior, the great faith of a Gentile soldier, and of the common misconceptions of the religious people of the day, but understanding the message running through this text and why it’s even included here is found in the sermon Jesus preached in chapter 6.
In Luke 6:27, Jesus said,
“Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you. Bless them which curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you…”
He continues along this same thread, but I want you to drop down to verse 33.
“And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? For sinners also do even the same. And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? For sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again. But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil. Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.”
I know you get tired of me showing you this, but the Jewish leaders came to Jesus with their building blocks, except this time they were the centurion’s building blocks. They started stacking them up before Jesus trying to convince Him that this guy was worthy of help, that he had done some great things for them, that he needed his back scratched.
They had absolutely no understanding of how God works! And frankly, they remind me of many of God’s people today: having a form of religion, but not knowing the real power in it. How many people there are sitting in pews today who think that God operates on the basis of these building blocks. The more we do for God or for His church; the more we give, read the Bible, pray, evangelize, or whatever else, then the more deserving we are of His blessings. “When they came to Jesus, they instantly said to him that this man was worthy because of all he had done.”
But they had a second problem – and that was their motive. Not only did they misunderstand the basis of God’s goodness, but they were interceding for this man, not for his benefit but because of what they might get out of it. They couldn’t have been more contrary to what Jesus has just preached! Kingdom people do good, not because of how they might benefit, but because of they are being like God!
I was talking to a church member the other day about all they do in the church and how well liked they are. I made this statement, and I want you to consider the sad truth of it. I said, “As long as you are faithful to church and do a lot people will like you and treat you like you’re their best friend, but if you ever back off, you’ll find out whether they are really friends with you or not. Chances are they like you because of all you do.” Now, you might think me bad for saying that, but too often it’s the truth, from the pulpit to the pew. The Jews had a problem with it, and unless we’re growing in Christ’s likeness we’ll struggle with it too. I find myself struggling with it as I get caught up in wanting to get something done around here, forgetting all the while that we’re not in the building business, but the people business.
Consider Jesus – He gives us a great example of what grace and love ought to look like. He didn’t care about social boundaries. This man was a Gentile. He started heading for his house anyway. The man was a Roman soldier, an enemy of Israel. Jesus intended to help him anyway. The centurion was an unwelcome outsider – a stranger to the grace of God. Jesus treated him with grace and compassion. The man was unworthy – but Jesus didn’t work on the basis of merit.
Listen; if you’ve ever doubted the love and grace of God, you ought to reconsider this morning. Jesus doesn’t care who you are or where you’ve been or what you’ve done. He doesn’t care what color you are, how much money you have, whether you grew up in church or not, if you smoke, drink or cuss. It doesn’t matter if you’re a great big sinner or if you’re just getting started – His love for you is the same. He loves His enemies and those who call Him friend. If Jesus were among us today He’d have the same love for Osama Bin Laden, Saddam Hussein, Hugo Chavez, Ted Bundy or any of the worst people you know that He has for you and me.
I work for the church, preach and teach through the week, visit the sick, bury the dead, comfort the grieving and tell people about Him, but that doesn’t make me any more deserving of His goodness than the bum under the bridge. Do you know why? Because God doesn’t operate that way! Why does Jesus do good for His enemies? Why does Jesus love those who hate Him? Why can He bless those who curse Him? How can He love people when He’ll get nothing in return?
I’ll tell you why – because He is good. Chapter 6:43 – a good tree can only bear good fruit. He healed this centurion’s servant, not because the man was worthy, but because Jesus is inherently good. This man happened to be a pretty good guy, but think of all the others in Scripture who were not good: the Samaritan woman, the woman caught in adultery, Zacchaeus, Saul of Tarsus and more!
Answer this: according to Jesus’ sermon, if love is to be extended even to enemies, are there any boundaries limiting the goodness and grace of Jesus’ ministry? In other words, is there any boundary that would stop Jesus from doing good in your life or in the life of anyone else? If the answer is no, and it is, then how in the world can we set up boundaries unless we are not being the imitators of Christ we have been called to be?
The truth of the matter is that you and I, Woodlawn Baptist Church, have been called to reach our community for Christ. We’ve been called to be salt and light. We’ve been called to share the good news. We’ve been called to do good to others, period. If you’ve found yourself struggling to do good to those around you…if you’ve been prompted by God to do good to others but ran up against a wall – some boundary that kept you from ministering to them, then you need to recognize that you’re guilty of the same sins the Jewish leaders were guilty of. You need to repent of it and surrender those boundaries to Christ. He tore the veil in two when He died on Calvary. Everyone has free and open access to Him. If you’ve erected another veil that’s keeping someone from coming to Christ then my friend you need to tear it down, get it out of the way before God gets you out of the way.
I believe every one of you has at least some desire to be like Christ. You want to follow Him. I also recognize that while each of you has at least some desire to be like Him and follow Him, you’re all at different places in that desire. Some are on fire for God and would storm the gates of hell with a bucket of ice water. Others of you are more hesitant – more reluctant – and like Peter would prefer to follow from afar. Regardless of where you are – this much is true: that if the Holy Spirit lives within you He is calling to you today to become like Christ – the Christ who knew no boundaries, the Christ who could love even the most undeserving of people. The Holy Spirit calls to you today to be merciful, as your Father in heaven is merciful.
As He calls to you today, can you say with integrity before God that your desire is to be that? To get to the place in your life where you do good to others, not because they’re worthy, but simply because as Christ lives in and through you, you too are good? If we are not reaching our community, there is a reason. Could it be this one? Let us turn our hearts to God so He might tell us.
Today you might find yourself in the position of the centurion. You have some problem that’s beyond your ability to handle. You’ve done everything you know to do, and now you’re only left with that hopeless, helpless feeling that comes from not knowing where to turn.
The answer is Jesus! Just like this man did, you need to call to Jesus for help, but forget making bargains with God, just come to Him today in an humble recognition of your need. Admit to Him that you can’t handle your problem any more. Admit to Him that He alone is able, and while you’re not worthy of His goodness, you appeal to Him on the basis of His goodness.
Will you put your faith in Him today? Will you recognize the absolute authority of Jesus Christ and His ability to handle your problem? Will you call to Him for help? Will your faith cause Him to marvel? To drop His jaw with wonder? Or will you only cause Him to wonder whether you have any faith at all?
