PLEASE NOTE: Next Sunday February 19th following our 10:30 in person service at Springford Baptist Church, we will have a shared lunch (please bring main course and dessert items). We look forward to this time together. Following lunch, we will have our Annual Meeting. EVERYONE IS WELCOME!
LUKE 7:1-10
When Jesus had finished saying all this to the people who were listening, he entered Capernaum.2 There a centurion’s servant, whom his master valued highly, was sick and about to die.3 The centurion heard of Jesus and sent some elders of the Jews to him, asking him to come and heal his servant.4 When they came to Jesus, they pleaded earnestly with him, “This man deserves to have you do this,5 because he loves our nation and has built our synagogue.”6 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.7 That is why I did not even consider myself worthy to come to you. But say the word, and my servant will be healed.8 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.”
9 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.”10 Then the men who had been sent returned to the house and found the servant well.
Luke 7:1-10 TRUSTING THAT GOD LOVES AND CARES FOR US
Springford Baptist Church: February 12, 2023.
What does it mean to place things in Jesus’ hands and to trust Him?
We all know that it is one thing to say that we trust Jesus, but this is not something for only our lips to speak. Our hearts must speak it too. Over and over. Do we really trust Jesus and his love for us?
Do I trust Jesus?
We also know that trusting Jesus does not guarantee that things will turn out as we may hope or pray. Yes, Jesus does have the power and authority to heal illness. Yes, Jesus does have the ability to restore a broken relationship. Yes, Jesus is able to sort out problems big or small.
But the challenge to trusting Jesus is letting Him choose what He will do and how and when He will do it.
I find that hard don’t you?
We know what it looks like if we say that we are giving someone else responsibility for something, but keep making our suggestions and doubting that the other person is capable of handling it properly.
If someone was supposed to look after refreshments for Mission Circle, but you kept calling to check on her and at the meeting kept jumping up to see what she was doing and to tell her how you would serve the food. If you took the teapot out of her hands and insisting on making the tea and then on pouring it yourself, what would be the conclusion? That you really didn’t have confidence in the person in charge of the lunch. It is apparent that you thought she couldn’t do it without you.
This is not trust. This is not what trust looks like.
Or think about having someone in to fix your furnace. You keep interrupting the work and making suggestions. You question why the technician has chosen to do what he is doing. You hover over his shoulder and ask question after question when in reality you really know nothing about how to repair the furnace malfunction.
This is not trust. This is not what trust looks like.
Here in Luke 7 we find a profound real life example of what trust looks like, what it really means to trust Jesus and His loving care.
Jesus had just been giving the example in His teaching of the wise and the foolish builders. (Luke 6:46-49)
The one who comes to Jesus and hears His words and puts them into practice is like a person building a house who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house, but could not shake it because it was well built.
There can be trust in Jesus that remains determined even when there is a storm that threatens to shake us because Jesus Christ is the Rock. He is a sure foundation to build on.
We do find in Luke 7 what it is to trust when we are confronted with a situation beyond our ability to change.
This is what was happening with the centurion (a non-Jewish army captain in charge of a century of soldiers -80 men).
He was accustomed to being in charge, but when his highly valued servant is sick and about to die, the centurion tries to think of who can help. He knows that he cannot make his servant well and save his life.
He hears of Jesus and knows that Jesus has a reputation as someone who can heal. The Jewish elders come to plead with Jesus to respond to this need.
So Jesus reaches across racial and social boundaries and begins to travel with these elders; but then a second wave of representatives appears. They end up commending Jesus by explaining that the soldier does not feel worthy to have Jesus enter his home. The Teacher need not trouble himself with a journey to the soldier’s home. Here Luke reveals the depth of the centurion’s humility, despite the elders’ estimation of the man as worthy. The remark also recalls Peter’s humble attitude in Luke 5:8. Remember Peter’s words when his obedience resulted in a miraculous catch of fish, “Go away from me Lord for I am a sinful man.” Jesus Presence, Jesus with us, makes us keenly aware of our sin and unworthiness. Others recognize the centurion’s character as worthy, but he knows differently.
In reality, before Jesus, who is worthy? This text, like Jesus’ earlier exchange with Peter, shows that God honours such humility.
The centurion also understands authority, so he adds that Jesus can exercise His authority anywhere. The centurion knows what it is to be under authority and to issue commands like “Go,” “Come” and “Do this.” “ (Luke 7:8) If such authority works for a soldier, surely it works for Jesus. He knows that Jesus’ authority is all that is needed to produce healing.
We are told that Jesus has a strong reaction. He is amazed (Luke 7:9). Jesus is said to be amazed only here in this account in Luke. The statement is like a neon light. Here is faith that should be emulated. Here is trust, confidence, rest in the authority of God and awareness of His plan. The Jewish nation, and all others, can learn from this outsider. Aware of Jesus’ authority, the centurion has committed the well-being of his much loved servant into Jesus’ hands. Jesus commends the centurion’s humility and his understanding of Jesus’ authority: such faith is an example of what is God pleasing.
Returning home, the messengers find the servant healthy and well. The request has been granted. The servant is restored. Jesus’ commendation must resonate even more powerfully as they contemplate the miracle. Surely, if such faith is possible outside of Israel, it can happen anywhere.
It is essential that if we are going to trust Jesus with all the details of our lives, we know and believe that He can be trusted. Trust involves Jesus having the capacity, the power to deal with whatever we bring to Him. Do you believe He does?
It seems to me there is another essential aspect of trust when it comes to trusting Jesus with all of our life and circumstances.
Not only do we need to be convinced that He can do anything.
We need to be convinced that He cares.
Someone with unlimited power who has no compassion and does not care about us will not move to help and it would be hopeless to trust someone like that. It is not only hopeless to trust someone who doesn’t care but incredibly frustrating.
If you were climbing a steep path and started to fall and someone was there who could grasp your hand and keep you from falling, but that person did not have any concern for you and would not reach out to help you, there would be no reason to trust that person.
Jesus, on the other hand has deep care and loving compassion for us. He is keenly interested in every detail of our lives and wants to do everything He can to help us.
We are told that Jesus is actually amazed at the faith of this centurion who is looking to Jesus to heal His servant.
The army captain is accustomed to having those under him obey his orders and he indicates that he believes if Jesus just says the words his servant will be healed.
Trust truly is leaving everything in Jesus’ hands. Do we trust Jesus?
Are we convinced that He can bring about anything?
Are we convinced that He loves and cares for us and will bring the depth of His compassion to whatever our need may be?
All of this is just theory until we apply it to our everyday lives.
Faith in Jesus is for everyday living. It is for the best of times and the worst of times and everything in between.
So what is your present need?
What are you facing right now that gives you an opportunity to trust Jesus?
Are you convinced that Jesus has an answer for you?
Are you willing to place everything in His hands and not to try to resolve or work out things in your own way?
And as we considered: Do you believe that Jesus loves you and cares for you?
If both things are true that Jesus can do anything and that Jesus cares, loving us more than anyone else could then we have every reason to trust Him.
It would make no sense to do anything else than to trust Jesus.
Even if it means the outcome not being what we looked for, there is still every reason to trust Jesus if He is all powerful and He is and if He consistently loves us and He does.
With all this mind, with Jesus in mind, what do we need to place in Jesus’ hands this morning? DO WE TRUST THAT GOD LOVES AND CARES FOR US?