Luke 7:9

and he is the one who built our synagogue.

I want to kind of focus on this point, loves our nation, because we don't get a very deep understanding of exactly what this centurion knows. He seems to know that He seems to, in loving, he doesn't just love the local Jewish people, but he loves the nation. He seems to have some understanding of the Jewish God. He knows the power and authority of the Jewish God. And he loves God's people. This seems to reflect his character. And at this time of need, he doesn't turn to Roman gods or Greek gods or local gods or to wizards who are running about. He turns in his hour of need to Jesus Christ and to the God of the Jews who are not his people. And Jesus agrees to help and begins coming. But then we get to the second point, what is so marvelous about this man's faith? When he hears that Jesus is coming, he seems to have a bit of a freak out, a change of heart. He sends his friends to stop Jesus. And he says,

do not trouble yourself.

He thinks he is, he seems to consider himself and his needs and the needs of his servant boy as almost troublesome or beneath Jesus, something maybe he shouldn't pay attention to. And furthermore, he seems to understand his place in the universe. For he says,

For I am not worthy to have you come under my roof.

He seems to understand Jesus' place. And he seems to understand that he is a sinner and not worthy to have this thing done for him. In preparing for this sermon, one of the best quotes that kind of struck me was from John MacArthur. He said,

whatever this man had heard, It was good theology.

So this man has a bit of a problem. He wants his servant to be healed, the servant whom he loves, but he's not worthy to have Jesus under his roof. So what is he to do then? He turns to Jesus in faith. In one of the most striking passages here, and I'll say, at the end of verse seven,

but say the word and let my servant be healed.

This man understands that Jesus doesn't have to physically come. He doesn't have to do some great act. He understands that as God's representative on earth and God who is God over all and has all power and all authority, that all that has to happen is for it to be spoken, and his servant will be healed. Finally, what is this authority that he understands Jesus to have? He tells us in the very next verse, in verse 8,

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.

He's a centurion in command of many men. He's a man whose orders are obeyed, and given the reputation of the Roman army, his orders are obeyed quickly and with precision. So here we have his perspective of Christ's authority. He understands Christ's role, and he understands that if it is spoken, it will be done. He speaks with faithful assurance when he says,

but say the word.

Christ speaks of his own authority in another passage. In Mark chapter two, we have a passage titled, the ESV has a heading, Jesus heals a paralytic. The remarkable part of this passage in Mark chapter 2, beginning at the end of verse 5, is when he says to the Pyrolytic,

Son, your sins are forgiven.

And the scribes there, in their hearts, question him. They accuse him of blaspheming. And when Jesus senses this, he says,

why do you question these things in your hearts?

And he goes on further.

so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.

He says to the paralytic,

I say to you, rise, pick up your bed, and go home.

All he did was say the word, and it was done. Some applications. First, I want to discuss the humility to come to Christ. The centurion here understands, and I think this applies both to believers and unbelievers. He has something he loves, his servant. And he wants him to be healed. He wants something to be done. And he knows this is beyond his ability. He has nowhere to turn. In this we have to understand our position before God, our need for forgiveness. We're not just spiritually sick. The Bible teaches us that we are spiritually dead and that we are in need of new life to be reborn. Therefore, we should come before Jesus and even though we recognize our unworthiness because He's told us to do so and He has always kept His promises and He will always keep His word to those who come before Him and repent of their sins. We know that if we come in faith to Him and ask, we will receive eternal life. But what is this based on? It's based on Christ's power to save, His authority over salvation. And just briefly looking back at the end of Luke chapter 6, the end of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus speaks of building your house on the rock. This is the, just to quote briefly,

he's like a man building a house who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against the house. and could not shake it.

I was reminded of this passage, and I thought it has really struck me ever since we began this sermon series going back to Hun's first devotional. Therefore, we know that the God who has kept all his promises from the beginning of creation, that he would always that he would come, that he would justify the ungodly, and even that he himself would come, as we're told in Ezekiel 34, that he himself would come and that he himself would shepherd his people. We know that we can rest firmly and be assured because of Jesus's authority. Finally, I want to reflect a bit. On my. Akin to Grandmother Mona. About living your faith in light of Christ's authority. Because there's a second passage. In John, Chapter 11, where people. Remark on Jesus coming. And it has to do. With Lazarus. For both Mary and Martha in this passage remarked to Jesus,

Lord, if you had been here, our brother would not have died.

But one of the most striking verses to me occurs, it's in verses 14 and 15 of John chapter 11. It's when Jesus hears about the death of Lazarus with his disciples. It says,

then Jesus told them plainly, Lazarus has died. And for your sake, I am glad that I was not there, so that you may believe, but let us go to him.

" As a Christian, understanding our place in the body of Christ and having faith in Jesus' authority, we know that we're not singular individuals, but we're part of something much bigger, which is the body of Christ. You're not just yourself. We are part of his work in his creation and part of his plan. So therefore, we know that in living or dying, we serve a purpose greater than ourselves and that we are part of his work and that all he has intended is for our good and for his glory. Would you pray with me? Most gracious Heavenly Father. We want to praise you. For your work in creation. We want to praise you. For even though we are unworthy centers. That you did not abandon us to ourselves, but you kept all of your promises. And you kept your word. that you would send a Savior to redeem us, to save us when we cannot, a physician to heal us when there is no other. Therefore, Heavenly Father, we ask that you would work in us so that we may solidify our faith in Jesus Christ and may live our lives accordingly so that we may be conformed to the image of your Son. In Jesus Christ's name, we pray. Amen.