pastorjohnb

Thoughts and musings on faith and our mighty God!

Tag Archives: centurion


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One Last Act of Love

Reading: Luke 23

Luke 23:34: “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they’re doing.”

The trial, the false accusations, the giving in, the death and resurrection – it all feels so fast. It feels like Luke moves quickly through these events, his “carefully ordered account” presenting little more than the facts. Yet, as we read carefully, certain lines and actions stand out.

Both Pilate and Herod find no basis for legal action against Jesus. Pilate offers to whip Jesus, trying to placate the religious leaders and their crowd. The mob mentality that drives shouts of “Crucify!” finally forces Pilate to give in to their will. On the way to “The Skull,” Jesus pauses and addresses the grieving women, telling them not to cry for him but to cry for the days of suffering soon to come.

As he is being crucified between two criminals, Jesus prays, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they’re doing.” Those there – the religious leaders and the soldiers – they mock Jesus. One criminal defends this innocent man. Jesus tells him, “I assure you that today you’ll be with me in paradise.” As Jesus dies, a centurion praises God, recognizing Jesus as “a righteous man.” The crowd goes home beating their chests. Luke notes, “Everyone who knew him… stood at a distance observing these things.”

Joseph of Arimathea acts, asking Pilate for Jesus’ body. He was a member of the Jewish council – one that “hadn’t agreed with the plan” that has just been accomplished. The women watch him hastily wrap and lay Jesus’ body in a new tomb. The women go home and prepare spices and oils to properly care for his body. They wait as the Sabbath passes. They wait to offer one last act of love.

Prayer: Lord God, through it all, Jesus does not change. Love, grace, forgiveness, commitment – they continue to flow out from Jesus. His steadfastness to you and to us does not waver a bit. Signs of his love for you and for us are sprinkled throughout this text. Thank you for the example Jesus set, right to the end. This too was one last act of love. Amen.


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Great Love and Compassion

Reading: Luke 7-8:39

Luke 7:50 – “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.”

Luke 7 begins with a story about a man with great faith. The centurion first asks Jesus to come heal his valued servant. He then realizes that he is unworthy to have Jesus come to him. So he sends words, recognizing Jesus’ authority to simply speak a word to heal the servant. It is so.

Jesus next encounters a funeral procession. A widow’s only son has died. With great compassion Jesus resuscitates the son, providing for the widow.

From prison John the Baptist sends some disciples to ask Jesus, “Are you the one?” Jesus heals many people right then and tells the disciples to tell John what they saw. This is a physical demonstration that fulfills Isaiah 35 and 61. It is Jesus’ “yes” to John’s question. He then laments this current generation’s lack of faith.

Jesus is then invited to dinner at a Pharisee’s home. While there, a sinful woman comes and washes Jesus’ feet with her tears and hair, kissing them and then anointing them with oil. In his thoughts, the Pharisee is condescending of both Jesus and the woman. This leader skipped all the normal hospitality customs. Jesus says to the woman, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.” Her revelation of great love leads to her salvation.

After naming some of the women who support Jesus’ ministry, he tells the parable of the soils. It is about our receptivity to Jesus’ words and example. These women are the good soil. Jesus then encourages us to let our light shine. It is to shine on all soil/soul types.

Jesus then reveals his power over wind and sea before encountering “Legion” – a man long possessed by many demons. The demons recognize Jesus and negotiate release into the pigs. The man is totally healed. The townfolk are awed but are also afraid of Jesus’ unexplainable power. They ask him to leave. The man is told to stay behind, to witness to Jesus’ power. He goes home to “tell the story.”

Prayer: Lord God, you continue to have great love and compassion for us. You respond when we call out in faith. And you sometimes come even when we don’t call out. You know what we need and this drives your responses. Thank you. Amen.


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Faith of a Centurion

Reading: Luke 7: 1-10

The centurion is a man of authority.  He has absolute command of the soldiers under him.  He tells one to go and they go; he tells one to come and they come.  He understands power.  The centurion has heard of Jesus and he recognizes that Jesus too has power.  The stories he has heard have been enough for the centurion to recognize the power Jesus wields.  The centurion also understands though that Jesus’ power is different than his own earthly power.  He sees that not only is it a different kind of power but it is a superior power.  The centurion who knows he has a lot of earthly power acknowledges that he is not worthy of being in Jesus’ presence.  The centurion is a powerful man with a lot of humility.

Jesus in turn credits the centurion with having great faith.  He goes so far as to comment that He has not yet seen such faith in Israel.  That is a pretty strong statement for Jesus’ followers and for the religious authorities to hear.  This Roman soldier has a faith superior to ours?  It would be a difficult question for them to wrestle with.

It is a difficult question for us to wrestle with too.  We say that God is all-powerful and can do anything, but do we really trust Him to do so?  We’ve heard the stories just like the centurion did, but do we have absolute confidence that Jesus can still act?  He brought healing to a sick servant who was miles and miles away without uttering a word.  Surely this kind of power can still heal and transform lives.  But do we have the faith of the centurion?  This day may we call upon the mighty and powerful name of Jesus to enter into our lives to bring us spiritual, physical, and/or emotional transformation.  In Jesus’ name there are no limits.  May we live faithfully today, trusting in this truth.