Read Luke 7:1-10
This story is a Sunday School classic. Raise your hand if you heard it before; I see that hand, thank you. This story is commonly told for a reason. A Roman centurion was exhibiting a huge amount of faith: a Roman, the enemy, the bad guy, the dudes who were an occupational force in the lives of every Jewish person in Israel. And yet this story is included in the Gospels. This story is about faith, for sure. Luke tells us this in verses 9 and 10. But let’s look at it from a different angle.
Jesus didn’t hesitate to go to this man’s house to heal his servant. Jesus Himself told people He was sent to the “House of Israel”, and yet we see Jesus go. Jesus didn’t say, “Wait, who is this person?” “Who is sick?” “I don’t go there.” He didn’t say anything. Verse 6 says, “So Jesus went with them.” He went.
Now, maybe you have lived in a place where there is an occupation. A place in which an army lives to make sure you, the conquered citizen, obey the rules. But I would venture to say many of us haven’t. I know I haven’t. I do know a few people who have, and the typical response is not to be super helpful to the occupational force. In fact, not too many years later from this event, Peter was deeply criticized for going to a Gentile’s house with the Gospel. And yet, here we see Jesus responding to human hurt and need. He went.
When we see Jesus act in this way, what does it tell us about how we should respond? We all have those people in our lives, people who we regard with little respect or outright animosity. We all have people in our lives who, when they ask for help, we hesitate, we pause, we don’t help. We don’t serve. How does that advance the kingdom of God? What does that do to the faith of those we refuse? What did Jesus model here for us?
For Personal Reflection: When you read this story, what is God drawing your attention to? How will you respond?
✧ Nativity Building: Move Mary and Joseph and the donkey a little closer to the stable. Mary and Joseph were filled with faith, trusting in God’s messages to them, as the time for Jesus’ birth came closer.
by Nic Fridenmaker
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