Title: Mature Faith (Luke 7:1-10)
In the Bible, several people are introduced who have faith that Jesus particularly praises.
(Matt 9) The woman who had suffered from bleeding for 12 years had faith that she would be saved just by touching Jesus' cloak.
This is a sure belief.
(Matthew 9:22) "Jesus took in and looked at her and said, "Take heart, daughter, your faith has saved you.
and the woman was saved by that hour."
(Mt 15) The Canaanite woman who had a daughter possessed by a vicious demon considered herself to be an ungrateful person.
begged for mercy
It is a belief that humbles itself.
(Matthew 15:17) "Even dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master's table."
(Matthew 15:28) "Then Jesus said to her, Woman, great is your faith. It will be done as you wish.
From that hour his daughter was healed."
(Mark 10) Bartimaeus, a blind beggar who was in Jericho, heard the news of Jesus of Nazareth, and was a descendant of David.
“Jesus, have mercy on me,” he cried out, and threw off his cloak, jumped up and came to Jesus.
active belief.
(Mark 10:52) "Jesus said to him, "Go, your faith has saved you."
Soon he was able to see and followed Jesus."
(Mark 14) After breaking the alabaster jar and pouring it on Jesus, Mary brought a jar of perfume and put it at his feet
He stood weeping and wet his feet, washed them with the hair of his head, kissed them, and anointed them with perfume.
It is a devoted faith.
(Mark 14:9) "I tell you the truth, wherever the gospel is preached in the whole world, wherever the gospel is preached,
What he has done will also be told in remembrance of him."
(Luke 19) Zacchaeus, a short tax collector, went up to a sycamore tree to see Jesus.
Received Jesus with joy.
It is a repentant faith.
(Luke 19:8) “Lord, behold, half of what I have I will give to the poor;
If I have extorted anyone, I will repay you fourfold."
(Luke 19:9) "Jesus said to them, Today salvation has come to this house, and this
for they are the children of Abraham."
And Luke 7, introduced today, is the faith of a centurion who loves his servant.
When the centurion's beloved servant fell ill and died, the centurion went to heal the servant.
I put my best effort into it.
At that time, the centurion was the ruling class of society, and the servant was the slave class.
In that sense, the centurion's love is great.
The centurion is the commander of the Roman army, and the servant is nothing more than a slave to the small captive nation of Judah.
However, the centurion had the warmth to look back with the utmost care and love for the servant.
What kind of faith did the centurion really have?
1. Faith that cares for the weak
(Mat 8:6) "He said, "Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed and in great pain."
These days, when many selfish and self-centered people are
Looking back is never easy.
But the centurion had the faith to put this love into practice.
2. Faith to love the nation and the church
(Luke 7:5) “He loves our people, and he has built a synagogue for us.”
When you see the elders of the Jews praising the centurion, the centurion loves Judea very
I love the temple and I love the saints.
3. Faith Recognizing the Authority of God's Word
(Matthew 8:8) "Speak only, and my servant will be healed."
Although he has the authority of his own words, the centurion only depends on the words of Jesus and has matured faith.
had
As a result, he said to Jesus (Luke 7:9), "I have not found such great faith in Israel."
Hearing praise (Luke 7:10), the servant has already been strengthened.