Faith & Love

I have been studying Luke 7.1-17 where Jesus heals a centurion's slave and then raises a widow's son from the dead. The focus of Jesus healing the centurion's slave is on the centurion's faith. The centurion, a Roman military officer, often having authority over 100 men, sends some Jewish leaders to Jesus to request healing for his slave who is close to death. History indicates that to the wealthy, slaves were considered expendable. This centurion saw his slave from a different perspective. When Luke narrates concerning the young man he calls him a slave. When Luke quotes the centurion, however, the young man is called a child.
Basically, the centurion was making a prayer request on behalf of his servant. The soldier's faith in Jesus moved him to a simple act of kindness toward someone else (maybe a person who would be considered "one of the least of these"). My faith should regularly do the same.
When requested by the Jewish leaders to heal the centurion's slave, Jesus begins walking toward his house. As Jesus approached the house the centurion sent a messenger. The centurion's message was, "I do not consider myself worthy" of Jesus coming into his home. The soldier offered that Jesus could just heal the slave at a distance if that suited Him. Jesus was amazed at the centurion's faith. I note that the faith of the centurion was based on his humble attitude of not considering himself worthy. I find this in contrast to the the 'one who would follow Jesus' in Luke 9.59 who declined by saying, "Permit me first to bury my father." The implication is that the would be follower wanted to wait for his father to die so as to gain his inheritance, and then he would follow Jesus. There is no indication that this heir's father was even sick. I also find that most of my prayers fit into the "permit me first" genre.
After healing the servant of the centurion Jesus moves on towards the village of Nain where He meets a funeral procession coming out. Jesus stops the procession and raises the widow's dead son. I believe the connection with the preceding narrative is found in the issue of Jesus' love. The text of Luke 7 states that Jesus was moved with compassion and therefore raised the dead man.
As I acknowledge that I do not have the centurion's faith, it may cause me to be discouraged except when I see the love of Jesus that does even greater than a healing for one who had no faith (you might say the widow's son had a dead faith). I understand that I should be moving toward a centurion-like faith, but even when I am far from it, Jesus will still act powerfully on my behalf based on His great love.

The Odd Couples of Christmas

Luke presents the Odd Couples of Christmas and the reality that their blessings from God go global. In Luke 1.5-25 a couple of old people, Zacharias & Elizabeth live in obedience and find that God makes an appointment for them in the midst of their greatest disappointment (the fact that they have no child). At appropriate and appointed times God provides blessings that begin in times of worship and ultimately go global. As followers of Jesus we can persistently worship in spite of disappointments, knowing that God will provide blessings that may ultimately go global. Keep the faith and share it widely!
In Luke 1.26-56 a couple of woman, Mary & Elizabeth, encourage each other's faith and meet together in fellowship and worship. Mary & Elizabeth share with each other their contact with God and His promises to them (the promise that nothing is impossible with God). Controlled by the Holy Spirit they expect their blessing will go global (verses 33,48, 50 and 53). As followers of Jesus we can share our contact with God (thru the Word and His Spirit) and encourage others to expect the impossible from Him. Keep the faith and share it widely!
In Luke 2.1-21 a couple of young people, Joseph & Mary find God's blessing in the midst of difficulty (homeless in their hometown!) and see it begin to go global (as angels share the good news with shepherds who share the good news widely). Joseph & Mary are complete unknowns in the world & unwanted in their hometown, but God's blessing blazes through the difficulty. As we see God make appointments with us in the midst of disappointment we can see God begin to take the Good News global. As followers of Jesus we can maintain our faith in difficulty and see God work in us and others (God uses exalted angels and impoverished shepherds to take His blessing global). Keep the faith and share it widely!
In Luke 2.21-38 a couple of prophets, Simeon & Anna, persist in faith and encourage others that God will take His blessing global. Simeon & Anna are outstanding examples of long term faithfulness that God rewards. As followers of Jesus we can commit to long term faithfulness and expect to see God's blessing. Further, we can share God's Word with others to warn and encourage them. Keep the faith and share it widely!!