As I looked at this sketch, I thought, "Just one touch". Jesus cared about the people and he was willing to be "touched" with their diseases. It is still true today, Jesus cares enough about you to feel what it is you need from him and he stand ready to give it to you (sketched by Joselyn L. Williams).
As Jesus entered the village of Capernaum, a Roman captain came up in a panic and said, "Master, my servant is sick. He can't walk. He's in terrible pain." Jesus said, "I'll come and heal him." "Oh, no," said the captain. "I don't want to put you to all that trouble. Just give the order and my servant will be fine. I'm a man who takes orders and gives orders. I tell one soldier, 'Go,' and he goes; to another, 'Come,' and he comes; to my slave, 'Do this,' and he does it." Taken aback, Jesus said, "I've yet to come across this kind of simple trust in Israel, the very people who are supposed to know all about God and how he works. This man is the vanguard of many outsiders who will soon be coming from all directions—streaming in from the east, pouring in from the west, sitting down at God's kingdom banquet alongside Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Then those who grew up 'in the faith' but had no faith will find themselves out in the cold, outsiders to grace and wondering what happened." Then Jesus turned to the captain and said, "Go. What you believed could happen has happened." At that moment his servant became well.
Notes: As we saw yesterday, Jesus was cheered as he came down to the people. He began immediately caring for the needs of the people. In these verses we see Jesus' interaction with a Roman captain. It is interesting to see that all kinds of people needed Jesus, the sick, the poor and even the rich and powerful. The captain came to Jesus because his servant was sick and he wanted Jesus to heal his servant.
Question: Why was Jesus amazed at what the Roman captain said?
Answer: When Jesus said he would come and heal the servant, the soldier said, no you do not have to come because I understand power. He explained how he being powerful could direct things to be done and they would get done without him being there. So he understood that Jesus being even more powerful than he, did not have to go, but simply give the command and it would be done. Jesus was amazed because this man was not one of the children of Israel, that should have understood the kingdom of God. He then states those that will come to God will become the children when the children refuse to accept the gift of salvation. Jesus is still amazed at the faith of those that will trust in him. Don't you want to trust no matter what the situation looks like? I know I do.
Answer: When Jesus said he would come and heal the servant, the soldier said, no you do not have to come because I understand power. He explained how he being powerful could direct things to be done and they would get done without him being there. So he understood that Jesus being even more powerful than he, did not have to go, but simply give the command and it would be done. Jesus was amazed because this man was not one of the children of Israel, that should have understood the kingdom of God. He then states those that will come to God will become the children when the children refuse to accept the gift of salvation. Jesus is still amazed at the faith of those that will trust in him. Don't you want to trust no matter what the situation looks like? I know I do.
Prayer: Lord, help us to know you are concerned with what affects us and you simply want us to trust you because you want to see about us. Just as you were willing to take care of the needs of this Roman captain, you are also ready to take care of us. Help us then to trust you and place our faith in your power just as this man did.
No comments:
Post a Comment