Now this text is also given in Matthew 8:5-13. And the book of Matthew was written to the Jewish person. The book of Luke was written to the Greek. Decades I heard this taught and thought always that Jesus was speaking to the centurion personally.....you know face to face. But when you put this text from Luke 7 next to it...Jesus was talking with those sent by the centurion! (first elders, then friends)
Now if this occurred today, the person would ask Jesus to come and when He said yes, this same person would put on a big-to-do for the event that Jesus was coming to heal someone. You would most likely see maybe a news network covering this event and how excited they were Jesus was coming to heal someone within their house, or family.
But according to this specific passage, Jesus is talking with those sent by the centurion in that he, the centurion, did not think himself worthy to stand before Jesus. Wow, what humility in a man, even though he had many men who took orders from him in the daily operations of the military.
But I want to point you to something specific here in that the centurion in verse 5 said "for he loves our nation and has built a synagogue."
This man had built us a synagogue for Israel. He also said the man loved Israel. Remembering this passage in Psalm 122:6-9 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem; "May they prosper who love you. 7 Peace be within your walls, prosperity within your palaces." 8 For the sake of my brethren and companions, "I will now say, Peace be within you." 9 Because of the house of the LORD our God I will seek your good.
As we know of the house of the LORD, there is to be worship to God, having revelation of Him, to have unity among believers and to have God's justice. AND we are to seek the LORD'S good!
A man sought to seek out Jesus for his servant who was very ill and at the point of death. This centurion, even though a leader with much authority still kept his place in that pointed which pointed to faith that works. And this man's faith was that Jesus was and is the Healer! Within that, the centurion wanted Jesus to know what this man had done to see that Israel had another synagogue and how he loved the nation Israel.
Can that be said of us and would it be spoken about? Do we love Israel? Do we send monies to help love Jerusalem, to love Israel's people or are we those who kick Israel to the curb and use our monies to fund another 7 days at some theme park with water slides and the such?
Illness can certainly come to people. NOT that we should go looking for sickness but that we have to have proper foods and proper sleep to maintain a healthy body. Stress should be removed and loving others should be our priority. Yet, I wonder how many become ill and have not done anything to prosper. I wonder how many forget Israel and forget Jesus is a Jew!
Praying for the peace of Jerusalem was expecting an orderly society. Jerusalem the city of peace was to live up to the prayer being spoken over it.
The centurion sent first elders( verse 3) of the synagogue to speak with Jesus and then he sent others (friends) while he stayed with the sick man under his roof! He spoke this of this in (verse 6) saying, 'Lord do not trouble Yourself, for I am not worthy that You should enter under my roof. Verse 7: "Therefore I did not even think myself worthy to come to You but say the word and my servant will be healed.
Jesus spoke this in John 15:12-13 This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13"Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends. 14 "You are my friends if you do whatever I command you.
In pertaining to life, Christ Jesus is our example. He was and is always the supreme example of love on the earth! In the above we read of a man who gave through his responsible actions to help the Jewish people have a synagogue. His unselfish manner proved his love for that nation! Sacrifices produce peace and unity with God. And those who submit to the burden of bearing one's responsibilities before God is seen. Love and sacrifice is given by the ill man and the centurion in authority. He did not demand his way! No, he sought the Lord in the manner worthy of He greater than any sickness or disease.
If you are ill today, have you built a synagogue? Have you loved the nation Israel? Have you pulled out your debit card or checkbook and sent monies to help an evangelist in Israel or send a pastor from this nation of America to minister the truth of God through Jesus Christ?
In this we should obey God! I certainly pulled out my checkbook and wrote a check to slap the devil in the face when confronted with something that affected my eyes. YOU want to mess with me devil ....."I will show you...here in this writing" and I did and sent it to that place where Israel is given the word of God for salvation's.
Father God began this process and did it by loving those who did not even know Him. And the Son was sent and He obeyed the Father by the giving of His life in that which was not of royalty, or anything regal, but was of death and sacrifice on the Cross that represented shame. But the joy that was set before Him, He Jesus endured the Cross and came out on the other side victoriously. (Hebrews 12:2)
Today, if something of sickness has come to your house, ask yourself if you have prayed for the peace of Jerusalem and have you loved Israel in ways that will prosper you and your loved ones? For God will perform HIS word in our lives when we speak, believe it and act on it.
To God be all the glory.....Amen!
New teaching at: Voice of Prayer
REJECT WHAT GOD IS REJECTING
Also visit my You Tube channel Voice of Prayer for more teaching
New teaching at: Life Giving Wells
NO SHAME!
Also visit Life Giving Wells You Tube Channel for more teaching
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