SUCH GREAT FAITH, Ron Ward
SUCH GREAT FAITH
Passage: Luke 7:1~17  
Key verse: 9
The Faith of the Centurion(A)
7 When Jesus had finished saying all this(B) to the people who were listening, he entered Capernaum. 2 There a centurion’s servant, whom his master valued highly, was sick and about to die. 3 The centurion heard of Jesus and sent some elders of the Jews to him, asking him to come and heal his servant. 4 When they came to Jesus, they pleaded earnestly with him, “This man deserves to have you do this, 5 because he loves our nation and has built our synagogue.” 6 So Jesus went with them.
He was not far from the house when the centurion sent friends to say to him: “Lord, don’t trouble yourself, for I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. 7 That is why I did not even consider myself worthy to come to you. But say the word, and my servant will be healed.(C) 8 For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”
9 When Jesus heard this, he was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd following him, he said, “I tell you, I have not found such great faith even in Israel.” 10 Then the men who had been sent returned to the house and found the servant well.
Jesus Raises a Widow’s Son(D)
11 Soon afterward, Jesus went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd went along with him. 12 As he approached the town gate, a dead person was being carried out—the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the town was with her. 13 When the Lord(E) saw her, his heart went out to her and he said, “Don’t cry.”
14 Then he went up and touched the bier they were carrying him on, and the bearers stood still. He said, “Young man, I say to you, get up!”(F) 15 The dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him back to his mother.
16 They were all filled with awe(G) and praised God.(H) “A great prophet(I) has appeared among us,” they said. “God has come to help his people.”(J) 17 This news about Jesus spread throughout Judea and the surrounding country.(K)
Cross references
- Luke 7:1 : 7:1-10pp — Mt 8:5-13
- Luke 7:1 : Mt 7:28
- Luke 7:7 : Ps 107:20
- Luke 7:11 : 7:11-16Ref — 1Ki 17:17-24; 2Ki 4:32-37; Mk 5:21-24, 35-43; Jn 11:1-44
- Luke 7:13 : ver 19; Lk 10:1; 13:15; 17:5; 22:61; 24:34; Jn 11:2
- Luke 7:14 : Mt 9:25; Mk 1:31; Lk 8:54; Jn 11:43; Ac 9:40
- Luke 7:16 : Lk 1:65
- Luke 7:16 : S Mt 9:8
- Luke 7:16 : ver 39; S Mt 21:11
- Luke 7:16 : Lk 1:68
- Luke 7:17 : S Mt 9:26
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source:  BibleGateway
A widow, whose only son had died, was suffering under the power of death. In her sorrow and vulnerability, Jesus compassionately went to her, and she heard Jesus’ voice, “Don’t cry.” Jesus sees us in our most vulnerable selves with compassion as his own child, mother, or sister. Out of his love, he comforted the widow and raised her dead son to life.
Whether we reach out to Jesus by faith or allow him to enter into our vulnerabilities, Jesus has the power and compassion to bring healing and hope. When we make the effort to connect rather than put up barriers, there can be healing in our hearts, in our communities and in the world.
Prayer: Lord, give me faith that welcomes your power to heal me and those you put in my life.
One Word: Faith that heals.