There is something so profoundly delicious in Luke 7 vs 1-10. The event centres around a Roman centurion, an unbeliever but respecter of the Jewish faith, who asks the Messiah, King Jesus, for a healing miracle for a beloved sick servant.
“How many of us hear of things, and rather than question it and learn something, we immediately brush it off as hearsay as it bothers our perception of truth as we believe it based on our internalised conditioning?”
I am not referring to chasing after every barking dog, as enough evidence exists of bad habits, bad choices, and the destruction they heap for us as we are foolishly led by wolves in sheep’s clothing towards what God calls evil. God has been so considerate of us that He didn’t just plonk us on earth to figure this out ourselves. Instead, God communicates to us through The Holy Bible, often called God’s Manual for Training for Reigning. The Holy Bible is a wealth of information, even if we aren’t Followers of Jesus.
Luke 7 vs 2-3 is an exciting curiosity because The Word tells us that the centurion had HEARD and, upon hearing of Jesus, called out to Jesus. So many of us struggle with control issues that reaching out to God seems like a weakness or a crutch, as the haters love referring to faith.
WELL, JESUS ISN’T JUST MY CRUTCH; HE IS MY LIFE.
After all, John 1 vs 1-10 tells us that Life was created through Jesus for Jesus, ‘In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was Life, and the Life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. 6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light. 9 The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him.’
Rather than be led by his position and authority, the centurion allowed himself to turn to Jesus rather than feel insecure and threatened. Luke 7 vs 8, ‘”For I 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.”‘- https://luke.bible/luke-7-8
This centurion, a man of authority, doesn’t fall for the power trap recognising that he is also under authority. He recognises that there is something about this Jesus and, driven by the care of a servant, submits himself to the hope that Jesus will respond graciously, which Jesus does. Luke 7 vs 9-10, ‘When Jesus heard these things, He marvelled at him, and turned around and said to the crowd that followed Him, “I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!” And those who were sent, returning to the house, found the servant well who had been sick.‘- https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/luke-7/
Rather than trying to control his “reputation” in front of those whom he governs, the centurion allows curiosity fuelled by love to reach out to Jesus. There is a truly valuable lesson here that we glean about God in this remarkable account of faith, Jeremiah 29 vs 13, ‘And you will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.’
The question is, “Do you and I want to find Jesus, or do we want to hold onto our ego and controlling nature to hide our insecurity?”
UNDERSTANDING CONTROL ISSUES:
To quote: ‘Someone with control issues likely feels the need to exert power over their life, relationships, and environment. In general, these kinds of issues indicate a fear of losing control, relating more to a person’s character and personality.’- https://www.choosingtherapy.com/control-issues/
One of the most incredible truths about Jesus is that He only wants people who freely and willingly want Him. Jesus is not interested in forcing people to use their free will to choose God’s Gospel which is Jesus exclusively. Luke 5 vs 32, ‘”I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners and need to repent.”‘
Messiah King Jesus warns us, Mark 8 vs 38, ‘”If anyone is ashamed of me and my message in these adulterous and sinful days, the Son of Man will be ashamed of that person when he returns in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”‘
#Hayibo 