February 22 – Luke 7:1-30

Main Focus: The Centurion and John the Baptist

Who Is Jesus? Luke helps us answer the question by recounting two healing miracles (vv.1-10,11-17) and John’s testimony to Jesus (vv.18-35). Luke 7:1-10 tells us of Jesus healing a centurion’s servant. A centurion is a Roman officer in charge of a hundred men. He sent Jewish elders (local Jewish officials) to Jesus requesting his presence. The elders come to Jesus and in effect say to him that the centurion “is a kind man who loves our people and helped build our synagogue. Please help him.”

Jesus goes with the elders and the centurion sends out his friends to greet Jesus and tell him not to trouble himself since he is not worthy. The centurion responds, in effect, “I too can do things because of the authority given me, so how much more can you!” Jesus commends the centurion (who is a Gentile) for his humble faith —one of the few places where Jesus commends the way in which someone approaches him. Verse 10 tells us they found the servant well. As in all healing miracles in Scripture, the proof of the miracle is described.

A second healing occurs in vv. 11-17. This miracle, involves a widow’s son from Nain. Nain is commonly identified with a modern village southeast of Nazareth, though other locations have also been suggested. Jesus says to the widow, “do not weep” which indicates that He will do something. Although not intended as a sign but as an act of compassion, this miracle will nevertheless provide evidence for answering the question of who Jesus is.

Jesus touched the bier (a plank that served as an open coffin, used to carry the dead body outside the city to its burial place). Jesus is unconcerned about ceremonial uncleanness. for he is not made unclean when he touches the dead. The dead man comes to life. In recognition of God’s powerful presence, the people’s fear immediately leads to worship: they glorified God. The people confess that Jesus is a great prophet. It is a correct description of Jesus but an inadequate one unless one adds: Christ; the Son of God. God has visited his people. God is making known his presence in Jesus, bringing salvation to the Jewish people who had waited so long for him.

News of Jesus and his miracles reach John the Baptist. In response he sends two of his disciples to ask “are you the one who is to come?” John’s question indicates his doubt as to whether Jesus was the “mightier one” who would baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire. For some reason, Jesus did not seem to be exactly the kind of Messiah John was expecting, perhaps because it did not appear that Jesus was going to overthrow the Roman rulers, and probably also because Jesus was not immediately bringing judgment on evildoers. John’s concern was probably aggravated by his being in prison. Jesus does not answer John’s question directly but gives evidence demonstrating that he is the “coming one.” From the following report, John can come to his own conclusion. The blind receive sight; the lame walk; lepers are cleansed; deaf hear; dead are raised; and the poor have good news preached to them. In other words, Jesus is indeed the coming one predicted in the OT. The days of salvation foretold by Isaiah have begun, even though they will not be consummated until Christ returns to establish the eternal kingdom.

John the Baptist was more than a prophet. Jesus said there was none greater than him. John’s greatness among all the OT prophets, all those who came before the arrival of the kingdom of God, comes from his function as direct forerunner of Jesus the Messiah. But John was not part of the kingdom of God that Jesus was proclaiming and bringing to reality, for he was still part of the old covenant system. Therefore the one who is least in the kingdom of God (one who has believed in Jesus and has become a member of the new covenant kingdom) is actually greater than John, for those who come after John live in the age of fulfillment, following the coming of Jesus. Jesus’ hearers rightly take his words as a commendation of John, not a criticism. God was working through John for his purposes in his time. Therefore, those who had been baptized with the baptism of John were glad, and they declared God just.