Jesus has just finished his major teaching on kingdom living (often called "The Sermon on the Mount".) Now he begins to move among the people of Galilee.
Luke 7: 1-10, A Centurion's servant healed
When Jesus had finished saying all this in the hearing of the people, he entered Capernaum. There a centurion's servant, whom his master valued highly, was sick and about to die. The centurion heard of Jesus and sent some elders of the Jews to him, asking him to come and heal his servant.
When they came to Jesus, they pleaded earnestly with him, "This man deserves to have you do this, because he loves our nation and has built our synagogue."
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. That is why I did not even consider myself worthy to come to you. But say the word, and my servant will be healed. 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."
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."
Then the men who had been sent returned to the house and found the servant well.
Capernaum is in Galilee and may have housed a Roman troop. Jesus has made Capernaum the center of his ministry.
In this episode we see Jews and Gentiles in harmony; the Roman centurion has been supportive of the Jewish people and is apparently well-liked.
Why would Luke want to tell this story of the centurion and his servant?
Examine the centurion’s faith. What does he believe about Jesus? At one level, he probably does not know much about Jesus. On the other hand, his faith is serious and thoughtful.
One commentator says that a Jew would not have entered a Gentile’s home and that the centurion knew that.
Luke 7: 11-17, The widow's son healed
Soon afterward, Jesus went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd went along with him. 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.
When the Lord saw her, his heart went out to her and he said, "Don't cry." Then he went up and touched the coffin, and those carrying it stood still. He said, "Young man, I say to you, get up!"
The dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him back to his mother.
They were all filled with awe and praised God. "A great prophet has appeared among us," they said. "God has come to help his people."
This news about Jesus spread throughout Judea and the surrounding country.
This incident occurred very close to the place where Elisha raised another mother’s dead son (see II Kings 4: 18-37). Nain is south of Capernaum, but within Galilee.
Jesus reacts with compassion and empathy for the mother, who is now left without husband or children. Luke records that Jesus "gave him back to his mother" -- it is not clear what that means. If the boy was still young, Jesus may have scooped the child up in his arms and physically handed him over to his mother.
From these two miracles recorded by Luke, what is the extent of Jesus’ power? (How close must the sick be? How healthy?)
Luke 7: 18-23, The Baptizer has a question
John's disciples told him about all these things. Calling two of them, he sent them to the Lord to ask, "Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?"
When the men came to Jesus, they said, "John the Baptist sent us to you to ask, `Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?'"
At that very time Jesus cured many who had diseases, sicknesses and evil spirits, and gave sight to many who were blind. So he replied to the messengers, "Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor. Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me."
John is the one who so confidently announced Jesus to the Jewish community a short time back! Now John is beginning to have doubts. Presumably some of his doubts are due to the fact that Jesus does not act like the Messiah that John had imagined; it would also be discouraging to be locked up in prison after so seriously following God.
Jesus continues to describe the role of John the Baptist in the second half of this chapter.
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