Faith of A Centurion*

*SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON NOTE* 

For Sunday April 14, 2024

 *Topic: Faith of A Centurion* 

 *Devotional Reading: Zechariah 8:18-23* 

 *Background and Lesson Scripture: Luke 7:1-10* 

 *Golden Text: Luke 7:7* 

"And I am certainly not worthy to come to you. Just say the word, and my servant will get well." CEV‬

"That is why I did not even consider myself worthy to come to you. But say the word, and my servant will be healed." NIV‬

 *Introduction* 

You are welcome to this week's study. Please be reminded that our theme this month is *"The Measure of Faith."* Throughout the month we shall be studying how individuals receive forgiveness, healing, salvation and answers to their prayers by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. The lessons are arranged to boost our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and act accordingly.

Last week, we saw how the faith and perseverance of four friends brought healing to their paralyzed friend. This week, we shall see how the faith of a Centurion healed his ailing servant. The lesson is subdivided into two parts.

 *I. The Centurion's Request, Luke 7:1-5* 

Jesus had been ministering in the area of Galilee, especially besides the Lake of Galilee and on the plain for sometime (Lk. 5-7). After his teaching on the plain land of Galilee (Lk. 6:17-49), Jesus entered a community in Galilee know as Capernaum, 7:1.

In this community was a servant who was sick and about to die, 7:2.

The Master of this servant was a Centurion, 7:2.

 *Who is a Centurion?* 

A Centurion is a Roman Army commander with about a hundred soldiers under his command. In those days, Roman soldiers were not allowed to marry while in active service. They married only after their years of service. Therefore, Roman Army Commanders depended solely on their house servants for home care. The servant under study had proving to be a trusted and dependable servant, thus his Master's concern for his deteriorating health conditions, 7:2.

Jesus ministry had become popular in the area, Lk. 5:15.

Therefore, when his Master heard that Jesus was in town and knew that Jesus was a Jew, he requested Jewish leaders in the community to use their stewardship of influence to help him tell Jesus to come and heal his servant, 7:3.

The Jewish leaders consented to the Centurion's request. They came to beg Jesus to heal the Centurion's servant, 7:4.

When they came to Jesus, they stated *two reasons why the Centurion's request should be granted:* 

i. Although he's not a Jew, *he loves our nation,* Jews, 7:5a.

ii. Although he's not a Jewish convert, *he built a synagogue for us,* a place of worship for Jews, 7:5b.

Therefore they thought the Centurion deserves to be granted his request. He is worthy to be accorded the honour. *Did Jesus accent to Jewish leaders request?* Let's pause here and draw some lessons before we move to the second part of our lesson.

 *Lessons:* Lesson explained 1

 *1. Security officers should be humane in their operations and relationships with the public.* When one considers how Roman Soldiers treated Jesus before Pilate and at Calvary, one may assume that they were evil. But, this Centurion was an exception. He was humane and excellent in his relationship with the public.

 *2. Be a trusted and dependable worker.* Be diligent and faithful in your work. The ailing servant was a trusted and dependable worker. He must have been diligent and faithful in his work to win the heart of his Master.

 *3. Be concerned about the needs of others.* Don't be self centered. We see that the Centurion demonstrated this in two ways in this study. He was concerned about the need of his servant for healing, thus the steps he took. He was earlier concerned about the Jewish people's need for a place of worship, thus he built a synagogue for them, although he didn't worship there. Because he had been concerned with what concerned others, the Jewish leaders were also concerned about what concerned him. Remember, what goes around, comes around. We need one another.

 *4. Don't be ethnocentric or discriminate against persons.* Ethnicism is a major threat to Nigeria's development since independence. Racism, appatheid, antisemitism, and religious bigotry are the threats in other climes. The Centurion was a Roman, yet he loved the Jewish nation and related with Jews cordially. He didn't discriminate against persons, even his servant. He took care of him as he would his son.

 *5. Use your influence positively to bless others.* We all have our areas of influence. Upon the Centurion's request, the Jewish leaders used their influence to bless the Centurion's servant.

 *II. The Centurion's Faith Amazes Jesus, Luke 7:6-10* 

Jesus accented to the request of Jewish leaders to heal his servant. He followed them to the Centurion's house, 7:6.

Getting near the house, the Centurion sent some of his trusted friends to Jesus, not to come to his house because he didn't deserve it, but to make a pronouncement, and 'my servant will be healed,' Lk. 7:7.

Here is a great contrast and height of humility. The Jewish leaders thought the Centurion deserved it, 7:4-5; but the Centurion thought he didn't deserve it, 7:6. Great humility! The Centurion's power not abused or misused, but put under control.

Here we also see Great faith. Onsite healing was a common practice then, but distance healing was rare and considered a great miracle. The Centurion believed that Jesus could heal his servant from a distance. He believed Jesus could do this because he's a man under authority like Jesus. As a man under authority, he takes orders and gives orders, 7:8.

We must be under authority to exercise authority. We must take order to give order.

The faith of the Centurion amazed Jesus, 7:9.

This is where we get our second subtopic: *'The Centurion's Faith Amazes Jesus.'* Thus, Jesus commended the Centurion and charged the audience to emulate him, 7:9.

The servant was healed from a distance, at the exact time Jesus commended the faith of the Centurion. By the time the Centurion's friends got home, the servant had been healed, 7:10.

Here we see a demonstration of faith in the power of Jesus to heal anywhere and everywhere, anytime and every time. It worked for the Centurion and his servant. It can and will also work for you, everyone who believe.

 *Lessons:*  Lessons explained 2

Besides the lessons drawn above, a number of lessons can also be drawn from this second part of our study:

 *1. Have faith in Jesus.* All the steps taken by the Centurion in our study emanated from his absolute trust in Jesus to heal his servant. The servant was healed. Nothing is impossible with Jesus, just believe him.

 *2. Be humble.* Humility is not stupidity, but ability to put power under control. It is not inferiority, but superiority under control. The Centurion had power. He was a superior figure in the society, but he had all under control. Whoever you are, whatever you have, don't let them master you. Master them. That's humility. Remember, pride goes before a fall, and arrogance before destruction.

 *3. Be a loving and caring master and leader.* Treat those under you very well. Don't be harsh on them. Be concerned with what concerns them. Make their welfare and well-being your priorities. The Centurion demonstrated this clearly and creditably in our study.

 *4. Be a man or woman under authority.* Any home or society where everyone does as pleases cannot be at peace. Ultimately, we are all under God's authority. Do what pleases the Lord. At every strata of the society, there are human authorities, honour and obey them in the Lord (Rom. 13:1-6).

 *THANK YOU VERY MUCH.* 

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