Two Miracles--One Lesson

A sermon summary by Steve Fountain originally preached on March 24, 2013 called "Two Miracles--One Lesson" from Luke 7:1-23.

What do we do with the story of the Centurion’s servant and the widow’s son? Do these two miracles appear random to you?  They beg the question: “Why does Luke choose to record these?” (Luke 7:1-17)

And what are we to make of John the Baptist being mentioned after a four-chapter absense? (Luke 7:18-23)  These stories glorify the one true God by teaching us that Jesus is not only our Savior, but He is our Lord—and He does all things well.

1.  The Roman Centurion (Luke 7:1-10) was a man of integrity and personal fortitude— the kind of man that children would aspire to be like. 

He finds his beloved servant in failing health despite the best medical efforts.  Having heard much about Jesus performing healings miracles (verse 3), the centurion — knowing the sensitivities of the Jews — asks the elders of the Jews to go and speak on his behalf and request Jesus to come and heal his servant.

The emissaries plead and lobby (v. 4) that he is worthy of help because of his philanthropic works (v. 5).  But before Jesus reaches the centurion's house, he begins to recognize how great Jesus is and how unworthy he is. He sends a group of friends out to meet Jesus (v. 6-7).

Key here is the centurion realizes that he is not worthy AND that Jesus has all authority.  It is a remarkable expression of faith — apparently a kind of faith which Jesus had not seen in Israel.   

Jesus Has All Authority — He is Lord of All.  The Centurion recognized this.  Do You?

But Jesus is a loving and compassionate Savior, too.

As Jesus, the disciples, and a great crowd were approaching the gate of Nain, they meet a funeral procession, leaving town heading toward the tombs. (Luke 7:11-17).

2.  The only son of a widowed mother is being carried out on a funeral bier to a tomb.  She is now alone in the world — without a male protector and provider. 

Luke significantly says that the Lord saw her, and he had compassion on her, and said to her, “Do not weep.” 

Jesus walks past the widow now, and touches the bier — defiling himself — no one touches a funeral bier.  Shocked, the men carrying the dead stood still, as they hear Jesus address the corpse, “Young man, I say to you, arise.” 

And because Jesus is the Lord over life and death, and possesses all power over the realm where the man’s spirit had departed, the young man’s spirit joins his body again in obedience to the Lord’s command.   

On His own initiative, Jesus gave life to this young man. He cannot be a Savior, if he is not Lord of All.  Jesus has all compassion, because Jesus is both Lord and Savior. 

And where has John the Baptist been hiding for the last four chapters?  (Luke 7:18-23) In Luke 3:18-20, we read that rather than repenting of his sins, Herod adds this to them all, that he locked up John in prison. 

John had preached a coming Christ who would destroy the powers of darkness and judge the unrighteous with fire.  But instead, Jesus leaves John helpless, and in prison with much of Israel not believing in Jesus as Lord and Savior.

John’s experience was not measuring up to his expectations — and his faith was beginning to wane. Is it that we are like John, and have misunderstood who Jesus is and what he asks us to do?  John wants to know the day and the hour of God’s vengeance upon sinners and persecutors of righteousness like Herod. 

So in verse 22, Jesus responds by working more miracles of healing and restoration as proof that He is the promised Messiah from the prophecies of Isaiah 35 and 61. 

In verse 23, Jesus says, “Blessed is the one who is not offended by me.” Jesus is telling us to trust in Him because He is in control of all.

Here lies our problem: we want Jesus to be our Savior, but we don’t want Him to be our Lord, or we may not realize how much of our life he owns.  We are surprised when God shows us that he owns our bank account, our children, and much of our life is struggle because we don’t realize this grand truth that Jesus is not simply a Savior, he is also Lord. 

Jesus is teaching us by these miracles that He is a trustworthy Shepherd — He is Lord and Savior.  If we come to him, hear him, and do His Word, he will lead us and nothing will separate us from His love.

Jesus does the right things in the right way and at the right time.  You cannot do Christianity your way.  You must believe that His way is best.