Message Notes

INTRODUCTION

1. The Miracles of the Lord Jesus were recorded in the Gospels

2. The Miracles played an important role in the Lord’s ministry:

a) They enhanced His ministry

b) The power of God was made evident

c) Many were greatly helped because they were healed

3. The Miracles of the Lord offer deeply instructive lessons

ESSENTIAL HISTORICAL FACTS

1. Rome ruled the Middle East in the 1st century

2. Roman centurions helped to keep the Pax Romana (Peace of Rome) in the vast Roman Empire

3. Many feared and resented the Roman masters who were often brutal and cruel

THE GOALS OF THIS NEW SERIES OF MESSAGES

1. To appreciate afresh the Miracles performed by the Lord Jesus

2. To discover the place of Faith

3. To be challenged to cultivate our Faith in the Lord Jesus

AN EXCEPTIONAL ROMAN CENTURION

1. There was a Roman centurion who was stationed at Capernaum

2. He cared for his soldiers and even his servants

3. The people in Capernaum had a very high regard of this Centurion

4. They sent a delegation to ask the Lord Jesus to extend help to the centurion

5. They commended the Roman Centurion to the Lord Jesus

a) That he was deserving of help   (Luke 7:4)

i) He had a young servant who was seriously ill

ii) If no help was rendered, the servant would die

b) That he loved Israel   (Luke 7:5a)

c) That he had built a synagogue for them   (Luke 7:5b)

d) This was a very rare Roman Centurion indeed

THE RESPONSE OF THE LORD JESUS

1. The Lord Jesus went with the Jewish delegation to the Centurion’s home   (Luke 7:6a)

2. He was not far from the home of the Centurion   (Luke 7:6b)

3. He sent some of his friends to see the Lord Jesus to say that there was no need to come to his home at all

4. The words he uttered were astonishing   (Luke 7:6-7)

THE ASTONISHING WORDS OF THE CENTURION

6 “Lord, do not trouble Yourself, for I am not worthy that You should enter under my roof.

7 Therefore I did not even think myself worthy to come to You. But say the word, and my servant will be healed.

8 For I also am a man placed under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”

Luke 7:6-8

1. He proclaimed himself unworthy to receive the Lord Jesus into his home

2. He professed a clear understanding of the Power and Authority the Lord had

3. All the Lord needed to do was to “say the word and my servant would be healed” (Luke 7:7)

THE COMMENDATION OF THE LORD JESUS

When Jesus heard these things, He marveled 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!”

Luke 7:9

10 When Jesus heard it, He marveled, and said to those who followed, “Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!

11 And I say to you that many will come from east and west, and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.

12 But the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

13 Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go your way; and as you have believed, so let it be done for you.” And his servant was healed that same hour.

Matthew 8:10-13

1. The Lord Jesus praised the faith of the Roman Centurion

a) He had such great faith

b) His faith was far greater than anyone He had come across throughout Israel

2. The servant of the Centurion was healed that same hour

a) This was to honour the faith of the Centurion

b) This was also a rebuke to all Israel for its lack of faith

3. The so-called sons of the kingdom

a) This was a phrase that was used to describe the Jewish people

b) They proclaim themselves as “the sons of the kingdom”

c) Yet they lacked essential faith in the Lord Jesus Christ

d) They will find themselves “cast out into outer darkness”

OUR CHALLENGE

1. To check the Faith we profess to have

2. To be challenged to cultivate a great Faith

3. To apply our Faith in our life courageously