1 00:00:02,080 --> 00:00:05,280 Good morning church here in Cambridge joining us online 2 00:00:05,280 --> 00:00:07,800 those who are joining us at our Kitchener location. 3 00:00:08,320 --> 00:00:11,480 So glad to be starting this new year with you're going to ask 4 00:00:11,480 --> 00:00:17,600 you to open your Bibles to Luke Chapter 7 verse one through 10 5 00:00:17,600 --> 00:00:19,000 is where we're going to be today. 6 00:00:20,520 --> 00:00:24,560 You know if I if I do my math right and I'm not always a great 7 00:00:24,560 --> 00:00:26,560 at math. My wife is a math teacher. 8 00:00:26,560 --> 00:00:33,760 I am a math failure. The average Canadian gets 81 to 9 00:00:33,760 --> 00:00:38,000 82 opportunities to welcome a new year during the course of 10 00:00:38,000 --> 00:00:40,840 their lifetime. I don't know about you. 11 00:00:40,840 --> 00:00:42,400 I don't remember the first eight. 12 00:00:43,120 --> 00:00:45,960 I can very distinctly remember the 8th 1:00 because I was at my 13 00:00:45,960 --> 00:00:48,320 grandma's house as the first time I ever stayed up past 14 00:00:48,320 --> 00:00:50,880 midnight. It was super exciting. 15 00:00:51,520 --> 00:00:56,560 We had Olie Bola and Appa Flappa and dipped it in the icing and 16 00:00:56,560 --> 00:00:58,680 it was so good. And then I passed out. 17 00:00:58,680 --> 00:01:03,880 It was wonderful. So maybe, maybe, maybe you get 18 00:01:03,880 --> 00:01:10,160 73 or 74, maybe 75 New Year's that you ring in that you 19 00:01:10,160 --> 00:01:12,920 remember. And I think that's a reminder 20 00:01:12,920 --> 00:01:17,360 that every year that we get, as we come to a day like this, 21 00:01:17,360 --> 00:01:19,240 every year that we get, it's a gift. 22 00:01:20,040 --> 00:01:22,040 We don't know how many lay in front of us. 23 00:01:22,040 --> 00:01:23,760 We should never take them for granted. 24 00:01:24,920 --> 00:01:27,520 And so I want to start by getting us to consider this 25 00:01:27,520 --> 00:01:32,200 question, How are you going to spend that gift of a new year? 26 00:01:33,400 --> 00:01:39,920 How are you going to spend 2026? And as you think about this 27 00:01:39,920 --> 00:01:41,480 question, I want to give you an encouragement. 28 00:01:42,920 --> 00:01:46,200 Would you make a commitment wherever you are in your 29 00:01:46,200 --> 00:01:51,520 spiritual journey, would you make a commitment to join us and 30 00:01:51,520 --> 00:01:55,760 make it a priority to be with us for at least the 1st 10 weeks? 31 00:01:56,640 --> 00:01:58,960 I think if you make it for the 1st 10 weeks, you'll be into a 32 00:01:58,960 --> 00:02:00,920 habit anyhow. I feel strongly about that. 33 00:02:02,240 --> 00:02:05,560 But for the 1st 10 weeks, you would set aside every Sunday to 34 00:02:05,560 --> 00:02:08,360 be present and to worship and to come together. 35 00:02:08,600 --> 00:02:11,760 Because, because I think as we enter into this new series, 36 00:02:12,760 --> 00:02:16,160 there's no better investment that you could make then to 37 00:02:16,160 --> 00:02:18,600 grapple with the question that we're going to grapple with as 38 00:02:18,600 --> 00:02:24,960 we walk through Luke 7 and Luke 8 of who is Jesus, Who is Jesus? 39 00:02:25,520 --> 00:02:29,680 I think that's the most important question that anybody 40 00:02:29,960 --> 00:02:33,680 could ever answer in their life. Because if you're going to take 41 00:02:33,680 --> 00:02:37,240 the next 10 weeks to answer that question with us and to hear 42 00:02:37,240 --> 00:02:40,120 what Luke has to tell us about this and, and to firm up for 43 00:02:40,120 --> 00:02:42,320 yourself who Jesus is, here's what I'll tell you. 44 00:02:43,000 --> 00:02:45,520 The answer to that question will change all the other weeks in 45 00:02:45,520 --> 00:02:49,800 your life. How you answer the question, who 46 00:02:49,800 --> 00:02:54,400 is Jesus? It changes everything if you 47 00:02:54,400 --> 00:02:59,720 come to a point where you decide Jesus is just a man, maybe even 48 00:02:59,720 --> 00:03:02,360 a great man, maybe a wonderful teacher. 49 00:03:02,360 --> 00:03:07,840 But at the end of the day, just a man that can and I would argue 50 00:03:07,840 --> 00:03:10,760 should change and settle your life in a certain direction. 51 00:03:11,640 --> 00:03:15,320 If that's all, who, if Jesus is just some guy who was a great 52 00:03:15,320 --> 00:03:17,320 teacher, you should live that out. 53 00:03:18,480 --> 00:03:25,120 But if you decide, as I've decided, as I know so many of us 54 00:03:25,120 --> 00:03:28,680 in this room have decided, as billions of Christians 55 00:03:28,680 --> 00:03:31,600 throughout history and across the world have decided, that 56 00:03:31,600 --> 00:03:37,320 Jesus is no mere man, then that should shape everything, not 57 00:03:37,320 --> 00:03:41,200 just in this life, but it changes everything for eternity. 58 00:03:42,200 --> 00:03:46,520 There's no more important question than we can ask then 59 00:03:46,520 --> 00:03:49,600 who is Jesus? Because changes everything. 60 00:03:51,280 --> 00:03:55,600 And so this morning we're going to start by looking at this 61 00:03:55,600 --> 00:04:00,840 first encounter in Luke 7 chapters or verses 1 to 10 of 62 00:04:01,360 --> 00:04:05,480 Jesus and a Roman centurion. And I want to start by reading 63 00:04:05,480 --> 00:04:09,360 through the whole encounter, walking through it, and then 64 00:04:09,360 --> 00:04:13,800 we'll jump into it in detail and explore what it teaches us about 65 00:04:13,800 --> 00:04:15,920 who Jesus is. So let's let's read these first 66 00:04:15,920 --> 00:04:21,440 10 verses together. When he had concluded saying all 67 00:04:21,440 --> 00:04:24,280 this to the people who were listening, he entered Capernaum. 68 00:04:24,280 --> 00:04:26,760 And I just do want to pause here and give you a reminder of where 69 00:04:26,760 --> 00:04:29,760 we were. Remember, Jesus had just given 70 00:04:29,760 --> 00:04:32,000 his teaching on the plane. That's where we ended off. 71 00:04:32,000 --> 00:04:35,600 And Luke, Jesus has given a whole bunch of teaching on what 72 00:04:35,600 --> 00:04:39,400 it means to be a follower of his and to live in his Kingdom. 73 00:04:40,120 --> 00:04:42,120 So that's the setting. We're coming straight out of 74 00:04:42,120 --> 00:04:45,120 that. So he's now entered into a 75 00:04:45,120 --> 00:04:49,200 capernaum and a centurion servant who was highly valued by 76 00:04:49,200 --> 00:04:53,960 him was sick and about to die. When the centurion heard about 77 00:04:53,960 --> 00:04:57,960 Jesus, he sent some Jewish elders to him, requesting him to 78 00:04:57,960 --> 00:05:00,000 come and save the life of his servant. 79 00:05:01,200 --> 00:05:04,680 When they reached Jesus, they pleaded with him earnestly, 80 00:05:04,680 --> 00:05:08,880 saying He is worthy for you to grant this because he loves our 81 00:05:08,880 --> 00:05:11,160 nation. He's built for us a synagogue. 82 00:05:12,560 --> 00:05:16,360 So Jesus went with them, and when he was not far from the 83 00:05:16,360 --> 00:05:21,000 house, the century and sent friends to tell him, Lord, 84 00:05:21,240 --> 00:05:25,040 don't, don't trouble yourself, since I'm not worthy to have you 85 00:05:25,360 --> 00:05:28,600 come under my roof. That's why I didn't even 86 00:05:28,600 --> 00:05:30,960 consider myself worthy to come to you. 87 00:05:32,400 --> 00:05:36,120 But say the word and my servant will be healed. 88 00:05:37,320 --> 00:05:42,120 For I too am a man placed under authority, having soldiers under 89 00:05:42,120 --> 00:05:44,400 my command. I say to this one, go, and he 90 00:05:44,400 --> 00:05:49,320 goes to another one come, and he comes and to my servant do this 91 00:05:49,320 --> 00:05:53,720 and he does it. Jesus heard this, he was amazed 92 00:05:53,720 --> 00:05:55,520 at him, and he turned to the crowd and followed him. 93 00:05:55,520 --> 00:05:59,360 He said, I'd tell you I've not found so great a faith even in 94 00:05:59,360 --> 00:06:02,800 Israel. When those who had been sent 95 00:06:02,800 --> 00:06:06,440 returned to the house, they found the servant in good 96 00:06:06,440 --> 00:06:09,360 health. May God bless the reading of his 97 00:06:09,360 --> 00:06:12,560 Word. So this encounter, I think, 98 00:06:12,560 --> 00:06:17,400 teaches us two things. The first that I want us to see 99 00:06:17,400 --> 00:06:21,000 is this. Jesus is the one whose authority 100 00:06:21,000 --> 00:06:25,520 amazes, that Jesus is one of incredible authority. 101 00:06:25,560 --> 00:06:28,480 We have to stop by first considering the person that 102 00:06:28,480 --> 00:06:31,640 Jesus is speaking to. Who is this guy that Jesus is 103 00:06:31,640 --> 00:06:33,800 interacting with through intermediaries, through his 104 00:06:33,800 --> 00:06:36,160 friends? Who is this centurion? 105 00:06:36,880 --> 00:06:41,120 Well, little background for you. Centurions were the background 106 00:06:41,120 --> 00:06:43,200 or the backbone of the Roman army. 107 00:06:44,120 --> 00:06:50,080 So in a fully staffed legion or section of the Roman army, 108 00:06:50,080 --> 00:06:55,280 there'd be 6000 soldiers. That means that there would be 109 00:06:55,280 --> 00:06:59,760 60 centurions in each legion. Because if I do my math, there's 110 00:06:59,760 --> 00:07:05,440 a lot of math this morning, this is 10 cohorts of 600 and you 111 00:07:05,440 --> 00:07:11,280 would need 60 centurions because each centurion looked after 100 112 00:07:11,280 --> 00:07:15,440 or had authority over 100 men. So I, I believe my math is right 113 00:07:15,440 --> 00:07:20,880 on this, 60 centurions in a legion, just to give you a sense 114 00:07:20,880 --> 00:07:25,120 of, of, of the space and place that centurions took up in the 115 00:07:25,120 --> 00:07:28,000 Roman army. Polybius, the, the Roman 116 00:07:28,000 --> 00:07:30,000 historian described centurions this way. 117 00:07:30,000 --> 00:07:34,720 He said centurions are not so much venturesome daredevils as 118 00:07:34,720 --> 00:07:39,520 natural leaders of a steady and sedate spirit, not so much men 119 00:07:39,520 --> 00:07:43,680 who will initiate attacks and open the battle as many who will 120 00:07:43,680 --> 00:07:48,560 hold their ground when worsted and hard pressed and be ready to 121 00:07:48,560 --> 00:07:52,640 die at their post. These are the guys who make up 122 00:07:52,640 --> 00:07:55,880 the fighting force of Rome and keep it knitted together. 123 00:07:56,400 --> 00:07:58,080 They're not the big picture guys. 124 00:07:58,280 --> 00:08:00,480 They're not the grunt on the ground, but they're holding the 125 00:08:00,480 --> 00:08:01,960 whole thing together. They're the glue. 126 00:08:02,720 --> 00:08:05,240 This man in particular we learned a few things about. 127 00:08:05,680 --> 00:08:07,480 First of all, we learned that he's a Gentile. 128 00:08:07,480 --> 00:08:10,800 So he's not a Jew, right? You see that in verses 4:00 and 129 00:08:10,800 --> 00:08:12,760 5:00. And then in verse 9, Jesus says, 130 00:08:13,680 --> 00:08:16,000 here's this Gentile and I haven't met anybody in all of 131 00:08:16,000 --> 00:08:21,120 Israel with faith like this. He's likely given the reality of 132 00:08:21,120 --> 00:08:23,880 whose centurions were likely. He was a career soldier, 133 00:08:24,320 --> 00:08:31,440 probably from a, a, a, a region around the area of Judea, maybe 134 00:08:31,440 --> 00:08:35,320 a Syrian. He, he would have probably just 135 00:08:35,320 --> 00:08:39,840 risen through the ranks as one who had been a faithful, loyal 136 00:08:39,840 --> 00:08:45,240 soldier who who men responded to as a natural leader, a guy who 137 00:08:45,240 --> 00:08:48,360 had proven himself to be brave in battle. 138 00:08:49,240 --> 00:08:54,640 And so his role in this place in Capernaum as a centurion, was to 139 00:08:54,640 --> 00:08:59,360 make sure that peace was kept. And where peace wasn't kept, 140 00:08:59,360 --> 00:09:04,280 that order was restored. They were there to enforce the 141 00:09:04,280 --> 00:09:06,920 Pax Romana, the peace of the Roman Empire. 142 00:09:09,680 --> 00:09:12,840 Most important for us, I think in this story, though, and as 143 00:09:12,840 --> 00:09:16,600 he's going to point out to us, he's a man who understood 144 00:09:16,600 --> 00:09:20,560 authority. He's a man who knew what it was 145 00:09:20,560 --> 00:09:24,720 like to live life in a command structure. 146 00:09:26,560 --> 00:09:29,360 Most of us don't know anything about what that's like. 147 00:09:30,160 --> 00:09:35,440 Like we, yes, we know what it's like to have a boss, but we 148 00:09:35,440 --> 00:09:39,600 don't know what it's like to live in a space where 149 00:09:39,600 --> 00:09:45,040 disobedience means death. That's the reality of life as a 150 00:09:45,040 --> 00:09:49,360 Roman soldier. That's the reality in life 151 00:09:49,360 --> 00:09:53,680 throughout history. In the military world, up until 152 00:09:53,680 --> 00:09:57,800 very recently, the punishment for any soldier who disobeyed 153 00:09:57,800 --> 00:10:02,600 directors, especially in a battle, was immediate execution. 154 00:10:03,840 --> 00:10:09,320 That's how that world that that world of chain of command, of 155 00:10:09,320 --> 00:10:12,800 authority, how it functions. I mean, even up until World War 156 00:10:12,800 --> 00:10:15,240 One. Do you recognize that in World 157 00:10:15,240 --> 00:10:20,000 War One, thousands of British and French soldiers were 158 00:10:20,000 --> 00:10:22,560 summarily executed in the battlefield for deserting their 159 00:10:22,560 --> 00:10:28,400 posts, that that is how armies and soldiers have fun? 160 00:10:28,480 --> 00:10:30,680 That's definitely how he functioned. 161 00:10:31,080 --> 00:10:35,080 And that means this man, he knows what real authority looks 162 00:10:35,080 --> 00:10:38,440 like. What say the word do the word 163 00:10:38,440 --> 00:10:40,480 looks like right? And that's what he says. 164 00:10:41,280 --> 00:10:43,520 He says, Lord, hey, don't trouble yourself. 165 00:10:44,600 --> 00:10:46,720 I'm not worthy to have you come under my roof. 166 00:10:46,720 --> 00:10:49,360 I didn't even consider myself worthy to come to you. 167 00:10:49,720 --> 00:10:51,040 But here's what I know about you. 168 00:10:51,320 --> 00:10:55,960 Jesus, you say the word, My servant will be healed. 169 00:10:57,040 --> 00:11:00,720 And how do I know this? Because I am a man placed under 170 00:11:00,720 --> 00:11:02,280 authority. I know what authority looks 171 00:11:02,280 --> 00:11:04,600 like. I know what it's like to have 172 00:11:04,600 --> 00:11:07,040 soldiers under command. I say to this one, go. 173 00:11:07,040 --> 00:11:09,800 He goes. I say to another one, come, He 174 00:11:09,800 --> 00:11:12,160 comes. I say to my servant, do this. 175 00:11:12,160 --> 00:11:14,840 He does it. That's what authority looks like 176 00:11:14,840 --> 00:11:17,800 in Jesus. You're a man of authority. 177 00:11:20,080 --> 00:11:23,680 In fact, you're a man of authority such that if you just 178 00:11:23,680 --> 00:11:28,400 say the word that my servant would be healed, he'll be 179 00:11:28,400 --> 00:11:31,040 healed. That's the type of authority 180 00:11:31,040 --> 00:11:34,160 that you have. See, he understands this. 181 00:11:34,600 --> 00:11:39,600 He understands Jesus is 1 whose authority must be obeyed. 182 00:11:41,520 --> 00:11:44,800 And I think that leads to a question for us. 183 00:11:45,960 --> 00:11:49,000 Do we believe that to be true about Jesus? 184 00:11:50,200 --> 00:11:56,720 Do you believe that Jesus is 1 whose authority must be obeyed? 185 00:11:59,040 --> 00:12:00,960 Do you? Do you see Jesus not merely as a 186 00:12:00,960 --> 00:12:07,800 guy who's worthy of respect, not just someone who typically in 187 00:12:07,800 --> 00:12:11,360 most situations, his advice would be good advice to listen 188 00:12:11,360 --> 00:12:15,720 to? Do you see someone? 189 00:12:16,280 --> 00:12:20,600 Do you see Jesus as the one who has ultimate and all authority 190 00:12:20,600 --> 00:12:26,000 in all things? How do you respond to the 191 00:12:26,000 --> 00:12:28,080 authority of Jesus? Do you respond like this man? 192 00:12:29,600 --> 00:12:31,400 You know we sang a song to start, right? 193 00:12:32,240 --> 00:12:35,560 I'll take you at your word. If you said it, I'll believe it. 194 00:12:37,600 --> 00:12:41,960 There are way too many times in my life, at least, where I 195 00:12:41,960 --> 00:12:47,240 should probably be singing. I value you, I value your word, 196 00:12:47,240 --> 00:12:49,160 and if you said it, I'll consider it. 197 00:12:50,920 --> 00:12:55,120 That's how I think at least. I so often respond to Jesus. 198 00:12:55,320 --> 00:13:00,640 Maybe that's true for you too. Do we actually take Him at His 199 00:13:00,640 --> 00:13:04,280 word? Believe that His word is 200 00:13:04,400 --> 00:13:08,080 authority? It must be obeyed when He 201 00:13:08,080 --> 00:13:16,160 commands to forgive and to forgive and to forgive again, as 202 00:13:16,160 --> 00:13:21,520 Matthew 1822 says, to forgive 70 * 7, which is basically 203 00:13:21,800 --> 00:13:25,720 infinite, infinitely, to just continue forgiving in your life. 204 00:13:25,720 --> 00:13:30,880 Do you take that as a commander? Take it under advisement when he 205 00:13:30,880 --> 00:13:34,640 says that you need to love your enemies and pray for those who 206 00:13:34,640 --> 00:13:38,080 persecute you. Do you take Him at His word? 207 00:13:40,120 --> 00:13:45,720 Do you treat sin in your life with such severity that you will 208 00:13:45,720 --> 00:13:48,680 do whatever it takes to stop it? Because that's what Jesus said 209 00:13:48,680 --> 00:13:52,760 we ought to do in the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 527 to 30. 210 00:13:53,120 --> 00:13:55,520 He says, man, if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off. 211 00:13:57,080 --> 00:13:58,840 If your eye causes you sin, pluck it out. 212 00:13:59,760 --> 00:14:03,600 He's just saying sin so severe, do whatever you need to take 213 00:14:03,600 --> 00:14:08,760 care of it. Do you follow Jesus so fully in 214 00:14:08,760 --> 00:14:11,680 everything that you can honestly say? 215 00:14:11,680 --> 00:14:16,320 When Jesus says deny yourself, take up your cross, die to 216 00:14:16,320 --> 00:14:22,800 yourself and follow Him, that that's the pattern of your life 217 00:14:22,800 --> 00:14:30,120 and my life. When he says go make disciples 218 00:14:30,120 --> 00:14:38,480 of all nations and we see our neighbors who need Jesus, do we 219 00:14:38,480 --> 00:14:44,480 consider or do we obey? Do you believe Him when He 220 00:14:44,480 --> 00:14:51,400 promises that if you are weary and you come to Him, He will 221 00:14:51,400 --> 00:14:56,560 give you rest? In Matthew 1128, do you believe 222 00:14:56,560 --> 00:15:01,960 the truth that He spoke in John 1427 in that upper room as He 223 00:15:01,960 --> 00:15:05,360 was given final instructions to His disciples before His death, 224 00:15:06,240 --> 00:15:10,480 that He gives peace to His followers? 225 00:15:13,480 --> 00:15:21,440 Do do you trust Him when He says in Luke 748 that He offers a 226 00:15:21,440 --> 00:15:24,640 clean slate and a new beginning to everybody who comes to Him? 227 00:15:25,600 --> 00:15:27,960 Would you keep on listening to the voices in your head that 228 00:15:27,960 --> 00:15:31,040 call you back to the shameful things that you did in your past 229 00:15:31,040 --> 00:15:33,280 and live in shame instead of in freedom? 230 00:15:36,120 --> 00:15:40,400 Do you believe Him when He says that He'll use you if you follow 231 00:15:40,400 --> 00:15:43,920 Him and you put down roots in Him to have a lasting impact, 232 00:15:44,200 --> 00:15:47,960 even if you don't necessarily see that impact right now, but 233 00:15:47,960 --> 00:15:51,840 He promises that you will bear fruit, fruit that will last. 234 00:15:51,840 --> 00:15:54,160 We looked at that back in the beginning, in September, the 235 00:15:54,160 --> 00:15:57,520 beginning of this church year, John 1516. 236 00:16:00,440 --> 00:16:04,720 Most importantly, do you believe that if you place your faith in 237 00:16:04,720 --> 00:16:10,120 Him, death is not the end resurrection is that it's true 238 00:16:10,240 --> 00:16:17,720 in John 14/19 He says because I live you too will live because 239 00:16:17,720 --> 00:16:23,200 here's the thing. Jesus authority is so amazing 240 00:16:24,520 --> 00:16:26,400 that whatever he says comes to be. 241 00:16:28,760 --> 00:16:30,960 He says the century and understood this right. 242 00:16:30,960 --> 00:16:36,080 He said just say the word Jesus, my servant will be healed. 243 00:16:36,720 --> 00:16:42,840 The amazing, astonishing truth of Jesus's power and authority 244 00:16:43,240 --> 00:16:50,480 is that he speaks and reality comes into existence that that's 245 00:16:50,560 --> 00:16:55,880 that's what we just celebrated at Christmas in John one. 246 00:16:55,880 --> 00:16:58,880 We celebrate the incarnation. John one starts out this way. 247 00:16:58,880 --> 00:17:01,360 He says in the beginning was the word. 248 00:17:02,120 --> 00:17:05,040 The word was with God. The word was God. 249 00:17:05,400 --> 00:17:08,760 He was with God in the beginning and all things were created 250 00:17:08,760 --> 00:17:11,319 through him. Apart from Him, not one thing 251 00:17:11,319 --> 00:17:13,160 was created that has been created. 252 00:17:13,800 --> 00:17:19,079 The word John says is Jesus right in verse 14 he says that 253 00:17:19,079 --> 00:17:23,480 this word, that word that created all things, became flesh 254 00:17:23,480 --> 00:17:27,520 and dwelt among us, and we observe His glory, the glory as 255 00:17:27,520 --> 00:17:30,040 the one and only Son from the Father. 256 00:17:30,640 --> 00:17:33,440 The word is Jesus. The Word was there at creation 257 00:17:34,360 --> 00:17:39,080 and Jesus speaks and the stars are made. 258 00:17:39,640 --> 00:17:42,200 This is the wonder of the incarnation. 259 00:17:42,200 --> 00:17:43,600 St. Augustine said it this way. 260 00:17:43,760 --> 00:17:50,960 Think about this man's maker was made man, that he, ruler of the 261 00:17:50,960 --> 00:17:54,560 stars, might nurse at his mother's breast. 262 00:17:55,960 --> 00:18:01,400 That's incredible. Here's the one who by a word 263 00:18:01,720 --> 00:18:06,840 puts the stars, and yet he enters into his creation as a 264 00:18:06,840 --> 00:18:11,520 humble baby. Jesus just has to speak the 265 00:18:11,520 --> 00:18:15,920 word. Genesis 1 is the account of God 266 00:18:16,120 --> 00:18:17,720 speaking. And there was. 267 00:18:17,720 --> 00:18:21,560 That's the whole thing. Let there be and there is. 268 00:18:22,400 --> 00:18:27,200 When Jesus speaks, it's not something that might happen. 269 00:18:28,240 --> 00:18:31,440 It's not a strong probability or possibility. 270 00:18:31,840 --> 00:18:36,800 It's what will happen. Because the words that Jesus 271 00:18:36,800 --> 00:18:42,840 speaks speak reality into being, believing this reality to be 272 00:18:42,840 --> 00:18:48,000 true about Jesus, His amazing incredible authority is 273 00:18:48,000 --> 00:18:51,320 ultimately foundationally what it looks like to have faith. 274 00:18:53,360 --> 00:18:55,640 And so it leads to the second thing we learned from this 275 00:18:55,640 --> 00:18:59,640 encounter. We learned that amazing faith 276 00:19:00,280 --> 00:19:03,280 recognizes as Jesus authority and trusts it. 277 00:19:05,200 --> 00:19:09,080 Look at the response of Jesus in verse 9 to the message the 278 00:19:09,080 --> 00:19:10,640 centurion's friends delivered to him. 279 00:19:12,280 --> 00:19:15,520 Says Jesus heard this and he was amazed at him. 280 00:19:16,880 --> 00:19:20,440 Turning to the crowd following, he said, I tell you, I haven't 281 00:19:20,440 --> 00:19:23,760 found so great a faith even in Israel. 282 00:19:25,000 --> 00:19:30,600 Now, in the Gospels, there are all sorts of times where people 283 00:19:30,600 --> 00:19:35,120 are amazed at or by Jesus. We're going to see so many 284 00:19:35,120 --> 00:19:39,600 accounts in Luke of people being amazed at who Jesus is and what 285 00:19:39,600 --> 00:19:42,200 he does and what he says. Do you know there's only two 286 00:19:42,200 --> 00:19:46,360 times recorded in all of Scripture where Jesus is amazed? 287 00:19:47,720 --> 00:19:53,880 The first time is found in Mark 66 and in that instance Jesus is 288 00:19:53,880 --> 00:19:59,800 amazed in the unbelief of the people of Nazareth that they 289 00:19:59,800 --> 00:20:02,640 wouldn't be able. They couldn't see him for who he 290 00:20:02,640 --> 00:20:05,440 was despite everything he had done amongst them. 291 00:20:05,960 --> 00:20:10,040 They just couldn't wrap their head around Jesus being the 292 00:20:10,040 --> 00:20:15,760 promised Messiah. But here is the second time that 293 00:20:15,760 --> 00:20:21,200 Jesus is amazed by people and he's amazed. 294 00:20:21,200 --> 00:20:27,400 He's stunned at the faith of this non Jewish Roman soldier. 295 00:20:28,680 --> 00:20:32,760 Because this guy sees him so much more clearly than anybody 296 00:20:32,760 --> 00:20:37,280 else around saw Jesus because he saw his authority. 297 00:20:38,920 --> 00:20:41,480 Now what does this amazing faith look like for us? 298 00:20:41,480 --> 00:20:45,400 What are what are the markers? If one is to have amazing faith? 299 00:20:45,400 --> 00:20:49,600 What would be showing up in our lives if we had amazing faith in 300 00:20:49,600 --> 00:20:54,200 the authority of Jesus? I think we see 4 markers here in 301 00:20:54,200 --> 00:20:58,320 the life of the centurion. The first is this amazing faith 302 00:20:58,320 --> 00:21:02,320 is marked by an incredible love for people, for others. 303 00:21:03,720 --> 00:21:10,280 You see the Centurions uncommon love twice in this story, and we 304 00:21:10,280 --> 00:21:14,280 probably don't see it because it's pretty veiled to us. 305 00:21:14,280 --> 00:21:16,240 We don't understand the culture of the time. 306 00:21:16,520 --> 00:21:19,240 But the first way we see it is in His compassion towards His 307 00:21:19,240 --> 00:21:21,400 servant. You and I might think of course, 308 00:21:21,560 --> 00:21:25,360 well anybody, if they had somebody who they knew they 309 00:21:25,360 --> 00:21:28,440 would go and they would try and get the help for them that they 310 00:21:28,440 --> 00:21:30,040 need. But that is not the way that 311 00:21:30,040 --> 00:21:35,400 Romans viewed slaves. Luke actually uses 2 Greek words 312 00:21:35,400 --> 00:21:40,280 that show us how great the centurion's esteem was for this 313 00:21:40,280 --> 00:21:43,840 servant. And, and servant is a mild word. 314 00:21:43,840 --> 00:21:49,200 It really should be slave. This word servant is found in 315 00:21:49,200 --> 00:21:52,800 verse 7. It's the word the the Greek word 316 00:21:52,800 --> 00:21:58,800 pace which also can be translated as son that he had a 317 00:21:58,800 --> 00:22:01,920 deep affection towards and which is why he doesn't call him a 318 00:22:01,920 --> 00:22:04,480 slave even though he functioned as a slave to this man. 319 00:22:06,320 --> 00:22:12,760 Verse 2 entemos it's it's the word highly valued that you'll 320 00:22:12,760 --> 00:22:16,560 see in your in your in your Scripture, in your Bible. 321 00:22:16,840 --> 00:22:20,200 But what it really connotes is a distinguished guest at a 322 00:22:20,200 --> 00:22:25,720 banquet. In fact, Peter uses this exact 323 00:22:25,720 --> 00:22:31,640 word to describe Jesus in first Peter 2 four and six. 324 00:22:32,280 --> 00:22:35,480 This this is this is the the esteem which he's giving. 325 00:22:35,480 --> 00:22:40,240 He he's an esteemed guest. He's not just deeply valued for 326 00:22:40,240 --> 00:22:45,440 his use, but but but the centurion has great affection 327 00:22:45,440 --> 00:22:49,280 and esteem for him, which is completely countercultural to a 328 00:22:49,280 --> 00:22:53,840 Roman view of slaves. The Roman writer Vero said the 329 00:22:53,840 --> 00:22:58,480 only difference between a slave, an animal and a cart was that 330 00:22:58,480 --> 00:23:05,240 the slave talked. That is how Roman citizens saw 331 00:23:05,240 --> 00:23:08,360 slaves. They were there for their use, 332 00:23:08,440 --> 00:23:11,320 at their disposal, for their pleasure, and that's how it 333 00:23:11,320 --> 00:23:14,840 functioned. So he's marked by this deep 334 00:23:14,840 --> 00:23:19,200 concern and care that is totally uncommon for his servant and 335 00:23:19,200 --> 00:23:21,560 then in his love for the people of God. 336 00:23:22,400 --> 00:23:24,520 Do you know anti-Semitism is not a new thing. 337 00:23:26,480 --> 00:23:28,720 It's it's been around a long time. 338 00:23:29,120 --> 00:23:33,120 The Romans viewed Jews as a filthy race. 339 00:23:34,280 --> 00:23:41,840 They viewed Judaism as a barbarous superstition, and to 340 00:23:41,840 --> 00:23:47,800 be fair, Jews for their part refused for the most part to 341 00:23:47,800 --> 00:23:51,320 engage with Gentiles in any way, shape or form for fear of 342 00:23:51,320 --> 00:23:56,000 becoming unclean. But the centurion here overcomes 343 00:23:56,000 --> 00:24:00,280 those prejudices, and he acts with love towards the people of 344 00:24:00,280 --> 00:24:05,320 God. Would the people around you be 345 00:24:05,320 --> 00:24:07,560 amazed by the way that you love others? 346 00:24:09,280 --> 00:24:14,560 Do you have a love that is countercultural towards people 347 00:24:14,560 --> 00:24:20,760 who really, maybe you wouldn't be expected or or have no reason 348 00:24:20,760 --> 00:24:26,680 to love? Amazing faith is marked by 349 00:24:26,680 --> 00:24:31,040 incredible love, uncommon love. Second, amazing faith is marked 350 00:24:31,040 --> 00:24:34,920 by generosity. How do we know that he loved the 351 00:24:34,920 --> 00:24:37,400 people of Israel and the Jewish people? 352 00:24:37,400 --> 00:24:42,880 Well, he built the synagogue. He these, these, these Jewish 353 00:24:42,880 --> 00:24:46,800 men come and say, hey, listen, Jesus, he's worthy for you to 354 00:24:46,800 --> 00:24:50,480 come and heal his servant because he loves our nation. 355 00:24:50,480 --> 00:24:58,160 He's built us a synagogue. As proof, he, he believed in 356 00:24:58,160 --> 00:25:00,600 what the Jewish scriptures taught. 357 00:25:01,440 --> 00:25:05,760 He believed the truth of God so deeply that he actually put his 358 00:25:05,760 --> 00:25:12,360 money where his mouth was. There was a time where I I came 359 00:25:12,360 --> 00:25:21,720 to a pretty sobering realization that if I spent my money on what 360 00:25:21,720 --> 00:25:27,280 I loved, it meant that I loved Big Macs more than I loved 361 00:25:27,280 --> 00:25:31,920 Jesus. I looked at my my finances. 362 00:25:31,920 --> 00:25:36,200 I realized I spend more money on fast food than I give to the 363 00:25:36,200 --> 00:25:41,280 cause of Christ that that was deeply humbling to me. 364 00:25:43,480 --> 00:25:48,800 If if we believe Jesus is the way, the truth and the life and 365 00:25:48,800 --> 00:25:53,840 no one comes to the Father except through him, would that 366 00:25:53,840 --> 00:25:58,400 be borne out by giving to make sure that as many people as 367 00:25:58,760 --> 00:26:01,480 could possibly hear about this Jesus got to hear about him. 368 00:26:04,800 --> 00:26:09,040 His Jewish friends here they point to his amazing generosity 369 00:26:09,040 --> 00:26:12,000 is the reason reason for why Jesus should come and heal his 370 00:26:12,000 --> 00:26:14,680 servant. But what's truly amazing is 371 00:26:14,680 --> 00:26:17,320 that's not how the man saw himself. 372 00:26:19,440 --> 00:26:22,400 In fact, he specifically says Lord, don't trouble yourself. 373 00:26:22,440 --> 00:26:27,800 I'm not worthy Jesus. She says, I'm not worthy for you 374 00:26:27,800 --> 00:26:31,320 to come under my roof. So the third thing I want us to 375 00:26:31,320 --> 00:26:34,120 see is that it's not just marked by amazing love and amazing 376 00:26:34,120 --> 00:26:38,680 humility or amazing generosity, also by amazing humility. 377 00:26:40,440 --> 00:26:45,560 True faith, real faith, the type of faith that can really bring 378 00:26:45,560 --> 00:26:50,560 the healing that we need is marked by a realization of just 379 00:26:50,560 --> 00:27:00,960 how unworthy we are. He sees who Jesus is as clearly 380 00:27:00,960 --> 00:27:05,320 as anybody has been able to see Jesus before the Christ. 381 00:27:05,320 --> 00:27:11,680 He sees who Jesus is, and he sees who he is in light of the 382 00:27:11,680 --> 00:27:16,800 Jesus that he sees, and he's brought to ultimate humility. 383 00:27:17,840 --> 00:27:20,480 No, I'm not worthy. I'm not worthy to have you come 384 00:27:20,480 --> 00:27:24,640 into my house. The guy built an entire 385 00:27:24,640 --> 00:27:28,840 synagogue. What have you done for Jesus? 386 00:27:29,880 --> 00:27:32,880 What have you done for God? If he's not worthy, how am I 387 00:27:32,880 --> 00:27:37,920 worthy? One of the marks of true faith. 388 00:27:38,560 --> 00:27:42,520 We saw it in the last chapter. Jesus starts with it, is that we 389 00:27:42,520 --> 00:27:46,400 realize that we are spiritually poor. 390 00:27:46,400 --> 00:27:49,600 We're spiritually bankrupt. We got nothing to offer God on 391 00:27:49,600 --> 00:27:52,520 our own. We don't get ourselves worthy 392 00:27:52,520 --> 00:27:55,760 before Him in order to have Him except us. 393 00:27:57,760 --> 00:28:04,360 Do you understand that the only way that you can be made whole, 394 00:28:04,360 --> 00:28:08,480 that you can be saved, that you can be healed, that you can 395 00:28:08,720 --> 00:28:14,000 receive salvation as this man's servant was saved and healed, is 396 00:28:14,000 --> 00:28:17,560 by acknowledging that you have nothing in and of yourself to 397 00:28:17,560 --> 00:28:24,440 make you worthy of receiving it? The fourth thing we see is this, 398 00:28:24,440 --> 00:28:29,040 that Jesus faith is marked by trust in Jesus amazing 399 00:28:29,040 --> 00:28:31,880 authority. It just brings us back to where 400 00:28:31,880 --> 00:28:36,360 we started. The centurion believed in the 401 00:28:36,360 --> 00:28:40,960 authority of Jesus. Do you believe in Jesus 402 00:28:40,960 --> 00:28:46,520 authority? Do you really believe that Jesus 403 00:28:46,520 --> 00:28:52,680 is not just merely an authority, but that he is the one who holds 404 00:28:52,680 --> 00:28:59,720 all authority? See, if you see Jesus for who he 405 00:28:59,720 --> 00:29:04,400 is, one who has amazing authority, the one who can heal, 406 00:29:05,400 --> 00:29:12,280 the one who can bring life, the one who speaks and creation 407 00:29:12,280 --> 00:29:18,040 comes into existence. If you come to him in humility, 408 00:29:18,040 --> 00:29:21,160 recognizing that you have nothing to offer him, but 409 00:29:21,160 --> 00:29:27,920 believing that He can give you life and healing, then John 316 410 00:29:27,920 --> 00:29:30,320 is true for us. Everyone who believes in him 411 00:29:30,320 --> 00:29:32,520 will not perish but have eternal life. 412 00:29:32,600 --> 00:29:36,680 That's what it looks like to have saving faith in Jesus, to 413 00:29:36,680 --> 00:29:41,240 recognize that he is Lord, he is God, he is Savior, and he is 414 00:29:41,240 --> 00:29:46,080 worthy of my full surrender, my full abandonment to Him. 415 00:29:49,400 --> 00:29:56,840 That Jesus offers life and life to the full, and that he calls 416 00:29:56,840 --> 00:30:00,680 for me to offer my life in surrender to him as the 417 00:30:00,680 --> 00:30:04,920 authority. Because if he's the one who 418 00:30:04,920 --> 00:30:06,840 saves, he's also the one who commands. 419 00:30:09,240 --> 00:30:14,400 Are you living with Jesus as the commanding officer in your life? 420 00:30:16,040 --> 00:30:22,280 Or are you treating Jesus like the occasional advisor, inviting 421 00:30:22,280 --> 00:30:24,560 him in for some advice when you need it, when you're in a 422 00:30:24,560 --> 00:30:28,200 pickle? But go in your own way, doing 423 00:30:28,200 --> 00:30:30,400 your own thing until you hit those points? 424 00:30:34,480 --> 00:30:40,520 Do you believe that He's the one whose promises will prevail in 425 00:30:40,520 --> 00:30:46,160 the midst of your struggles to see hope in where you're at 426 00:30:46,160 --> 00:30:50,280 right now? In the midst maybe of your 427 00:30:50,280 --> 00:30:54,360 weariness today, your discouragement? 428 00:30:55,200 --> 00:31:02,640 Will you take Him at His word? Will you believe that when He 429 00:31:02,640 --> 00:31:08,200 speaks, his speech is reality, so his promises are unbreakable? 430 00:31:10,000 --> 00:31:13,160 Will you believe that Jesus word is enough? 431 00:31:17,560 --> 00:31:23,240 As we begin this year, as we begin this season, as we begin 432 00:31:23,240 --> 00:31:30,440 this series, the question before us is the most important 433 00:31:30,440 --> 00:31:32,720 question any of us are ever going to answer. 434 00:31:34,800 --> 00:31:41,320 Who is Jesus to you? Not in the abstract. 435 00:31:42,400 --> 00:31:46,320 This is not an academic question process. 436 00:31:47,080 --> 00:31:50,960 It's foundational. Because who we actually believe 437 00:31:50,960 --> 00:31:54,960 Jesus to be will shape every moment of our life. 438 00:31:57,040 --> 00:32:00,360 Here. Today we see that Jesus is the 439 00:32:00,360 --> 00:32:07,240 one whose authority amazes. May we be people who have such 440 00:32:07,240 --> 00:32:12,080 an amazing faith that we can believe that and allow that 441 00:32:12,080 --> 00:32:15,200 faith to change us in all the areas of our life that we've 442 00:32:15,200 --> 00:32:16,920 talked about. Let's pray. 443 00:32:22,900 --> 00:32:27,900 Father, thank you for your word. Thank you for the opportunity 444 00:32:27,900 --> 00:32:32,540 today to get a glimpse into this encounter between Jesus and the 445 00:32:32,540 --> 00:32:38,320 century and Father as we walk through your word over these 446 00:32:38,320 --> 00:32:43,160 next now nine weeks. God, don't let this be an 447 00:32:43,160 --> 00:32:48,200 academic exercise to us. Don't let it be a matter of 448 00:32:48,200 --> 00:32:50,920 trying to get the right questions on a quiz. 449 00:32:50,920 --> 00:32:55,200 But allow these truths to be truths that shape our heart, 450 00:32:55,200 --> 00:32:57,960 that shape our lives, that shape what we do, that shape how we 451 00:32:57,960 --> 00:33:02,400 live, that shape every aspect of what our days look like. 452 00:33:04,600 --> 00:33:08,920 God, we don't want to just go through 2026, going through 453 00:33:08,920 --> 00:33:14,560 another year, plotting through another gift that you have 454 00:33:14,560 --> 00:33:20,080 granted us and not living in the fullness of the reality of what 455 00:33:20,080 --> 00:33:24,480 is truly true. Father, for anyone who's here 456 00:33:24,480 --> 00:33:28,440 who does not yet know and understand who Jesus is, who 457 00:33:28,440 --> 00:33:31,640 hasn't seen his amazing authority, who hasn't come to a 458 00:33:31,640 --> 00:33:34,200 point of recognizing and surrendering to that and 459 00:33:34,200 --> 00:33:39,400 claiming him as Lord and Savior. Lord, I just pray today would be 460 00:33:39,400 --> 00:33:43,280 the day would they were call out and they say I believe you 461 00:33:43,480 --> 00:33:48,560 Jesus, I take you at your word. If you said that you and you 462 00:33:48,560 --> 00:33:51,400 alone can save me that you are the way the truth of the life 463 00:33:51,400 --> 00:33:53,200 that no one comes to the Father except for you. 464 00:33:53,520 --> 00:33:57,360 I believe that I receive that I put my faith in that I don't put 465 00:33:57,360 --> 00:33:59,400 my faith in my works. I don't put my faith in the 466 00:33:59,400 --> 00:34:02,920 things that I've done the things that I think make me worthy of 467 00:34:02,920 --> 00:34:06,320 you receiving me in put all my faith in the fact that Jesus is 468 00:34:06,320 --> 00:34:08,840 worthy. He died on the cross for me and 469 00:34:08,840 --> 00:34:12,080 he is raised to new life. And Father, I thank you that 470 00:34:12,080 --> 00:34:14,840 when we believe that you are true to your promises because 471 00:34:14,840 --> 00:34:18,199 your word is true and we've received eternal life forever 472 00:34:18,199 --> 00:34:21,639 starting now. And God for all of us who know 473 00:34:21,639 --> 00:34:24,960 you, who love you, who've cried out and and said that we trust 474 00:34:24,960 --> 00:34:28,360 that, help us to see your authority. 475 00:34:29,960 --> 00:34:34,040 Don't allow us to live like you're our advisor this year, 476 00:34:35,360 --> 00:34:39,199 but that we would live as if your word is true, your promises 477 00:34:39,199 --> 00:34:42,639 are true, your commands are true, and they are the only way 478 00:34:42,639 --> 00:34:47,360 to life and through life and God where we fall short. 479 00:34:47,360 --> 00:34:51,800 Help us to fall into the truth that as Pastor Kevin started us 480 00:34:51,800 --> 00:34:53,960 off with this morning, if we confess our sins, you're 481 00:34:53,960 --> 00:34:56,480 faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from 482 00:34:56,480 --> 00:35:00,120 all out and righteousness and to lean back into your goodness and 483 00:35:00,120 --> 00:35:02,120 your grace and receive your forgiveness. 484 00:35:04,600 --> 00:35:09,680 God, we love you, we trust you. Jesus, you are commanding 485 00:35:09,680 --> 00:35:11,320 authority. Help us to obey you. 486 00:35:11,960 --> 00:35:12,320 Amen.