Take a few minutes to catch up and pray that God would bless you through the reading of His word.

Read Luke 7:1-17

[7:1] After he had finished all his sayings in the hearing of the people, he entered Capernaum. [2] Now a centurion had a servant who was sick and at the point of death, who was highly valued by him. [3] When the centurion heard about Jesus, he sent to him elders of the Jews, asking him to come and heal his servant. [4] And when they came to Jesus, they pleaded with him earnestly, saying, “He is worthy to have you do this for him, [5] for he loves our nation, and he is the one who built us our synagogue.” [6] And Jesus went with them. When he was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends, saying to him, “Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you come under my roof. [7] Therefore I did not presume to come to you. But say the word, and let my servant be healed. [8] For I too am a man set under authority, with 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.” [9] When Jesus heard these things, he marveled at him, and turning to the crowd that followed him, said, “I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith.” [10] And when those who had been sent returned to the house, they found the servant well.
[11] Soon afterward he went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a great crowd went with him. [12] As he drew near to the gate of the town, behold, a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow, and a considerable crowd from the town was with her. [13] And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said to her, “Do not weep.” [14] Then he came up and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And he said, “Young man, I say to you, arise.” [15] And the dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother. [16] Fear seized them all, and they glorified God, saying, “A great prophet has arisen among us!” and “God has visited his people!” [17] And this report about him spread through the whole of Judea and all the surrounding country.

Observation

• Looking at the story in verses 1-10
  • Where are and when do these events take place (v. 1)?
  • Who came to Jesus (v. 3)?
    • Who sent them (v. 3)?
    • What was the problem (v. 2)?
    • What did they want (v. 3)?
  • In what manner do they plead with Jesus (v. 4)? What information do they give Jesus in order to convince him (v. 4-5)?
  • What did Jesus do (v. 6)?
    • Why did the centurion not think that Jesus should come to his house (v. 6-7)?
    • What did he believe that Jesus could do (v. 7)? What reasoning does he give (v. 8)?
  • How did Jesus respond (v. 9)? 
    • What did he say (v. 9)?
    • What happened (v. 10)?
• Looking at the story in verses 11-17
  • When and where did this take place (v. 11-12)? Who was there (v. 11)?
  • What did Jesus see (v. 12)?
    • What do we learn about the man and his mother (v. 12)?
    • Who was with the mother (v. 12)?
  • How did Jesus feel towards the mother (v. 13)? 
    • What did he say to her (v. 13)?
    • What did Jesus do (v. 14)?
    • What did the bearers do (v. 14)?
    • What did Jesus say (v. 14)?
  • What happened (v. 15)?
  • How did the people respond (v. 16-17)? 

Interpretation

• What are the similarities between these two miracles?
• What things are different?
• Why does Jesus marvel at the faith of the centurion?
  • What can you say about the nature of faith based on the centurion’s example?
  • Why is it surprising that the centurion had more faith than Israel did?
• In v. 16 the people say, “God has visited his people!”. 
  • What do they mean?
  • Why were they “seized with fear”?
  • How are they saying more than they know?
• What is Luke showing us about Jesus’ identity?

Application

• How can you express the faith of the centurion in your life?
• Do you struggle to believe that Jesus can help you with your seemingly impossible problems?
• Have you stopped to glorify God for the things that you have seen him do (both in Luke’s gospel and in your life)?

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