Introduction
Luke 7:1–17: A Roman officer sends messengers asking for Jesus to heal his servant, and Jesus commends the officer for his faith. Jesus is filled with pity for a widow whose only son has died, and he takes the initiative to restore her son to life.
Today’s Key Verse: Luke 7:16
They all were filled with fear and praised God. “A great prophet has appeared among us!” they said; “God has come to save his people!”
Reading
7 When Jesus had finished saying all these things to the people, he went to Capernaum. 2 A Roman officer there had a servant who was very dear to him; the man was sick and about to die. 3 When the officer heard about Jesus, he sent some Jewish elders to ask him to come and heal his servant. 4 They came to Jesus and begged him earnestly, “This man really deserves your help. 5 He loves our people and he himself built a synagogue for us.”
6 So Jesus went with them. He was not far from the house when the officer sent friends to tell him, “Sir, don’t trouble yourself. I do not deserve to have you come into my house, 7 neither do I consider myself worthy to come to you in person. Just give the order, and my servant will get well. 8 I, too, am a man placed under the authority of superior officers, and I have soldiers under me. I order this one, ‘Go!’ and he goes; I order that one, ‘Come!’ and he comes; and I order my slave, ‘Do this!’ and he does it.”
9 Jesus was surprised when he heard this; he turned around and said to the crowd following him, “I tell you, I have never found faith like this, not even in Israel!”
10 The messengers went back to the officer’s house and found his servant well.
11 Soon afterward Jesus went to a town named Nain, accompanied by his disciples and a large crowd. 12 Just as he arrived at the gate of the town, a funeral procession was coming out. The dead man was the only son of a woman who was a widow, and a large crowd from the town was with her. 13 When the Lord saw her, his heart was filled with pity for her, and he said to her, “Don’t cry.” 14 Then he walked over and touched the coffin, and the men carrying it stopped. Jesus said, “Young man! Get up, I tell you!” 15 The dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him back to his mother.
16 They all were filled with fear and praised God. “A great prophet has appeared among us!” they said; “God has come to save his people!”
17 This news about Jesus went out through all the country and the surrounding territory.
Reflect
What does the Roman officer say that surprises Jesus (verses 6–9)? How is the officer described to Jesus (verses 4–5)? What are your thoughts about what these verses reveal about the relationship between the Jewish community and the officer. Could they provide inspiration for relationships among our communities today? When Jesus sees the funeral procession for the widow’s only son, “his heart was filled with pity for her” (verse 13). With her son dead, the widow would have had no means of support. What would she be feeling when Jesus restored her son to life? Look again at 1 Kings 17:8–24 (referenced in Luke 4:26 after Jesus’s first sermon; see the reading for January 13).
Pray
Thank you, Jesus, for your steadfast love and compassion. Faith in you revives my soul and fills my heart with hope and joy. In your holy name, I pray. Amen.
Tomorrow’s Reading
Luke 7:18–35: John the Baptist sends messengers to Jesus.