Faith Marvels

We have already seen how Jesus has heard the pleas of the centurion, through second-hand voices. Also noted was the fact that those were not the things which caused Jesus to be amazed. In addition to what Jesus has already heard, He is hearing about how deserving of His service this centurion is. He is told all about this non-Jew’s generosity to Jews, Jesus’ own people. For he loves our nation, and has built us a synagogue. Luke 7: 5. Again, you would think that a non-Jew helping out Jews is special, but to go so far as to spend that amount of money on building a whole synagogue for them, is enough to make Jesus marvel. Certainly not! Such generous actions are not the things Jesus heard about, which made Him marvel. 

Think seriously about this! Jesus does not marvel because of your generous giving to His Church, in any way, be it to one member or the entire Church body.  As you ponder thoughtfully and pensively on what you have just heard, how do these strike you, tug at you and challenge you, in relation to your ways of thinking, speaking and acting? Personally, one of the changes being made in me, is my bigoted, deceived self-righteous and erroneous thinking about Christians and non-Christians, in relation to the all-inclusive Sovereign work and will of Almighty God.

Holy Spirit, free to blow as You will, when You will and how You will, please grant me the freedom of faith, to freely go with You, wherever You go and however You will.  Amen!

Having highlighted things which Jesus heard, all through second-hand talk, mind you, we listen to that which really amazed Jesus. Of great and humbling interest though, is the fact that all that Jesus is hearing now, is still second-hand. Nothing of the things which Jesus has heard, to cause His amazement is heard from the direct lips of the centurion. Does this not immediately arrest you? Does it not set your mind thinking in a different direction? I don’t know where your thoughts are taking you, but mine have taken me to Jesus. When, for whatever reason or reasons, I am held in deep unworthiness of myself, will our Lord hear me, hear my heart’s cries and pleas, through the voice of another?

Right here, I remember the children of Israel and Samuel and how, under deep penitence and conviction of their gross sin against Father God, they ask Samuel to pray for them. These children of God have come to plainly see their utter unworthiness and sinfulness, and are so humbled, they ask Samuel to speak to God for them, conveying their heart-cries for mercy.  And all the people said to Samuel, Pray for your servants to the LORD your God, that we may not die; for we have added to all our sins the evil of asking a king for ourselves. 1 Samuel 12: 19. 

When, under conviction of sin, or even when we just look at our Heavenly Father and see how utterly unworthy we are to even come and stand in the outer walls of His Sanctuary, do we not depend on Jesus to go in for us and pray for us? Is this not what Jesus, our Friend, Priest, Brother and Hope, is doing for us, saved-by-grace sinners, at this very moment? Hebrews 7: 24 – 25 declare this about Jesus. But He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood. Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He ever lives to make intercession for them. Indeed, I tell you, the seeking of good from Jesus, through Jesus’ own people, who are Jews as He is, certainly makes me face this living reality.

It is fact that I too depend on Jesus, God’s own beloved Son, to intercede for me, in my unworthiness. Not only that, but when I see how the centurion trusts the Jewish elders to be faithful, true and honest, in taking his plight to Jesus, how he trusts them with his life and death request, I wonder if my trust in Jesus, representing me before God, brings flat-out peace of assurance. What about you?

Perhaps we need a few moments to sincerely, seriously and solemnly ponder these.

We carry on tomorrow.