Luke 7a Commentary
The healing of Centurion’s servant and the raising of the young man from the dead are similar events in many ways. In each case, the recipient of the miracle isn’t the main beneficiary.
The centurion’s servant is healed in response to the centurion’s faith, good character, and good works among God’s people. Remove the centurion from the picture and probably the centurion’s servant remains sick.
The young man is restored to life because the LORD Jesus has mercy on the poor woman – nothing to do with the dead young man.
The healing for the centurion’s servant is birthed in the concern, love, and faith of his master. The young man is raised from the dead because the woman’s Master is concerned and loving.
Both the servant and young man don’t say any prayers. They receive their respective miracles because of the intersession of others. The servant’s healing has many layers of intersession: His master, the centurion orchestrates everything. The elders of the people get involved. The centurion’s faith and humility would form another layer. There is also the centurion’s testimony that stands tall and forms the basis for the elders’ earnest pleas to Jesus.
Because the servant is healed because of the intervention of man, we can learn something about faith. Faith is partly defined as a partial duplication of God’s heart in a human being. You are said to have faith if you can show signs of God’s heart. The centurion has done a good job! Miracles are possible when we allow the heart of God to flow freely within us.
The raising from the dead of the only son of the window may remind the reader of God’s special son – an only son. It tells us a story of the impossible pain of loss through death – and we cannot do anything about it. But Jesus can. The young man represents you and me when we are saved from an impossible situation – saved when we know nothing and cannot do anything.
It should melt every man’s heart that the LORD Jesus’ act of generosity is unsolicited. The LORD Jesus sees; He knows. He acts.
More resources visit http://www.lovingscriptures.com
LOVING SCRIPTURE 