Luke 7 1-17 Mothers, Centurions, and a Widow
The last two weeks we’ve been talking about Jesus’ most famous teaching, the Sermon on the Mount (or what’s called the Sermon on the Plain in Luke—probably the same sermon, they basically cover the same big ideas anyway). It started with the Beatitudes, the blessings for followers of Jesus when life is painful and hard. Woes or warnings for when life is easy. And a bunch of commands to treat people better than they deserve. Forgive, don’t be judgy, be extremely generous, and as much as possible try to look at the world the same way Jesus does—through grace and compassion instead of being annoyed and condemning.
It’s a lot of very counter-cultural ideas. It’s hard. It goes against our sinful human nature.
When we talk about Jesus and love—people think we’re being soft. Gentle Jesus Meek and Mild. Hippy Jesus. That couldn’t be further from the truth.
The commands Jesus gave us to love our neighbor are, to me, the most crushing law in the whole Bible. There’s nothing soft or easy about it. It’s the hardest thing in the world.
It takes so much more discipline, self-control, and maturity in our faith—not to respond with anger. To not throw a temper tantrum. To not push people away from Jesus, away from His church, which is pushing them toward Hell—simply because they don’t act the way we think a Christian should act like. Why would they? They haven’t heard and believed the Gospel yet. Why would we expect people who are not Christians to act like Christians? Most Christians don’t even act like Christians.
My brother, who is a superbad mamajama karate-man—also a follower of Jesus—he likes to say, “I’m a Christian. Just not a very good one.” More of us should be honest about that. A little humility goes a long way.
Also, I used to really like the hippies. I love classic rock. Long hair. Psychedelic artwork. Volkswagen microbuses. But all the hippy-dippy Summer of Love nonsense is pretty much directly responsible for most of the cultural decline in western society. The hippies, who thought they were so countercultural, fought “the man” until they got rich and became “the man.” These days, if you don’t assimilate to their warped way of seeing the world, they will do their best to destroy you.
I wonder if anyone else is ever confused like I am about how everyone seems to know exactly what to be outraged by at any given moment. Is there an outrage amber alert setting on my phone that I somehow turned off the notifications for? Like, how did everyone, all of a sudden, know to be offended by the idea of free speech at the same time?
If I wanted to be part of the “outrage of the day crowd” I wouldn’t know how to keep up.
The world has gone mad. We all know it. We’ve all got a front-row seat.
Today is Mother’s Day. The first man, Adam, was created from dust, and the first woman, Eve, was created from His flesh. Every person since then has been born of a woman. Every person since has had a mother. And just to be clear—because it seems we need to clarify this for some reason—every mother has been a woman.
Ever since Eve, the mother has been the primary caregiver for the human race. Only a fool would argue with the fact that a mother has the heaviest responsibility in the world. She not only gives birth at great cost and pain to herself, she is the one who is designed biologically to feed and nurture the child from conception until they can hold a fork, mom will be the primary disciplinarian and encourager to turn those young barbarians into human beings. None of this is meant to take anything away from the Father’s role in parenting—but today is Mother’s Day, so stay in your lane dad.
From the time of birth, when a mother brings that screaming little monster into the world, she’s not even allowed to be selfish and annoyed by the newborn disrupter of everything in her life. She’s supposed to look at that raging bundle of neediness with love and compassion. She’s actually supposed to delight in taking care of it. She’s supposed to do for her child what she believes will be best for the child, not what’s best for her—no matter how unappreciative the little diaper-filling demon might be. No matter how much sleep the nocturnal creature interrupts. When the toddleing whirlwind of bad ideas does things that are dangerous and wrong, the mother isn’t supposed to condemn and punish—she’s supposed to correct, redirect, teach, discipline—and forgive them for being an immature little cretin over and over.
She is to never forget to love and care for her child.
Basically, a mother is to treat her children the way Jesus treats us. A mother is to treat her children the way Jesus told us to treat each other.
Which means the opposite is also true.
Jesus commands us to treat everyone the way we all know a mother is supposed to treat her own children. How about that?
The church is the mother of all believers. The church conceives and gives birth to every Christian through God’s Word. The church is our mother. It’s through the church that we’re brought to faith—think of the motherlike images: We’re born again. Washed in baptism. Fed in Communion. Taught and nurtured in preaching of the Word. Disciplined and corrected through teaching of God’s Word so we know how to grow into the people God has called us to be. How to walk the straight and narrow path through the minefield of planet earth.
The church is the mother of all believers but you have to understand that you are the church—the people of God. You are to be the mother of God’s children. All those unbelievers with their bad ideas and ungodly affections are like wild fatherless and motherless children who have been raised by wolves. Stop looking at all those unwashed orphans out there with annoyance and anger. Start looking at all those screaming monsters with diapers full of stinky opinions, dripping with toxic ideas, the way a mother is supposed to look at her baby when it needs to be changed. The way a mother looks at her child when they are misbehaving. With love and wisdom and the compassion to help them get on the right path.
A mother never forgets that she is a mother. I think we, as the church, forget what we’re supposed to be doing in the world.
Okay, now we’re going to get back to the Gospel of Luke, chapter seven—hopefully I’ll be able to bring these ideas together before we’re done today. Ha.
Prayer: Father in heaven, help us to be the church, the mother of all Your people, teach us through Your Word today what that’s supposed to look like. Show us today what it means to trust Your Word and to look at people with compassion. AMEN
Luke chapter seven:
After he had finished all his sayings in the hearing of the people, he entered Capernaum. Luke 7:1
This is right after the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus went back home to Capernaum. A few weeks ago, when we were talking about the paralyzed man that was lowered through the ceiling, I pointed out that Capernaum is most likely where Jesus’ family had moved, where they had a house. Kind of fitting that we would talk about Jesus going back home to see mom on Mother’s Day. Verse 2:
Now a centurion had a servant who was sick and at the point of death, who was highly valued by him. When the centurion heard about Jesus, he sent to him elders of the Jews, asking him to come and heal his servant. Luke 7:2-3
A centurion was a Roman military commander in charge of a hundred soldiers. A centurion would typically be thought of as an enemy of Israel. He was a Gentile, and his job was to command a bunch of men to control the occupied people in his area and maintain order. So this guy was the big boss of the local enemies in the town where Jesus’ family lived. The Jews lived under the constant threat of harassment from guys like this. The centurion had a servant that was valuable to him, the slave was sick and close to dying. He had heard about Jesus, the miracle worker who was healing people, so he called in a favor with the local Jewish leaders who owed him a big one. It doesn’t say he asked them, he commanded them to go to Jesus and ASK if Jesus would be so kind as to come heal his servant. So the Jewish leaders went to Jesus’ house and knocked on the door. Verse 4:
And when they came to Jesus, they pleaded with him earnestly, saying, “He is worthy to have you do this for him, for he loves our nation, and he is the one who built us our synagogue.” Luke 7:5
They’re like, “Jesus, we’re in a bind here. The Roman Mafia boss who paid for our church building wants you to heal his favorite slave. He’s not like all the other Mafia bosses, he’s WORTHY of your help.”
Interesting fact: In 1969 archeologists found the synagogue this guy built. We can be very thankful that Luke included little historical details like this, just little faith boosters to think about when we/re tempted to doubt.
I get the idea that this centurion was a little like Kevin Cosner in Dances With Wolves. He was assigned to an outpost to control the Jewish savages—and he kind of went native. He seems to be interested in the Jewish God. But he’s still a Gentile. He’s still an overlord.
So, how is Jesus going to treat this enemy? Enemies. The Jewish leaders aren’t His friends, either. The Romans certainly aren’t His friends. This is Luke showing us that Jesus practiced what He preached. Verse 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. Therefore I did not presume to come to you.
Luke 7:6
The Jewish leaders said the Centurion was “worthy.” The Centurion didn’t think so. He took their ceremonial laws more seriously than they did. He didn’t go to Jesus’ house because he knew if a Gentile went to a Jew’s house it would make the Jew unclean. Pretty humble and considerate for an overlord. He didn’t want to make Jesus come to his house either, for the same reason. Contrary to what the Jewish leaders said, he knew he was unworthy. Notice the problem: the slave is too sick to be moved out of the house and Jesus wasn’t supposed to go into a Gentile’s house. How’s He supposed to heal the guy? The centurion also calls Jesus “Lord” as in “divine Lord.” The pagan Gentile gets what the Jewish leaders don’t. So he sent some friends with a message to stop Jesus from coming all the way to his house. Verse 7:
But say the word, and let my servant be healed. 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.”
Luke 7:7-8
Say the word. There’s two really important things going on here. First, this is a foreshadowing of salvation going to the Gentiles. Well, maybe not just foreshadowing—I think we’ll meet this Roman synagogue builder in heaven. But in the Book of Acts, Luke will tell us a lot more about the Gospel going out to all our pagan ancestors. The Jewish Messiah didn’t only come to save the Jews, He came to save the whole world.
Second, this is how the Word of God works—we need to pay attention. This is a really good example of how the Gospel and the Great Commission happen. Jesus says the Word like a commander, then He gives us His authority to make it happen—then it happens. “Say the word and let my servant be healed.” This is what you’re supposed to do, too. You take your orders from Jesus—He told you to say the word and let that person who is rotting in their sin and faithlessness be healed. Say the Word. The Gospel. You have the authority to speak in Jesus’ name. To speak with His authority. Drive away the darkness of this world just by speaking His Word of grace. His word of forgiveness. His word of salvation. What do you think happens when you actually do this—take Jesus at His word? Verse 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.” And when those who had been sent returned to the house, they found the servant well. Luke 7:9-10
This guy’s faith had to be something else to make Jesus marvel at it. I know we’re not supposed to try and impress Jesus, I’m guessing if that’s what we’re trying to do it wouldn’t work—but this guy managed to impress God. Way to go Mr Roman Commander.
I’m sure the Jewish leaders and the crowd thought it was strange that Jesus would speak with such kindness about someone from the wrong side of the political aisle. Blessing an enemy. Healing a Roman slave without even being physically there. Keep this in mind for all the ministry we’re supposed to do in His name. Next story—Verse 11:
Soon afterward he went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a great crowd went with him. 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. And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said to her, “Do not weep.”
Luke 7:11-13
Jesus and His traveling show are picking up more followers everywhere they go. Jesuspalooza coming to a town near you! Next stop: Nain. It would have taken a couple of days to walk there from Capernaum. Nain was a tiny little fishing village—it still exists today with a population of about 1,500 people.
So, Jesus and His parade of followers walk into town and come across a funeral procession. A young man, the only begotten son (that phrase should make us perk up our ears) has died. His mother was understandably sad and sobbing. It’s actually worse than you might think. This was a long time before life insurance or welfare or social security. Her husband had died, this was her only child, so life as she knew it was over. She was about to become a very desperate member of society. Probably a beggar on the streets. Without her son to take care of her, the future didn’t look so good.
Jesus saw all this when He looked at her. Blessed are the poor. The beggarly. His heart broke. He looked at her with compassion and told her to stop crying. That had to be a strange thing to hear from a young stranger who just walked up in the middle of a funeral. Verse 14:
Then he came up and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And he said, “Young man, I say to you, arise.” And the dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother. Luke 7:14-15
I had to look up what a bier is. Jews at that time didn’t use coffins. A bier was a little stretcher with two poles on either side to make it easy to carry without touching the dead body. Jesus didn’t touch the man, He touched the stretcher. Just like going to the Gentile’s house, touching a dead body would have made Him unclean according to ceremonial law.
Jesus speaks to the dead man like he just needed to be woken up from a nap. “Arise, young man!” And the guy sat up—probably a little confused at what was going on. He started talking, doesn’t tell us what he said.
The next line gets me: “Jesus gave him to his mother.” Here mamma, here’s your life back.
You’d think a person who was raised from the dead would join the Jesus parade. You’d think that young man would be a dedicated Christ follower from now on. But Jesus gave the young man to his mother. “Go take care of your mom. That’s what I want you to do. You have your orders.”
We all have our God given vocations.
Now, what would you do if you were at a funeral and the corpse sat up and started talking? Ha. Verse 16 (it’s exactly the response you would expect):
Fear seized them all, (no kidding!) and they glorified God, saying, “A great prophet has arisen among us!” and “God has visited his people!” And this report about him spread through the whole of Judea and all the surrounding country.
Luke 7:16-17
Try not to think about this miracle the next time you're at a funeral.
Both of these stories (the Centurion and the widow of Nain) are obvious callbacks to Old Testament miracles by Elijah and Elisha. Elisha healed a Gentile military commander named Naaman, and Elijah raised a widow’s only son from the dead. Both of those prophets had a lot harder time getting it done than Jesus did but the miracles are very similar. The message is clear: Jesus is like the prophets of Old but so much greater.
Jesus had just taught on how everyone who follows Him—including all of us—are supposed to treat people better than they deserve. Do good to our enemies. He just gave a big sermon on how God will bless the poor and sad. Then he does something really good for a Roman overlord, an enemy. And gives a desperate widow back her son. Jesus practiced what He preached.
I started today talking about how one of the best pictures of the way Jesus told us to treat people better than they treat us is the way a mother treats her child. Kids have their sweet moments for sure, but more often than not they are unappreciative, selfish little monsters. Mom has to treat her kid better than the kid treats her. No matter what happens, she has to remember that it’s her job to be mom.
It’s a beautiful picture of living out the Gospel. God treats you better than you deserve. He shows you kindness, forgiveness, compassion—and then He tells you to try and do the same thing to other people.
Be like a mother to all the unborn-again faithless, potential children of God in your life. They might scream at you for believing what God says about the world, the flesh, and the devil, sin, salvation—creation of men and women with distinctive roles and callings to fulfill in this life. Like mother and father, husband and wife. But you don’t have to scream back. Be like a good mother. Be patient. Kind. Compassionate. Willing to put up with whatever smelly stinky crap they… um… are making you deal with. Change them by speaking the word of grace that Jesus has spoken to you.
It’s what God does for you through Jesus. You were completely like a helpless needy little baby. He did everything for you that you couldn’t do for yourself. That’s the Gospel. He effortlessly forgives you for acting like selfish little children because He’s your heavenly Father and He promises He won’t give up on you.
I’m going to end with this quote from Isaiah. This is God the Father saying He’s like a mother: Isaiah 49:15
“Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you!”
AMEN