The Gospel of Luke
Chapter 7
When Jesus had finished His sermon in chapter 6, it was clear that He was more than ordinary. He taught about God and His agenda for humanity in a way that the other religious teachers could never match. The people naturally began to question who Jesus actually could be. Is He a prophet of God? There had been no prophets for 400 years! But Jesus is much more than a prophet, and in a series of four separate episodes, Luke shows us that.
The Centurion’s Servant—Luke 7:1-10
Immediately after the sermon on the plain was concluded, Jesus returned to Capernaum. The area was saturated with Imperial troops; it would be nothing unusual to find a centurion there. What is different is that this centurion clearly respects the Jews and supports their faith. He built the synagogue in that town. This synagogue has been excavated and its location is known. At his request, the Jewish elders here asked Jesus to heal the man’s servant and declared that he deserved to have this done because of his good works. They did not understand God’s grace can never be deserved, but Jesus decided to perform this healing.
Before the Lord can go to the house, more messengers arrive with a different message: don’t bother to come; just say the word. The centurion put his faith and trust in Jesus’ power and he understood power and authority. It was not necessary for Jesus to visit personally, but if He declared it so, the servant would be healed. It was that utter trust in Jesus that impressed the Lord. The centurion didn’t appeal on the basis of his merit but on his faith. And Jesus pronounced the servant healed and it was so.
The Widow’s Son—Luke 7:11-17
Some distance south of Capernaum is a small village called Nain. Jesus traveled there and along with His disciples were many hangers-on. As the group neared the city gate, a funeral procession was exiting the city. Normally, the nearest relative to the deceased led the procession out of the town to the nearby cemetery, so it was natural that Jesus would meet the mother of this young man first. A crowd from the town streamed out behind her—like all small towns, everybody knew everybody else and all would likely attend such a sad occasion. When Jesus saw the scene, He was compassionate toward the grieving mother and He went to her.
Some versions say He touched the “coffin,” but the Jews didn’t bury their dead in coffins but in shrouds. It is more exact to say something like “bier,” but the most accurate would be something like “stretcher” since the body would be transported like that to the tomb. At any rate, Jesus spoke to the body and the young man revived and sat up. Jesus returned him to his mother and the people were stunned. Their only response is that obviously a great prophet had come among them because God finally had mercy on His people! The news was spread to “all the Jewish people and the dwellers nearby.” Luke did not intend to say that this event was publicized to the entire province of Judea.
The Messengers from John—Luke 7:18-35
We saw earlier (3:20) that John was imprisoned by Herod for his fearless denunciation of Herod’s marriage. While languishing in the prison cell, doubts obviously crept into his mind. He finally dispatched disciples to find Jesus and ask Him directly whether He were the Messiah, or
should they be looking for yet another? As for himself, John was certain that his commission was to herald the arrival of the Messiah. Could it be Jesus? The disciples of John dutifully carried his questions to Jesus.
In reply, Jesus told them to return to John and merely tell him what they saw for themselves: the blind see, the lame walk, lepers are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor hear the gospel of the kingdom. In addition, Jesus pronounced a beatitude upon one who would not fall away “on account of me.” In all this, Jesus referred to two passages in Isaiah that spoke of the coming great day of God’s redemption. In Isaiah 35:5-6, the identifying marks of that great day are miraculous healings, but it’s important for us to note Isaiah 35:3-4. Those verses are a warning to be steadfast and not give up! John got the message!
When the messengers left, Jesus turned to the crowd and asked their opinion of him. He then pointed out that John was more than a prophet; he was the Messenger promised in Malachi 3:1 who would announce the arrival of the Messiah. He was the last of the prophets, the greatest of the prophets because he didn’t just see the Messiah at a distance; he pointed toward him in that time! However, he was still lower than the least citizen within the kingdom of God.
Luke offers a fascinating appraisal of the various groups here. The common people agreed readily with Jesus—they knew and respected John. Meanwhile, the elites disdained John and refused to repent and be baptized by him. They thought they were rejecting John but they were rejecting God and His purpose for their lives. They were rejecting life and embracing their own death and destruction.
Jesus went on to tell the multitude that they were just like fickle children who chanted in the marketplace. They didn’t like anything! When John came with ascetic fasting, they declared he had a demon! When Jesus came, eating normally with them, they decided He was a glutton and drunk who associated with all the wrong people! But then He pointed out that results would indicate whether they were right or not.
The Pharisee—Luke 7:36-50
Jesus did not only go to the homes of the poor and dispossessed. He was interested in the salvation of all people, even Pharisees. So when Simon invited Him, Jesus agreed and went to the man’s home. It was customary for a large banquet to be held in a large room or colonnaded area that would be open to any visitors. It would be unthinkable for this woman to invade the private party and attempt to participate—yet that is what she did. In an extravagant display of shameless devotion, she washed Jesus’ feet with her tears and dried them with her hair and poured perfume on them. The Pharisee was scandalized—surely if Jesus actually were a prophet, He would shun this woman and keep her from contaminating Him!
In response, Jesus answered with a parable of two debts forgiven and invited Simon to judge: which debtor would love his former debt holder more? In an almost arrogant disinterest, Simon answered, “The one who had the larger debt forgiven.” Jesus agreed, then pointed out that while he had done nothing to welcome Jesus into his house, this “sinful woman” had been extravagant in her hospitality. Now, why would she do something like that? Because her huge debt had been forgiven; the evidence was the great love she had. Meanwhile, Simon had little love for Jesus because he really didn’t have anything that needed to be forgiven (at least in his own mind!). Jesus turned back to the woman and pronounced her sins forgiven—and the guests began to chatter, “Who is this?” The answer to that question is the most important fact that we can determine. It seems clear, though, that Jesus is no prophet—He’s much, much more than a prophet, and all the people are beginning to realize that He can’t be described with that label.