Grow Guide | Feb 9, 2025
Text Study for Sunday, February 9, 2025
Series Theme: Unexpected
Reading: Luke 7:1-10
Connecting Questions:
Can you think of a time when someone went out of their way to make sure you were included? What was that like?
What do you think it means to be worthy or deserving? Do you think those ideas prove to be true?
Prayer for Illumination:
Holy and Unexpected God, meet us as we open your word. Help us hear your promises for life, whether we think they’re for us or not, whether we think others deserve them or not, whether we’re ready or not. Thank you for the healing you bring every day. In Jesus’s name, Amen.
Context:
This week continues sermon series that will bring us to Lent. Along the way we’ll learn the ways Jesus and his followers did the UNEXPECTED. They often didn’t do the lawful or typical thing. Jesus’ followers often went the wrong direction, yet they were never lost. It took them multiple tries to get it right! How can we learn from their missteps? Continue to follow even when we mess up! Even Jesus doesn’t always act as we expect, which can sometimes challenge us. No matter what, we expect the unexpected and watch for what God does among us.
From The Rev. Gerald C. Liu at WorkingPreacher.org:
It might be hard to imagine Jesus praising a soldier, someone whose job it is to kill in order to protect the interests of the Roman Empire. And a centurion was no ordinary soldier. The centurion in Luke led a battalion of 100 men, called a centuria. The centuria was a fraction of a 6,000-soldier legion. Ten cohorts of six centuria formed a legion commanded by some 60 centurions. If he had slaves and enough influence to compel Jewish leaders to heal a favorite slave, then the centurion of Luke excelled at protecting the interests of the empire. He likely excelled at state-sanctioned killing.
Additionally, the Jewish elders who implore Jesus to help the centurion describe the centurion as worthy because he built a synagogue for them and purportedly loves the Jewish people. Why then does the centurion work for the empire that controls them? And is worthiness to be healed by Jesus—or to benefit from Jesus’ healing of one’s slave—measured by the construction of public and ritual spaces such as a synagogue? Is the rationale of the Jewish elders theologically sound?
Why would Jesus want to help someone like him? The passage does not provide an answer. We only know that Jesus marveled at the centurion. The Greek here is hethaumazein from thaumazo, and can even be rendered “admired.”
Look At The Book:
Look at the previous chapter, especially starting around 6:20. In particular, read through verse 36 (although it’s all good). Why does this context matter for today’s reading?
Refer back to Rev. Liu’s description of a centurion. Why might a centurion be an unlikely recipient of Jesus’ healing work?
In particular, the centurion asks for healing not for himself, but for his slave. The Greek word here isn’t servant, but slave, someone who is owned by another person. Do you think this makes it more or less likely for Jesus to be willing to offer healing? Why?
The elders try to make the case for the centurion that he’s worthy of Jesus’ attention. What reasons do we often give for our own worthiness or for another person? How do we try to justify that we deserve God’s love and mercy? How well does that usually work?
Put yourself in the position of the elders. They owe a lot to the centurion – and he has a lot of power over them. Do you think they willingly came to his defense? Why or why not? What dynamics come into play as they ask Jesus for mercy on behalf of the centurion and his slave?
The centurion demonstrates a confidence that Jesus can heal even from a distance. Why do you think Jesus chooses to do this? Do you think Jesus would agree that the centurion is “not worthy to have [Jesus] come under [his] roof”, as the centurion contends in verse 6?
In verse 9, Jesus responds to all this by saying “I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith.” Jesus has gotten in trouble before for commending the faith or witness of those outside his tradition. How do you think his words were received in this situation?
Most of the outsiders Jesus has cared for have been without power or standing. While that is true of the slave, it’s not true of the centurion. How does this change how you hear this story?
Imagine that you are in the crowd during this event. What are you thinking? What makes you angry? What makes you hopeful? What feels confusing?
Taking It Home:
Look around your grocery store, school or work, neighborhood, and church. Who’s missing? Who isn’t included? How can you learn more about the needs of those who are not typically included?
Pay attention to power. How does power influence who you respect, who you ignore, and who you think is worthy?
We can critique the centurion, but he gives a powerful statement of faith in Jesus’ own power. Where are some of the unexpected sources of gospel truth for you these days?
How can you put your full confidence in Jesus this week?
God of the promise, you call your people together into your one mission in Christ’s name. Make us brave, grant us peace, challenge our expectations, and empower us to truly follow your Spirit’s lead. You are our one God who calls us together as one people, and we thank you in Jesus’ name. Amen.