Luke 7:1'

Luke 7:1 says, Now when he had ended all his sayings in the audience of the people, he entered into Capernaum.  After Jesus had finished teaching these people, he went into Capernaum.  Once we have finished gathering to teach or to learn about God today, we need to move on out into the community to share the gospel of Christ with them.  Verse two adds, And a certain centurion’s servant, who was dear unto him, was sick, and ready to die.  The servant of a centurion, a military leader, who was dear to him was so sick he was about to die.  Even though he was a man of power, he still cared about at least one of his servants.  We may be people of power today, but we need to sincerely care for those around us, even those who may be serving us in some capacity.  Verse three states, And when he heard of Jesus, he sent unto him the elders of the Jews, beseeching him that he would come and heal his servant.  The centurion heard about Jesus and sent the elders of the Jews to beseech Jesus to come and heal his servant.  The Jewish elders were under the centurion"s authority, but what he asked them to do was not against God's law.  We need to obey those in power in the world today, as long as what they ask us to do is not against God's law.  Verse four adds, And when they came to Jesus, they besought him instantly, saying, That he was worthy for whom he should do this:  The Jewish elders told Jesus that the centurion was worthy of Jesus doing what he was asking Jesus to do.  Though none of us is worthy of salvation by our position in the world, we are all worthy of salvation because of the mercy of God.  Verse five continues, For he loveth our nation, and he hath built us a synagogue.  These Jewish elders then told Jesus that the centurion loved the nation of Israel and had even had a synagogue built for them.  We should not judge people as being worthy of God's mercy because of what they have done for us materially, but if they are kind and merciful to us when they don't have to be, it may make us more inclined to reach out to God for them.  Still, it really shouldn't.  Verses six says, Then Jesus went with them. And when he was now not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to him, saying unto him, Lord, trouble not thyself: for I am not worthy that thou shouldest enter under my roof:  Jesus went with them, and while He was near the house, He met the friends of the centurion, who told Jesus that the centurion said for Jesus not to trouble Himself and that he was unworthy for Jesus to enter his house.  Though a man of some power, he did not demand that Jesus come to him.  No matter how powerful we may be in the eyes of the world, we can never command Jesus to do anything, and we are all unworthy of His salvation that He offers us freely.  Verse seven adds,  Wherefore neither thought I myself worthy to come unto thee: but say in a word, and my servant shall be healed.  The centurion then said that he did not feel that he was worthy to come to Jesus, and no one is.  Still, the centurion had faith that Jesus could heal his servant with just a word. We need that same faith today.  Verse eight continues, For I also am a man set under authority, having under me soldiers, and I say unto one, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.  The centurion said that he was a man set under the authority of Rome, and whatever he told those under him to do, they did.  He recognized that Jesus had this same power under the authority of God, His heavenly Father.  Verse nine declares, When Jesus heard these things, he marvelled at him, and turned him about, and said unto the people that followed him, I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.  Jesus marvelled at what the man said, and then said He had not found so great a faith in the people of Israel, God's chosen people.  As followers of Christ, this is the kind of faith that we need in Jesus Christ today.  Verse ten adds, And they that were sent, returning to the house, found the servant whole that had been sick.  The ones who were sent to Jesus returned to the house and found the servant whole, or well.  We no longer have Jesus physically present with us, nor do we need Him to be.  We have the Holy Spirit with us at all times as Christians, and we simply need put our faith in Him at all times.