< Luke 7 >

Jesus healed a centurion’s servant at a distance. He did this because of this Gentile’s faith, which Jesus greatly appreciated. This man recognised that Jesus’ relationship to God was like the centurion’s to Caesar. The centurion was a man set under authority (of Caesar) and could issue an order and be obeyed. Likewise Jesus was a man set under authority (of God) and could therefore issue commands and be obeyed (such as issue the command for the sick to be healed). Caesar’s authority extended over the Roman Empire so that the centurion could command people of the Empire, but God’s authority extends to all people and nature so that Jesus, by the authority given to him by God, could command even sickness and be obeyed. Jesus wanted people to recognise he did his Father’s works with his Father’s authority (John 10:37-38)Waiting for response for John 10:37-38

Most people who accepted Jesus as the Messiah anticipated he would take possession of the land and re-establish the kingdom of God. When he did not do this immediately, they expressed doubts. Even John the Baptist, in prison at this time, sent messengers to confirm he was “the one who should come.” And Jesus reassured him by the works of God which he did.

Jesus spoke to the people concerning John. He and Jesus behaved differently but the religious leaders rejected them both. They should have accepted John because he was God’s messenger, as foretold in Malachi 3:1Waiting for response for Malachi 3:1 but they did not do so.

"Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist" - John was the greatest prophet of the Mosaic era (probably because he was the immediate forerunner of the Messiah).

"but he that is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he" - Jesus refers to "the kingdom of God" as if it had started in the New Testament. This is referring to the start of the new era after the Mosaic era. This started (in a way) because Jesus was alive. The disciples in the new era are greater than John because they know Jesus as Christ (Luke 10:23,24).Waiting for response for Luke 10:23,24 However Jesus is the one referred to here who is least in this era, being the one who made himself the least but who is exalted above all: He “made himself of no reputation and took upon him the form of a slave ... he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow” Philippians 2:7-10Waiting for response for Philippians 2:7-10

In contrast to the attitude of the Pharisees, many “publicans and sinners” welcomed Jesus joyfully because they believed through him they could be saved. One woman, despised by the Pharisees, washed Jesus’ feet with her tears, dried them with her hair, and anointed them with ointment because she loved him. Therefore Jesus said: “Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little. And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven”. May we love Jesus as much, so that our sins will be forgiven.