“Authentic and Pragmatic Faith”                  2013

Micah 6:6-8             Luke 7:1-10

 

Micah 6:6-8

6“With what shall I come before the Lord, and bow myself before God on high? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? 7Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?” 8He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

 

Luke 7:1-10

After Jesus had finished all his sayings in the hearing of the people, he entered Capernaum. 2A centurion there had a slave whom he valued highly, and who was ill and close to death. 3When he heard about Jesus, he sent some Jewish elders to him, asking him to come and heal his slave. 4When they came to Jesus, they appealed to him earnestly, saying, “He is worthy of having you do this for him, 5for he loves our people, and it is he who built our synagogue for us.” 6And Jesus went with them, but when he was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to say to him, “Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you come under my roof; 7therefore I did not presume to come to you. But only speak the word, and let my servant be healed. 8For I also 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 slave, ‘Do this,’ and the slave does it.” 9When Jesus heard this he was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd that followed him, he said, “I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith.” 10When those who had been sent returned to the house, they found the slave in good health.

 

When I say, “a ballerina”,  a certain image comes to mind,

            that is quite different then say,

                        “a professional rugby player” or “a Roman centurion “.

 

    In the ancient world,

            centurions were the backbone of the Roman military,

                capable characters  tough enough to achieve that high rank.

            These were well-trained and experienced warriors,

                       veterans      who were generally in charge of 100 soldiers,

                                    who could exercise considerable power & authority…

                                                … that’s a picture we can easily imagine.

 

    The centurion in the Luke 7 passage, was also responsible

            for the region around Capernaum, in Palestine.

 

Palestine, a land conquered and occupied by the Roman army,

            was a particularly difficult and unpleasant assignment.

                        It was isolated and far from their Roman homeland,

                              & the Jewish people were nearly impossible to govern.

 

    These folks were unusually obstinate and rebellious,

                and with their many religious rules and rituals,

                        and their tradition of avoiding contact with gentiles

                                all tended to create even more tension & resentment,

                            and so generally, the Roman soldiers à

                                    hated being in Palestine  and despised the Jews.

 

But the centurion of the Luke 7 story does not fit that image.

   vs. 2-5

            A centurion there had a slave whom he valued highly, and who was ill and close to death. When he heard about Jesus, he sent some Jewish elders to him, asking him to come and heal his slave. When they came to Jesus, they appealed to him earnestly, saying, “He is worthy of having you do this for him, for he loves our people, and it is he who built our synagogue for us.”

 

In the ancient world slavery was accepted and commonplace.

                Generally slaves were valued only for their labor,

                       seen as little more living tools for their owner’s use.

 

And slave owners typically had very little concern

    for the health and well-being of their slaves,

                             but this officer had compassion for his sick servant

                                    and was willing to put himself out   on his behalf.

 

As a matter of the centurion’s  pride and honor as a Roman,

            it was very unusual that he would ask the Jewish elders

                        to seek out and ask Jesus to heal his servant.

                Roman officers and officials simply didn’t ask or expect

                        Jews in occupied Palestine to do them any favors.

 

But this centurion does not fit that common stereotype.

            He demonstrated compassion and kindness toward his slave.

                        He earned the elder’s respect, appreciation & support,

                                        and so they tell about what he has done for them,

                                                and earnestly appeal to Jesus    on his behalf.

 

Continuing, vs. 6-7

            And Jesus went with them, but when he was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to say 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. But only speak the word, and let my servant be healed.

 

Perhaps it was out of respect, and knowing that à

            observant Jews did not enter the homes of gentiles,

                             he was willing to humble himself, in saying that

                                    he was unworthy of having Jesus come to his home,

                                                    and by faithà

                                                            believed Jesus could heal from a distance.

 

Out of respect for the God-given power and authority of Jesus,

            he instructed his friends to say,

                          “Jesus, you say the word and my servant will be healed,

                                    I know you don’t have to be at my house to do it.”

And Jesus recognized his faith, vs. 9

            When Jesus heard this he was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd that followed him, he said, “I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith.”

 

    That verse is the heart of this passage,

            and perhaps the reason it was included in the Gospel of Luke.

 

This gospel was addressed primarily to gentile converts,

            who became Christians after Jesus ascended to the Father,

                        - who like the Roman centurion, were gentiles,

                                    who believed in Jesus  without ever having seen him.

 

The centurion represents a model   or ideal gentile believer,

            who shows compassion for the sick and powerless,

                        who respects the traditions of Judaism and the Jews,à

            à who demonstrates humility and has trusting faith in Jesus

                        and in his power to meet and heal our deepest needs.

    This Roman centurion was of the enemy occupation,

          yet his faith-response   received high praise from the Lord.

 

And looking a bit deeper, there is another lesson in this text.

            The religious leaders asked Jesus to heal the servant

                        because of the centurion’s righteousness & good deeds,

                                    because he built a synagogue for them.    vs. 5

            “He is worthy of having you do this for him, for he loves our people, and it is he who built our synagogue for us.”

 

There is no mention  that Jesus was impressed by his good deeds.

            But says,  Jesus was amazed, pleased and impressed thatà

                        the centurion considered himself unworthy of a visit,

                            and that in his humility, by faith he trusts entirelyà

                                    that Jesus could heal  without having to be present.

vs. 6-7

            “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. But only speak the word, and let my servant be healed.

 

Notice that Jesus didn’t mention that he had built a synagogue,

            but that in humility, his faith exceeded any seen in Israel.

 

That aspect of this story addresses

            what may be the most important questions we ever ask…

                   … what does God want,  and how do we please the Lord? 

 

During the time of the prophet Micah,

            outwardly, the nation of Israel was very religious,

                        and they were doing rituals and sacrifices perfectly.

 

So what did God want from them?  It wasn’t what they thought. vs. 6-7

            “With what shall I come before the Lord, and bow myself before God on high? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?”

           

God was not interested in any huge payment of stuff or sacrifice,

            as if God’s favor & love were some commodity to be purchased.

Similarly, God’s focus in not our stuff or deeds --   God wants us.

    It’s not about what we have, or even what we do,  but who we are.

 

* God wants to be our God, have an authentic relationship with us,

              so that God can bless and guide us toward living in truthà

                   the wonderful and meaningful life God intends for us.

 

* God has given us this time and place in which to live & learn,

          in which to grow in our faith and walk closer with our God,        

                   to make a difference in this world  & to those around us,

                             all according to the perfect will & purpose of God.

 

But what does God really want?            How can we please the Lord?

      How does experiencing God's gracious love change how we live?

 

Through the prophet Micah, God gives us an answer.

            vs. 8

                        He has told you, O mortal, what is good;  and what does the Lord require of you but  to do justice,   and to love kindness,   and to walk humbly with your God?

 

1^st          -- to do justice

            In the Old Testament, justice is a very broad concept,

                        which includes God’s desire and intention

                                    for us to live together in peaceful community;

                            and the ideals of justice, mercy and fair treatment

                                    are what is necessary for that to be accomplished.                 

            God’s justice calls us to balanced and caring relationships

                        that place the good and welfare of others

                                    ahead of  our own wants, desires and needs.

 

            Justice is making decisions and choices in life

                        that honor God’s truth and gracious love for us,

                                    and demonstrate our trust that God will provide.

 

2^nd   -- to love kindness

            In Hebrew, loving-kindness is a word that describes

                        God’s love, mercy, nurture and compassion toward us,

                                        and our call to respond by showing that same

                                            compassion, mercy and kindness to other people.

              It describes a life that is defined by God’s grace,

                 that then guides our affections, our treatment of others.

 

3^rd          -- to walk humbly with God

            Humility is recognizing our need and dependence before God.

                        It’s when our relationship with God is our life’s anchor                             and we are sensitive to God's presence & blessings.

   It is living  to honor and deepen our relationship with the Lord.

 

 

At the Table today, I’m asking the Lord about my life of faith,

            and what do my choices in life, my responses to God’s grace,

                        say about God’s place, presence & priority in my life?…

            … and are they consistent with the faith I claim to believe?

 

To personalize Micah’s message,

   Norm, He has told you what is good;  and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice,  and to love kindness,  and to walk humbly with your God?