Word of Salvation – Vol. 47 No.30 – August 2002

 

What is Faith?

 

Sermon by Rev Allan Quak on Luke 7:1-10

Scripture Readings: Hebrew 11:1-16; Luke 7:1-10

Suggested Hymns: BoW: 96; 427; Rej: 98

 

Congregation in the Lord Jesus Christ.

I vaguely remember an incident which happened to John Howard a couple of years ago.  I can’t remember if a small crowd physically jostled him, or if someone threw a tomato at him.  BUT I distinctly remember the reaction of Kim Beasley.  Despite being a fierce opponent of John Howard, Kim Beasley said, “No Prime Minister deserves to be treated in this way; he must always be accorded the greatest respect.”

We often think like that don’t we?  Certain people deserve to be treated in a certain way because of who they are, or what they have done.  In our passage that is certainly the mind-set of the Jewish elders who have come to Jesus to ask Him for a favour.  Listen to the conversation.

We have a wonderful citizen in our community.  He’s a Centurion in the Roman Army and he has a servant whom he loves dearly – this servant is on his deathbed.  This Centurion is not a Jew.  Yet he, from his personal finances, has built a synagogue in our town.  He didn’t do it for political reasons.  He is a man who loves our nation.  Jesus, look at all that he has done – this Centurion deserves to have some attention.

That’s their line of argument, isn’t it?  The Centurion has lived a certain life and acted a certain way, now he has earned the right to be given certain privileged treatment.

Let’s stop for a moment and see what would happen if we applied that sort of reasoning to all who would claim that Jesus is their Lord and Saviour.  Because, when we claim Jesus as Lord, we are saying that we have a right to come into the family of God.  And when we call Jesus our Saviour, we are saying that we have been given access to eternal life.

If we were to make this claim on the basis of what we have done, then could we measure up?  Are we as good as this Centurion?

How many of us have used our finances to build a synagogue lately?  None!  But we don’t even have to go that far.  How many of us put 10% of our income into the collection…  or even 5%…  or even 2%?

Okay then, let’s try something else.  The Centurion in our passage had the full respect of the elders and they were begging for a favour.  How many of us have the elders of this church begging for a favour for you?  Any takers?

And this Centurion fellow, he was the sort of person who was dignified and full of integrity.  He had a hundred men in his unit who did everything he said because they respected him.  How many here today can claim to have that sort of respect and integrity?

Think about all that you do, and don’t do, for God and His kingdom.  When we confess Jesus as Lord and Saviour, we say that we have the right to be a full and active member of the church.  Do we deserve it?  Do you deserve it?  Do any of us deserve it?

So often that is the question people ask when they think about their relationship to God.  And it is amazing how good we think we are.  A survey of 5000 Australians revealed that 90% of them would say, “I deserve to be shown favour from God”.  But what standard are they using?

Perhaps you’ve seen the movie, “Ghost”.  It stars Patrick Swayze and Demi Moore.  Early in the movie Patrick dies and becomes a ‘ghost’.  Near the end of the movie Demi has to let him go as he walks to a group of people standing in a bright light.  Obviously Patrick deserved to go to heaven.  This was despite the fact that Patrick and Demi were in a defacto relationship.  And no mention was ever made of religion, of Christ, or church going.  The only qualification Patrick had was that he was a pretty nice guy who treated Demi well and didn’t kill someone.

Deep down there are many who want to see God work like that.  But is it the best way?  My friends, as soon as we start saying things like, “I deserve to be treated well by God”, or, “Those people are good and they deserve to be accepted,” or, “they have given a lot to charity and help in so many ways, they deserve good treatment by God”; as soon as we start saying things like this, aren’t we going to turn Christianity into a competition?

Let’s imagine what Jesus might be like in that sort of context.  We could come to Jesus and say, “Look how much I have sacrificed.”  And Jesus could easily say, “Well I know of many more people who have sacrificed much more – you’re not even close to giving your life for me.  And besides, look at what I have done for you, I sacrificed my life!  Can you match that?”

We may come to Jesus and say, “Look at the burdens I have carried” – to which Jesus can reply, “You call that a burden?  The Christians who live in China, they know what a burden is.  Those who suffer in Ambon, they know what a burden is.  And look at what I have done.  I carried the burden of all the sin of all God’s people.  That’s much greater!”

We could come to Jesus and say, “Look how much I had to give up for your sake.” And Jesus could say, “You live in your three bedroom, two bathroom home, and you dare say you have given up for me?  I know people who live in houses the size of your garden shed.  And they do that because of my Name.  And look what I have given – I gave up perfection, and the praise of all heaven, and my exalted position.  In comparison, you did nothing.”

It all sounds very nice, having God treat us on the basis of what we deserve.  Or more correctly, on the basis of what we think we deserve.  But when we start thinking like this we have missed the real issue because we are focussing on the wrong issue.  You see, Jesus is not concerned about things like performance, and position, and personal achievements.  True religion is not about sacrifice, or burden carrying, or performance, or who deserves what?  Being privileged members of the Kingdom comes in a totally different way.

Jesus shows this attitude in action in our passage.  Let’s have a look at some of the facts.  While the elders are praising the excellencies of this man they seem to have forgotten one point – this man is a Roman, and a high ranking Roman army officer at that.  He is part of the system that is oppressing the people of God.  In reality the Centurion is one of the arch-enemies of God’s people.  Why should Jesus help him?

Not only that, it seems that the elders have been mesmerised by this man because he built a synagogue.  Money has brought influence.  It seems that this man has the community in his debt.  And, as we have already seen, the reasons the elders gave for helping this man are Biblically unsound.  Their main argument is that “He deserves it!”.

There is no reason why Jesus must feel compelled to help this man.  No one in this passage deserves anything.  Yet, despite all this, verse 6 says, Jesus went with them.  Without any ‘ifs’ or ‘buts’ Jesus makes His way to his home to help.  And, as soon as He takes the first step to do so, we see grace in action.

Here lies a key – the key – the key that enables any of us to stand before God and each other and claim the promises of God and the privileges of His kingdom.  We cannot make the claim because we think we deserve it.  We can only make the claim when we know that we don’t deserve it.  None of us deserve God’s favour.  None of us deserve the right to be able to direct Jesus.

That fact introduces us to a great irony in this passage.  The Jews want Jesus to help the Centurion because “He deserves a favour from God.”  But the Centurion doesn’t try the same line on Jesus.  In fact, of all the people in this passage, only the Centurion has understood what the agenda of Jesus is all about.  The elders focus on ‘works’ and ‘deserving’.  The Centurion focuses on ‘grace’ and ‘undeserving’.  And that is why the actions of the Centurion are so wonderful.  His actions show us how we should live in response to the wonderful grace of Jesus.

Right throughout, the Centurion acts with the greatest humility.  He doesn’t dare speak to Jesus directly.  He doesn’t think his home is worth entering.  He never once asserts his authority as an army officer.  The Centurion knows there is nothing within himself that he can use to persuade Jesus to help.

The Centurion also knows and respects the authority of Jesus.  He knows that Jesus is in complete control of all things – including sickness.  If Jesus makes the command it will happen.  If Jesus decides not to make the command, then who are we to argue?  Jesus has the authority.  In a very simple way the Centurion is making it clear that he understands his place before Jesus.  “I know you can do this; not because of my contribution but because of the type of person you are – a person of authority.”

That is the response of the Centurion, and that is the response we need to have:

• in humility we come before Jesus knowing we don’t deserve it;
• in humility we accept the authority of Christ;
• in humility we can hold on to, and profess to be, the recipients of the greatest privilege ever;
• in humility we claim the promises of Jesus, not because of who we are, but because of who we believe.

Such a result causes us to ask two very significant questions.  The first is this: Who are you?  Are you a person who is carrying shame for a sin you committed many years ago?  Are you a person who goes from day to day with a huge burden of guilt?  Maybe you were a reckless driver and fatally injured someone.  Maybe you have had multiple unhealthy sexual experiences.  Maybe you experimented with drugs.  Maybe you have had a string of relationships that just didn’t happen.  Maybe you have been abusive.  Maybe you tried to take your own life.  Maybe you had an abortion.  Maybe you destroyed someone’s career.  Maybe it was something else.

If that is who you are, it’s tempting to say, “I don’t deserve any favours from God.” And you are absolutely right!  But Jesus wants to help you anyway.  It’s not the performance, or lack of performance, but the attitude.  Humility before Jesus.  Acceptance of His authority.  That is what you need – and everything else can be taken care of.

Perhaps that is not you.  Instead you’re a person who has had a good life.  Maybe you have been a member of the church all your life.  Maybe you’ve grown up in the church and know the Scriptures well.  Maybe you’re one of those perpetual elders – serving again and again because the congregation has faith in you.  Maybe you can look at your life and honestly say it has been reasonably pure.  Maybe you have been a good example as a Christian person.

If that’s you, rejoice!  But also hear what has been said today.  Jesus helps you not because of your performance, but because of your attitude.  You, too, must be a person who says, “I don’t deserve any favours from God”.  Humility before Jesus, acceptance of His authority – that is what you need.

Who are you?  You must be a person who knows they don’t deserve any favours from God.  Once you get to that point you are faced with the second significant question which comes out of this passage: Do you believe the authority of Christ?

It’s an authority that is His because He is the Son of God, the One sent to give us freedom.  It’s an authority that has been proven because He defeated Satan, not once giving in to temptation.  It’s an authority with the power to overcome sin and death, power proven on the cross.  It’s an authority that establishes Jesus as the one who can give a place in His kingdom.  It’s an authority that He graciously uses for those who don’t deserve.  It’s an authority that you must accept.

That is the response we need today: Coming before Jesus in humility; accepting that Jesus has all authority.  And then, having done that, responding in faith to Jesus.  Jesus, the One who has said, “I know you deserved nothing – but I couldn’t help myself, and, by grace, I give you everything.”

Amen.