To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

Luke 7:1-10 When Jesus had finished saying all this in the hearing of the people, he entered Capernaum. There a centurion’s servant, whom his master valued highly, was sick and about to die. The centurion heard of Jesus and sent some elders of the Jews to him, asking him to come and heal his servant. When they came to Jesus, they pleaded earnestly with him, “This man deserves to have you do this, because he loves our nation and has built our synagogue.” So Jesus went with them.

He was not far from the house when the centurion sent friends to say to him, “Lord, don’t trouble yourself, for I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. That is why I did not even consider myself worthy to come to you. But say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, `Go,’ and he goes; and that one, `Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, `Do this,’ and he does it.” When Jesus heard this, he was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd following him, he said, “I tell you, I have not found such great faith even in Israel.” Then the men who had been sent returned to the house and found the servant well.

Dear friends in Christ,

I thought we would start out this morning with a little quiz. I’m going to mention certain land marks, and I want you to raise your hand if you have ever seen any of them. Are you ready? Here we go. Raise your hand and keep them up.

How many of you have ever seen the Rocky Mountains? The Atlantic or Pacific oceans? The Redwoods trees of Northern California? Niagara Falls? The Grand Canyon? How many of you have ever seen the Sears Tower in Chicago? As you look around, there are quite a few hands in the air. OK, you can put your hands down.

What do all these sights have in common? Each one is impressive. You cannot help but be impressed by the magnitude of God’s work in nature, i.e., with the oceans, mountains or trees. Then again, if you’re standing at the base of the Sear’s Tower in Chicago, you can’t help but be impressed by man’s achievement.

There are certainly a number of things in this world to impress us all. Many of them we’ve seen with our own eyes. But even these in all their glory fail to compare with the work God has done in man. In my opinion, the most impressive thing I have ever seen is faith at work in the hearts of God’s people.

This morning, as we study God’s word, let us look for:

Signs of an Impressive Faith 1. It recognizes our unworthiness 2. It trusts in God completely

As our text begins, Jesus has entered the city of Capernaum. Situated on the Sea of Galilee, this city was Jesus’ home during much of his ministry. We’re then told an amazing story. We’re told of a Roman centurion, a commander of 100 men, who had a servant who was very sick and near death. The centurion highly valued his servant and wanted to do something for him, but what could he do? Then he heard Jesus was in town. The centurion had heard of Jesus. His name and reputation was growing. Jesus was known as someone who could do amazing things. He could heal people and drive out demons. Compelled by his concern for his servant, the centurion asked some elders from the Jewish synagogue to go to Jesus and ask for his help. He was in need of some divine intervention. But why wouldn’t he approach Jesus on his own? Well, maybe he thought the Jewish elders would be better received by Jesus than he would.

What is interesting is that the Jews would do something like this for a Gentile; a non-Jew. When they approached Jesus, they tell us why they did it. They told Jesus, “This man deserves to have you do this, because he loves our nation and has built our synagogue” (v.5). The elders gave the centurion their highest recommendation. He had shown love for the people and helped to build their place of worship. These were impressive credentials.

We’re told Jesus then started toward the centurion’s home. But then an amazing thing happened. Somehow, and we’re not told how, word got back to the centurion that Jesus was on his way to his home. We’re then told the centurion sent a second delegation, this one made up of his friends to speak with Jesus. They brought this message, “Lord, don’t trouble yourself, for I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. That is why I did not even consider myself worthy to come to you” (v.6-7).

The centurion had asked Jesus to do the impossible – heal a man near death. He knew he was unworthy to make such a request. He wasn’t even worthy to have Jesus come to his home. But that didn’t stop him from making his request. He knew Jesus could do what he was asking. And he was willing to accept whatever the Lord’s will might be.

Like the centurion, we come before our Lord and ask him to do, what to us seems impossible:  We ask him to heal someone’s illness, even though the doctor says there is nothing more that can be done.  We ask him to keep our children safe, no matter the circumstances.  We ask him to heal a floundering marriage or to bring back a wandering soul.

We bring all kinds of requests, which is exactly what Jesus encourages us to do – but when we don’t get immediate results, or when we don’t get the answer we’re looking for, the temptation is to get upset with God – as if we deserve the result we’re looking for; as if we are so worthy.  “Hey God, where are you?  “Don’t you know it’s me asking? I’m the person who never misses church, who agrees to serve whenever asked, you know the really good Christian.”

Somewhere in there we forget that approaching God’s throne of grace is a privilege and not a divine right. May we follow the example of the centurion. Did you catch what he said? “But say the word, and my servant will be healed” (v.7).

May we approach our Lord in humble awe, as the centurion did, recognizing our own unworthiness and trusting that God will work out everything for his glory and our good.

The centurion believed Jesus had the power and authority to heal his servant without ever being there. And he trusted that Jesus would do it. He explains why. He said, “For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, `Go,’ and he goes; and that one, `Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, `Do this,’ and he does it” (v.8). As the leader of men, the centurion was a man of authority himself. However, he recognized his authority came from someone else, ultimately the Roman emperor. He knew his soldiers would carry out his orders because of the authority given him by the emperor.

What he’s getting at is this: the centurion recognized Jesus as someone special. He could do things only God could do. So when he speaks, he speaks for God. And his authority was without limit. Therefore, the centurion knew that Jesus just had to say the word and his servant would be healed. When Jesus heard this, he was impressed by this man’s faith. So much so the Bible tells us, “When Jesus heard this, he was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd following him, he said, “I tell you, I have not found such great faith even in Israel” (v.9). And when the men returned to the centurion’s home, they found the servant well.

This leads to a deeply personal question. If Jesus were to come back today, do you think he would be amazed? And if so, why? Would he be amazed by the steady stream of prayers that we send up to God? Or would he be amazed because our prayers are few and far between?

Would Jesus be amazed by our lives of faith-filled deeds? Or would he be amazed because our words and actions make it difficult to distinguish us from everyone else?

Would Jesus be amazed by hearts that believe the will of God is always best? Or would he be confronted with hearts that think they know better? Lord, forgive us.

And here’s the really great part. Our God doesn’t treat us as our sins deserve. He doesn’t send us where we deserve to go. Instead, the Lord says, “I love you. I sent my Son to die for you. And now because of Jesus, you belong to me.”

Not only did God send us his one and only Son, he also sent the Holy Spirit to create and strengthen faith in our hearts. It is the Spirit, working through the means of grace: God’s word and the sacraments, who is building something amazing.

We have everything we need for an impressive faith. By the grace of God, we’ve been led to recognize our own unworthiness. But if there is something we can all improve on it’s this – may we continue to learn to trust God completely.

Over the years, I have had the privilege of witnessing impressive faith. I have watched in awe as fellow Christians put their complete trust in God. I remember visiting with a woman who was about to undergo surgery for a brain tumor, who when told her chances of surviving the surgery were slim, with a smile on her face said to me, “If the Lord wants to take me home, I’m ready.” I don’t think I’ll ever forget that as long as I live.

From a mother witnessing her faith in a hospital emergency room after the death of her child, to a family singing hymns at the top of their lungs at their father’s bedside in the hospital, to hearing one of our elderly members, after being reminded that his time here on earthly was quickly coming to a close was asked: “Do you believe in Jesus as your Savior?” He replied, “Absolutely.” When told that the Lord might call him home soon, he replied, “I can’t wait.” And what continues to comfort, humble and awe is knowing that later that night, he woke up in heaven.

There are countless other examples: parents grieving at the death of their child, but because of their faith, they continue on; people with terminal illness – living their faith; God’s people finding confidence and comfort in the power of prayer; it all can be very humbling. And then you begin to wonder how anyone can get through crisis in their life without faith? Would you even want to try? You know, I’m sure you’ve witnessed examples of impressive faith over the years. I’m sure you’ve witnessed individuals putting all their hope and all their confidence in the Lord their God. Can the same thing be said of you? Do you have a faith that can move mountains? Do you have a faith that does not doubt? Do you have a faith so confident you are convinced that no matter what comes your way, nothing will ever be able to separate you from the love of Christ? That would be impressive, wouldn’t it?

If you’re looking for a faith like that, then you’ve come to the right place. You see, it is here in God’s House, that you have the opportunity to be in the word. It is in this place that you can hear the Lord speak to you through word and sacrament. It is here you find the Holy Spirit working to strengthen your faith. This is where God builds the most impressive thing you will ever see – saving faith in your heart and mine.

You know, as we travel around our world, we see some pretty impressive things. Mountains, oceans, and forests are all beautiful creations of God. But even they in all their glory cannot compare to the simple childlike faith God has created in your heart and mine. So if you’re looking for something really impressive, look around at the people sitting next to you. They’ve got something you’ve got. Everyone here believes in Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Everyone in here has the hope of eternal life. Now that’s impressive. Praise God.

Amen.

Lord, give us such a faith as this, and then, whate’er may come, we’ll taste e’en now the hallowed bliss of an eternal home. Amen.