Luke 7:4-6 (NRSV)
Read Luke 7:4-6 on biblegateway.com
Verse 4When they came to Jesus, they appealed to him earnestly, saying, "He is worthy of having you do this for him, Verse 5for he loves our people, and it is he who built our synagogue for us." Verse 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;
Devotion
Jewish elders come to Jesus, asking him to heal a centurion’s slave. Jesus goes with them. No questions asked, just compassion. This is an extraordinary text. Having a Roman turn to Jewish elders is one thing, but to have them seek Jesus out is another oddity, given his challenges to their authority. Jesus’ compassion is so vividly seen in this text; I never tire of hearing about it. Is it possible to hear and experience God’s incarnate love too much? Will there come a time we won’t need to do so? Thank God we don’t have to worry about needing more than God can give. Nothing we do will compromise God’s steadfast love for us.
Prayer
Lover of all, your hands open to us and lead us through this season toward the cross and empty tomb. With you, we can take this journey. Amen.