THE AUTHORITY OF JESUS' WORD

Luke 7:1-17

Key Verse: 7:7b

“But say the word, and my servant will be healed.”

1.      Read verses 1-3. What had Jesus been talking about as he entered Capernaum? Who met Jesus? What did they want? What is a centurion? What is unusual about this centurion’s attitude toward his servant? What might he have heard about Jesus?

2.      Read verses 4-6a. What did the Jewish elders believe about Jesus? What did they plead with Jesus to do? What was unusual about their attitude toward the centurion? What does this tell us about the centurion?

3.      Read verses 6b-8. What did the centurion do before Jesus arrived at his house? Why ? Describe his attitude toward Jesus and Jesus’ word. How did his soldier training affect his understanding of the authority of Jesus’ word? Of what was he confident?

4.      Read verses 9-10. What did Jesus say about the centurion’s faith? Why was Jesus so amazed? What was special about this man’s faith? When the men sent to Jesus by the centurion returned home what had happened?

5.      Read verse 11. Where was Jesus going and who was with him? Read verse 12. What kind of crowd did he meet as he neared the town gate? Contrast the great crowd with Jesus and the great crowd he met.

6.      What was the situation of the woman whom the crowd accompanied? Think about the widow whose only son had died. How might this have affected her emotionally, socially, economically? How did this tragedy affect the people of her town?

7.      Read verses 13-15. What does it mean that Jesus’ heart went out to her? What did he say to her? How could he say this? (Isa 53:3-5) What did he do? (14a) What were his words to the dead boy? (14c) What happened? (15)What does this teach about the authority and power of Jesus’ word? (Jn 5:28-29a; 11:25, 43-44)

8.      Read verses 16-17. How did the crowd of people react to Jesus raising the dead young man to life? What did they think about Jesus? How did this event affect the surrounding country?