Luke 7:1-10 Now when he had ended all his sayings in the audience of the people, he entered into Capernaum.… I. LET US LOOK AT THE PROOFS OF THE STATEMENT. 1. In Christ's world-wide love we have the proof of it. Christ's love to men is the assurance that He reserves to Himself the entire control of whatever makes them suffer. 2. Then the fact that suffering is the servant of the Saviour is shown in Christ's universal sovereignty. He is "Lord of all"; "all authority is given unto Me in heaven and earth." He is therefore Lord of Providence. 3. And we may add that in His miraculous works we have a token of this. When He stood before sickness on earth He could do with it what He liked, it recognized His voice and bowed submissive to His Word. II. If then, this suggestion of the centurion is an established Scripture truth, let us pass on to see WHAT IT INVOLVES WITH REGARD TO SICKNESS. Our Lord is to sickness what the Roman captain was to the soldiers under him. 1. Then we may say that sickness only comes at His building. Compact, motionless in their ranks, stand all possible pains and sicknesses before Him, until He singles one out and bids it hasten here or there. 2. And this truth implies also that sickness is restrained by His will. Like the centurion to his servant, so says Christ to sickness, "Do this," and it doeth it. It can only do what Christ permits. 3. And if sickness is Christ's servant, then sickness is sent to do His work. His servant! Then it has some message to bring, some gift to leave behind, some mission to fulfil for its Master; there is a distinct purpose in it. And the sooner that purpose is fulfilled by our discovery and acceptance of it the sooner will the sickness be withdrawn. That invests sickness with great solemnity. III. These are THREE CLOSING LESSONS. 1. This should teach us the sacred blessedness of sickness. 2. And this should call us to reverential service for the sick. 3. And this should show us the possibility of redemption, to those who are sick. (C. New.) Parallel Verses KJV: Now when he had ended all his sayings in the audience of the people, he entered into Capernaum.WEB: After he had finished speaking in the hearing of the people, he entered into Capernaum. |
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