Part 2: Jesus Encounters the Powerless

JESUS’ ENCOUNTERS

PART 2

Luke 7:1-10, 36-50

1. INEVITABLY YOU WILL HAVE FAITH IN SOMETHING.

“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.’” Luke 7:2-5 (NIV)

“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.’” Luke 7:6 (NIV)

• Faith often comes through disruption and interruption.

2. WHAT IS SAVING FAITH? 

“Jesus said to the woman, ‘Your faith has saved you; go in peace.’” Luke 7:50 (NIV)

• What matters is not the strength of your faith, but the object of your faith.

“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.’” Luke 7:8-9 (NIV)

• Make Jesus the foundation of your life.  

“A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume. As she stood behind Him at His feet weeping, she began to wet His feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.” Luke 7:37-38 (NIV)

• Jesus - You are everything vs. 

Jesus - You are one more thing.

“When the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he said to himself, ‘If this Man were a prophet, He would know who is touching Him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner.’” Luke 7:39 (NIV)

“Then He turned toward the woman and said to Simon, ‘Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give Me any water for My feet, but she wet My feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give Me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing My feet. You did not put oil on My head, but she has poured perfume on My feet. Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.’” Luke 7:44-47 (NIV)

“Jesus answered him, ‘Simon, I have something to tell you.’ ‘Tell me, teacher,’ he said. ‘Two people owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he forgave the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?’ Simon replied, ‘I suppose the one who had the bigger debt forgiven.’ ‘You have judged correctly,’ Jesus said.” Luke 7:40-43 (NIV)

“Jesus said to the woman, ‘Your faith has saved you; go in peace.’” Luke 7:50 (NIV)

MY NEXT STEP TODAY IS: 

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This Week’s Reading Plan and Podcast:

• YouVersion® Bible App Reading Plan:
  “Sinners: Experience God’s Compassion in
  Your Shame” (5 Days)

• Podcast: “What Is Enough Faith?”