Unexpected Hope

​For this message ‘Unexpected Hope’ we are continuing in the book of Luke. We have skipped ahead a chapter from the last few messages we have done on Luke Chapter 5, so our passage for this message comes from Luke 7:1-17.
 
We see in this passage two incredible encounters. Firstly we see the faith of the Roman Centurion who seeks healing for his servant. In the second part of the passage we see Jesus and the disciples come across the funeral of a widow’s son. Jesus speaks to the boy and he is raised from the dead!
 
Before we get into these two incredible encounters, it is important that we cover a bit of context from the chapter before. Luke starts Luke 17:1 with the comment “when Jesus finished saying these things” – referring to the teaching that occurred in Chapter 6. If you are unfamiliar with what was covered here, there were two main things – the start of Luke 6 covers a disagreement that occurs between the Pharisees and Jesus over the Sabbath. There is enough there for a message all on its own, but as we have seen over our last couple of messages covering Luke 5 – while perhaps at one point the Pharisees (who had appointed themselves the rulers and judges of all that is supposedly right, pure and holy) had hoped Jesus would join their cause – they are discovering that not only does he establish his authority over all the things they hold dear, but he also tells and shows them through action that they are wrong on practically every point.
 
The second part of Luke 6 is an incredibly profound section of scripture, and again warrants it’s own message – but in brief, it covers Jesus selecting his 12 apostles from the likely several thousand that now followed. He chose the 12 to invest in, and in the passage that follows their calling, he challenges them with the cost of the calling – teaching them the principles of the Kingdom of God, which to many were so foreign.
 
And so we see after this time of teaching Jesus has returned to Capernaum and while he is there word comes to him from a messenger of a Roman centurion.
 
Listen along as we explore the passage together.
 
God Bless,
Ps. Simon
simon@horizonchurch.org.au