Luke 7:1-9, “And when they came to Jesus, they besought him instantly, saying, That he was WORTHY for whom he should do this:” (KJV)
A story is told of a little girl who looked outside the window of her house and saw a sheep and wondered how that sheep looked so white and clean. While still looking at the sheep, it began snowing. Before long, the sheep that looked white and clean did not appear clean anymore because the white crystal snow overshadowed the whiteness of the sheep and the girl thought how dirty that sheep looked in the light of the snow. Looking at it closely, you can see that she sheep did not change, the girl saw it under a different background, that is what made the difference.
In line with the story above, Jesus entered Capernaum and we are told a certain centurion had a servant who was sick. As you read more into the story, you discover that the centurion was a man in authority and under authority. He had servants he commanded and they listened and responded to him. He loved his nation and had built a synagogue making his resume impressive. When he sent elders of the Jews to speak to Jesus about his sick servant, the elders did not hesitate. They went to Jesus and even gave Jesus a good report about him. They talked highly of him and felt that he was WORTHY to receive healing for his servant. What strikes me is that they felt that he DESERVED Jesus’ attention because of who he was, a man of reputation and what he had done. People were elevating him. In the background of his nation, he was a worthy man.
Vs. “6 Then Jesus went with them. And when He was already not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to Him, saying to Him, “Lord, do not trouble Yourself, for I am not WORTHY that You should enter under my roof”. How is it that a man who everyone deemed worthy considered himself unworthy? Simple, the background of the presence of the Son of God overshadowed his worthiness. He saw himself as that dirty sheep which looked clean before the snow came about. Of all the people, only Jesus was worthy. Revelation 5:2-5, “2 Then I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is WORTHY to open the scroll and to loose its seals?” 3 And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll, or to look at it. 4 So I wept much, because no one was found WORTHY to open and read the scroll, or to look at it. 5 But one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed (WORTHY) to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals.” When no one was found worthy, He was. The centurion knew that he did not deserve to have Jesus, the worthy One come to him or his house. The centurion continues to speak of his unworthiness, in verse “7 Therefore I did not even think myself worthy to come to You”. His unworthiness humbled him to develop such a great faith on the One who was worthy. And we know his servant was healed because of the faith he had.
When I think about my life and how so unworthy I was, reduced to worthless in His sight, I’m humbled. People buy things that are worth something, He bought me with the highest price when I was worthless. Now I am worth something, not because of me but because of Him who is WORTHY living in me. I will enter into heaven not on the basis of my worthiness but His. I thank Him for the chance to see myself in His background and not the background of men that I might repent and put my trust in Him alone for my eternal salvation. Blessings Ev
He Has Magnified His Word 