RAP SHEET LUKE 7:1-10

Aug 16

3 min read

Series: The King's People

Sermon: Authority Recognizes Authority

Scripture: Luke 7:1–10

REVIEW

This week, we began a new section of Luke called The King's People, and the very first person Luke introduces is someone no one would have expected.

Right after Jesus finishes teaching the Sermon on the Plain and asks, "Who will hear My words and actually do them?" Luke immediately answers that question—not with a religious leader or even an Israelite—but with a Roman centurion.

From every human perspective, he was the wrong person. He was a Gentile. He served the occupying Roman army. He wasn't raised in the Jewish faith.

Yet this man had come to fear the God of Israel. He cared deeply for his servant, loved the Jewish people, and even helped build their synagogue. When his servant became gravely ill, he reached out to Jesus in faith.

The Jewish elders argued that the centurion was worthy because of everything he had done. The centurion saw things differently. He declared,

"I am not worthy."

His confidence wasn't in his own goodness. It was in Jesus.

Then he made one of the most remarkable statements in all of Luke:

"Just say the word, and my servant will be healed."

Why was he so confident?

Because he understood authority.

As a centurion, he commanded soldiers. But before he mentioned the authority he possessed, he acknowledged the authority he lived under.

His authority came from Caesar.

In the same way, he recognized that Jesus' authority came from Heaven. He understood that when Jesus spoke, He spoke with the authority of God Himself.

This is why Jesus marveled at his faith. His faith wasn't primarily about believing Jesus could perform a miracle. His faith was rooted in recognizing who Jesus truly is.

The centurion teaches us that true authority is never seized or demanded.

True authority is derived from Jesus—and surrendered back to Jesus.

Ultimately, Jesus modeled this perfectly. Though He possessed all authority, He laid down His rights, went willingly to the cross, took the punishment for our sin, and then rose again. After His resurrection, He declared,

"All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me."

The King's people are those who willingly submit to the King's authority.

APPLY

Every one of us submits to some authority.

Sometimes it's our career.

Sometimes it's money.

Sometimes it's our own opinions or desires.

The question is not whether we live under authority. The question is:

Who gets the final say in your life?

The centurion trusted Jesus enough to surrender his own position, reputation, and expectations.

What is ONE AREA of your life where you need to stop holding onto control and intentionally submit to Jesus' authority? Maybe it's:

a relationship you've been trying to manage your own way.
a habit you've refused to surrender.
a decision you've made without seeking God.
an area where you've been trusting yourself more than Christ.

Following Jesus begins by recognizing that He isn't simply our teacher or advisor. He is Lord!

PRAY

Use prompts like these:

"Jesus, help me recognize Your authority over every part of my life."
"Show me where I've been holding onto control."
"Teach me to trust You even when surrender is difficult."
"Thank You for laying down Your authority to save me."
"Help me live as one of Your people by joyfully submitting to You."

Spend a few moments thanking Jesus that He is not only powerful enough to rule, but loving enough to lay down His life for us. Then ask Him to help you live each day under His good and perfect authority.