Orders

Luke 7:1-10 (The Message)

When he finished speaking to the people, he entered Capernaum.

A Roman captain there had a servant who was on his deathbed. He prized him highly and didn't want to lose him.

When he heard Jesus was back, he sent leaders from the Jewish community asking him to come and heal his servant. They came to Jesus and urged him to do it, saying, "He deserves this. He loves our people. He even built our meeting place."

Jesus went with them.

When he was still quite far from the house, the captain sent friends to tell him, "Master, you don't have to go to all this trouble. I'm not that good a person, you know. I'd be embarrassed for you to come to my house, even embarrassed to come to you in person.

Just give the order and my servant will get well. I'm a man under orders; I also give orders. I tell one soldier, 'Go,' and he goes; another, 'Come,' and he comes; my slave, 'Do this,' and he does it."

Taken aback, Jesus addressed the accompanying crowd:

"I've yet to come across this kind of simple trust anywhere in Israel, the very people who are supposed to know about God and how he works."

When the messengers got back home, they found the servant up and well.

What do we understand about authority?

In our culture, maybe not too much. We Americans in particular do cherish our autonomy.

A friend who attended the recent United Methodist General Conference told me of how differently Methodists from around the world obeyed the authority of their Bishops.

When difficult or contentious moments came, she said that the African and Latin American delegations were much more likely to say, "Lead us, Bishop!" while the Americans would often look at their Bishops as if to say, "don't you dare!"

If we struggle to understand authority in our culture, and even our church, where does that leave us in our spiritual walk with Jesus?

Who is in charge, anyway?

The Roman Captain in this story was clear about authority. He was a man "under orders," and he understood what it meant to give and take orders.

Jesus seems to appreciate that about him. Jesus calls it "simple trust."

That's a beautiful thing. Simple trust. Not easy to come by, but the key to it all.

How can we trust Jesus more "simply?" We could simply ask, and then simply believe.

Maybe it's not that hard after all...a simpler, better, miracle-filled life...lived "under orders."

Prayer: We pray for trust, and submission to the your powerful presence in our lives. Help us to ask, to believe, and to keep is simple.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. World without end. Amen.