In EB White’s classic tale, Charlotte’s Web, a young farm girl named Fern rescues a runt pig from certain death, names him Wilbur and watches him grow into the favorite of all the barnyard animals. But what Fern can’t protect Wilbur from is what the geese claim is likely to happen once he grows up. Wilbur is so distraught by the other animal’s predictions of his future demise that he cries himself into a terrible state and isn’t sure he is hearing correctly when a tiny voice breaks through his sobs, “Salutations!” Charlotte, the barnyard spider, has been observing the young pig all day and has taken a liking to him. Through this unlikely friendship, Wilbur is saved time and time again by Charlotte’s miraculous gift of writing descriptions of her pig friend in her web. The farmer and his wife would come into the barn and see Wilbur proudly standing beneath a web that read, “SOME PIG.” or another equally impressive descriptor. Fern’s uncle concluded that Wilbur was indeed “some pig” and began to think that he was too special to be killed for bacon in the fall. Fern’s aunt, however, corrected her husband and said, “I’m pretty sure that’s SOME SPIDER!” And boy, was she right in her assessment. Wilbur was totally unable to save himself and was completely dependent on his friend’s miraculous gifts. Charlotte would eventually make the ultimate sacrifice for Wilbur to live, by giving up her own.
Today we read of two different interactions that Jesus had with the sick, diseased and dead. Any contact with sickness or disease would render Jesus ceremonially unclean, yet Jesus seems to be oblivious of that regulation and just does what He does best - see, heal, free and restore - completely disregarding the cost to Himself.
Read Luke 7:1-17
A centurion’s servant is sick and near death. This Roman soldier was a powerful commander of many and had apparently drawn the short straw of command duties, because he had been assigned to the Galilee region - a hard, unglamorous tour of duty to keep the small but mighty Jewish state in check. The centurion highly values his servant and hearing about Jesus’s reputation as a healer, asks some of the Jewish elders he knows to go and ask Jesus to come and save his servant’s life. The elders come to Jesus and plead with Him, stating that this Roman is worthy of a healing; He’s “SOME ROMAN.” Why? He loves their nation and has built them a synagogue in their small village. Whether the centurion demanded it or not, the Jewish leaders felt beholden to him, demanding, “Jesus, we need you to do this! Help us stay in right relationship with Rome!”
Take Two!
The centurion’s fear of losing a loved one has gotten the best of him. Once he calms down, he realizes that he has used his power, position and privilege to manipulate Jesus. He quickly sends a second message to Jesus clarifying, “I am NOT worthy to have you come into my home. In fact, I’m NOT worthy to even come before you, much less insist that you come before me. Just say the word from where you are, and I’m confident my servant will be healed.” (from vv 6-7) This Roman soldier who is under another’s command and commands others knows better than most that the authority Jesus has over demons and disease has been given Him by Someone greater - God Himself! (Also, the centurion obviously respected Jewish custom and did not demand that Jesus be made ceremonially unclean by entering a Gentile’s home.) Jesus hears this message and is amazed, declaring “I tell you, I have not found so great a faith even in Israel.” (v 9) The centurion’s faith in Jesus and confidence that Jesus had only to say the word and his servant would live resulted in Jesus not even having to say anything!
Later, on His way to the village of Nain, Jesus and His entourage met a funeral procession heading out to the tombs. The dead man was his mother’s only son and she was a widow. In that culture, her situation was dire with no one to care for or protect her. Jesus had compassion on the grieving mother, fully understanding her grim future, and said, “Don’t weep, I’m going to take care of you.” (from v 13) As with the centurion, Jesus was willing and ready to be “unclean” by touching a coffin of a dead man He doesn’t even know. Why? Because of His care and concern for the man’s mom. And that’s exactly what Jesus did. He touched the open coffin and told the dead young man to get up. The dead man sits up and begins to speak! Jesus gives him back to his mother, who is in awe and so grateful - Jesus saw her and cared! He did what no one else could do for her!
A holy and reverent fear came over the entire crowd and they accurately assessed, “That’s SOME PROPHET! God has visited His people.” No truer statement had been made about Emmanuel, God with Us. And His best display was to come, when He would sacrifice His very life so that we could live, free and restored to God.
Big Picture Questions for Today:
Are you like me and guilty of often looking at an incredible sunset and thinking or declaring, “That’s SOME SUNSET!” instead of “MY AMAZING GOD created that!”
Take some time today to celebrate the beautiful gifts God has given you - in your world, your work, your family, your body.
Pray, and thank Jesus for His indescribable gift of sacrificial love given on the cross, being willing to become our sin, so that we could become His righteousness.
