Luke provides for us in chapter 6 his account of the Sermon on the Mount. Most of, but not all the highights of the Sermon on the Mount are discussed in Matthe 5-7; I refer you back to that post for a few reflections.
Chapter 7 presents a strikingly paradox for the reader. At the beginning of the chapter, the reader is introduced to a Roman centurion and then to a large crowd. The centurion, even though a Roman soldier realizes that Jesus might just be the answer for a sick servant. In fact, he trusts so much that Jesus' word is good enough for him. After this healing "in abstentia", Jesus is again confronted with an opportunity to have compassion. He encounters a funeral procession and proceeds to restore the deceased to life. As a result, the funeral crowd recognizes Jesus as one with power and importance and praises God for him.
The second part of chapter seven presents the contrast. Here, the reader sees Jesus encounter some disciples of John the Baptist and then as the guest at a Pharisee's home. What is so striking is that these people tend to doubt Jesus. One would think that John's disciples might have a clue as to who Jesus is; the same is true for the Pharisee. Yet each one somehow questions Jesus. Perhaps they were just too familiar with him to see and understand what he was all about. Can the same be said of us? Are we stil lookng for what Jesus will do next?
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