14. Healing a centurion's servant (Matthew 8:5-13, Luke 7:1-10)
During one of Jesus' visits to the town of Capernaum, a centurion, through intermediaries, asked Jesus to heal the centurion's servant who was ill and near death. Jesus agreed to go to centurion's house and heal the centurion's servant. But the centurion, through his friends, told Jesus that the centurion felt unworthy to have Jesus come into his home. Jesus praised the centurion for his faith and the servant was healed.
As explained in the Gospel of Luke:
1 After he had finished speaking in the hearing of the people, he entered into Capernaum. 2 A certain centurion’s servant, who was dear to him, was sick and at the point of death. 3 When he heard about Jesus, he sent to him elders of the Jews, asking him to come and save his servant. 4 When they came to Jesus, they begged him earnestly, saying, “He is worthy for you to do this for him, 5 for he loves our nation, and he built our synagogue for us.” 6 Jesus went with them. When he was now not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to him, saying to him, “Lord, don’t trouble yourself, for I am not worthy for you to come under my roof. 7 Therefore I didn’t even think myself worthy to come to you; but say the word, and my servant will be healed. 8 For I also am a man placed under authority, having under myself soldiers. I tell this one, ‘Go!’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come!’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”
9 When Jesus heard these things, he marveled at him, and turned and said to the multitude who followed him, “I tell you, I have not found such great faith, no, not in Israel.” 10 Those who were sent, returning to the house, found that the servant who had been sick was well. (Luke 7:1-10, WEB)
Note: A centurion was a Roman soldier who had authority over other soldiers. During the time of Jesus about 2,000 years ago, the Romans ruled over a vast empire that included the Biblical land of Israel.
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