The Centurion's Servant

Partners in a New Creation The Agent of Creation The Word Heals Live in the light of God (Isaiah 2:5)  Matthew 8:5-23 The Voice 5 Eventually Jesus came to the little town of Capernaum. In Capernaum, a military officer came to Him and asked Him for help. Officer: 6 Lord, I have a servant who is lying at home in agony, paralyzed. Jesus: 7 I will come to your house, and I will heal him. Officer: 8 Lord, I don’t deserve to have You in my house. And, in truth, I know You don’t need to be with my servant to heal him. Just say the word, and he will be healed. 9 That, after all, is how authority works. My troops obey me whether I am next to them or not—similarly, this sickness will obey You. 10 Jesus was stunned by the depth of the officer’s faith. Jesus (to His followers): This is the plain truth: I have not met a single person in Israel with as much faith as this officer. 11 It will not be just the children of Abraham and Isaac and Jacob who celebrate at their heavenly banquet at the end of time. No, people will come from the East and the West—those who recognize Me, regardless of their lineage, will sit with Me at that feast. 12 But those who have feigned their faith will be cast out into outer darkness where people weep and grind their teeth. 13 Then Jesus turned to the Centurion.[a] Jesus: You may go home. For it is as you say it is, as you believe. And the officer’s servant was healed, right then. For Reflection The officer's faith, or trust in Jesus, was stunning. That and the officer's compassion moved Jesus to marshall God's healing power. It will be the witness of the faithful that will draw people to believe. Pray Pray and give yourself to God. Pray and have confidence in God's promise of peace, joy, and justice. Forward to a friend Sign up for our mailing list!