Why was this remarkable?įor one thing, Jews were forbidden to enter the houses of anyone who was not Jewish. "I will come and heal him." These six words were some of the most profound ever spoken. He simply reported the servant's condition: "My servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented."ĭid he have faith? How did he come to understand Jesus could heal someone as sick as his servant? Where did he come to learn anything at all about Jesus? This is all the more remarkable given that Jesus was a Jew, and the Romans had no obligation to pay any kind of respect to their subjects.įurther, he didn't make a direct appeal for healing. This is more remarkable, as the centurion didn't have to give any kind of respectful greeting to anyone except perhaps his superiors. Notice he called Jesus Lord or Sir, from the Greek word kurios (according to Strong's Concordance). He approached Jesus with respect, giving Him a great deal of dignity in the process. The centurion could have issued an order for Jesus to appear. Roman citizens had special privileges and protections. The Romans were the masters, politically speaking, and all others were under their rule. He could have done it without any fear of reprisal. He had the authority to demand to see Jesus (or anyone else for that matter) and could have said something such as, "Hey, you, Teacher, heal my servant, and I mean right now!" He could have employed threats, imprisonment or any weapon in his arsenal. This centurion first made a respectful greeting. Regardless, when He arrived in Capernaum, He met a centurion who made a personal appeal to Jesus. After all, this is where Jesus was going. It could have been one around Capernaum, which itself was near the Sea of Galilee. We're not told which mountain was where Jesus preached the Sermon on the Mount. One of his servants (we're not told how many he might have had) was suffering, "sick of the palsy." Strong's Concordance indicates the phrase as paralytikos, which is the Greek word from which we get paralytic there was little if any hope that this servant would be well again. Certainly some of these men were employed in the execution of people condemned to death for any number of misdeeds and crimes, of which Jesus Christ had been accused. These men were assigned to various parts of the Roman Empire for various duties, including peacekeeping. Introduction: Centurions were commanders of 100 Roman soldiers. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour" (KJV). And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way and as thou hast believed, be it done unto thee. But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven. When Jesus heard, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this, Go, and he goeth and to another, Come, and he cometh and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth. The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed. And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him. The text is Matthew 8:5-13: "And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him, And saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented. What would Jesus do or say in this situation? He then was approached by a Roman centurion (leader of 100 men) who asked for help. 5-7), then healed the leper (Matt 8:1-4). Background: Jesus recently had preached the Sermon on the Mount (Matt.
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