Bible Lesson: Miracles Of Jesus: Centurion's servant Healed.
Location: Capernaum.
Text: Matthew 8:5-13 KJV
5 And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto Him a centurion, beseeching Him,
6 And saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented.
7 And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him.
8 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.
9 For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.
10 When Jesus heard it, He marveled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.
11 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.
12 But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
13 And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour.
Luke 7:1-10 KJV
1 Now when He had ended all His sayings in the audience of the people, He entered into Capernaum.
2 And a certain centurion's servant, who was dear unto him, was sick, and ready to die.
3 And when he heard of Jesus, he sent unto Him the elders of the Jews, beseeching him that He would come and heal his servant.
4 And when they came to Jesus, they besought Him instantly, saying, That he was worthy for whom He should do this:
5 For he loveth our nation, and he hath built us a synagogue.
6 Then Jesus went with them. And when He was now not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to him, saying unto him, Lord, trouble not thyself: for I am not worthy that thou shouldest enter under my roof:
7 Wherefore neither thought I myself worthy to come unto thee: but say in a word, and my servant shall be healed.
8 For I also am a man set under authority, having under me soldiers, and I say unto one, Go, and he goeth; and to another,
Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.
9 When Jesus heard these things, He marveled at him, and turned Him about, and said unto the people that followed Him, I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.
10 And they that were sent, returning to the house, found the servant whole that had been sick.
Matthew 8:5,6 KJV
5 And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto Him a centurion, beseeching Him,
6 And saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented.
It is totally inconsequential Whether or not the Centurion, came to Jesus or sent his emissaries, however one is lead more certainly to believe based upon verses 8,9 that no doubt it was not he himself that approached Jesus but those who he had sent.
A Centurion (a Gentile), was a Roman officer, with no less than 100 soldiers under his command. And there is more than some reason for speculation, that this man, had read the scriptures, and more than perhaps had believed that Christ, indeed was the promised Messiah.
Luke tell us that, being a man (a Gentile) of faith, he had built the Jews a synagogue (Luke 7:5).
A man acquainted with the ramifications of authority, and the delegation of responsibility.
If one thought anyone would, yes, could reach out in faith for the promises of God, surely it would be the chosen people of God, the Jews, but they for the most part had rejected Jesus, thinking surely all flesh is intrinsically evil, God could certainly “not,” be in the flesh, but they were wrong.
Matthew 8:7-9 KJV
7 And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him.
8 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.
9 For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.
When ever anyone calls upon the living God, for help, He hears, and He answers!
II Samuel 22:7 KJV
In my distress I called upon the Lord, and cried to my God: and He did hear my voice out of His temple, and my cry did enter into His ears.
Psalm 34:15 KJV
The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and His ears are open unto their cry.
Isaiah 59:1 KJV
Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither His ear heavy, that it cannot hear:
Isaiah 65:24 KJV
And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.
I Peter 3:12 KJV
For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and His ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.
Psalm 28:7,8 KJV
7 The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in Him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise Him.
8 The Lord is their strength, and He is the saving strength of His anointed.
Psalm 40:17 KJV
But I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinketh upon me: thou art my help and my deliverer...
Isaiah 41:10 KJV
Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of My righteousness.
Isaiah 50:9 KJV
Behold, the Lord God will help me...
Hebrew 13:6 KJV
"...The Lord is my helper..."
The Centurion, was a man (Gentile) of faith!
Matthew 8:8 KJV
“...speak the word only,...”
And we as Christians, need to be a people of faith!
Mark 11:22 KJV
And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.
Romans 10:17 KJV
So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Matthew 17:20 KJV
And Jesus said unto them,...If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.
Ephesians 6:16 KJV
Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
Hebrews 11:6 KJV
But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.
I John 5:4 KJV
For whatsoever is born of God over cometh the world: and this is the victory that over cometh the world, even our faith.
Jesus in His astonishment, proclaimed...
Matthew 8:10-12 KJV
10 When Jesus heard it, He marveled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.
11 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.
12 But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Those who receive the Messiah, will one day “sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven.”
While those who reject Him, will “be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
The reward of faith...
Matthew 8:13 KJV
And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour.
