The Faith of the Centurion
Jesus enters Capernaum, where a centurion’s servant lies near death. The centurion sends elders, then friends, to ask for help while confessing unworthiness and trusting Jesus’ command from afar. Jesus marvels at such faith, and the servant is found well.
W1hen Jesus had concluded His discourse in the hearing of the people, He went to Capernaum. 2There a highly valued servant of a centurion was sick and about to die. 3When the centurion heard about Jesus, he sent some Jewish elders to ask Him to come and heal his servant. 4They came to Jesus and pleaded with Him earnestly, “This man is worthy to have You grant this, 5for he loves our nation and has built our synagogue.” 6So Jesus went with them. But when He was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends with the message: “Lord, do not trouble Yourself, for I am not worthy to have You come under my roof. 7That is why I did not consider myself worthy to come to You. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. 8For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell one to go, and he goes, and another to come, and he comes. I tell my servant to do something, and he does it.” 9When Jesus heard this, He marveled at the centurion. Turning to the crowd following Him, He said, “I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such great faith.” 10And when the messengers returned to the house, they found the servant in good health.