One day, Jesus came to a city called Capernaum. There lived a man who was a captain. A captain takes care of many soldiers and tells them what to do. This captain was very worried because his servant, whom he liked very much, was sick and in great pain.
The centurion had heard of Jesus and believed that Jesus could heal the sick servant. So he went to Jesus and said, “Lord, my servant is lying at home in great pain.”
Jesus looked kindly at the centurion and said, “I will come and heal him.”
But the captain was very humble. This means that he did not want Jesus to come to his home because he thought Jesus was so important and special. So he said, “Lord, I’m not worthy of You entering my house. But speak only one word, and my servant will be healed.”
The centurion explained to Jesus that he also gave orders and that his soldiers obeyed him. In the same way, the centurion thought, the word of Jesus would work miracles. Jesus was amazed at the centurion’s strong faith. He had rarely seen so much trust.
Then Jesus said, “Go home. What you believed has happened.” And at that very moment, the centurion’s servant was healed, simply because the centurion had believed so firmly in Jesus.
Message of history
Faith in Jesus is very strong. If we trust Him, He can do great miracles for us.
Bible passage
The story of Jesus healing the servant of a centurion is found in Matthew 8:5-13:
“But when Jesus came to Capernaum, a centurion came to him, and begged him, 6 saying, ‘Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed at home, suffering great torments.’ 7 Jesus said to him, “I will come and heal him.” 8 But the centurion answered and said, “Lord, I am not worthy that you should come under my roof; but speak only one word, and my servant will be healed. 9 For I am also a man who is in order, and I have soldiers under me; and if I say to him, ‘Go,’ he goes; and to another, “Come here,” and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it. 10 When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those who followed, “Truly I say to you, I have not found such faith in Israel.” 11 But I tell you that many will come from the east and the west, and will sit at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. 12 But the children of the kingdom will be cast out into the outer darkness; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 13 And Jesus said to the centurion, “Go and let it be done to you according to your faith.” And his servant was healed in that hour.”
