A Roman centurion lived in a large city. He had many soldiers who obeyed him. When he said, “Go!” they went. When he said, “Come,” they came. He was an important man.
But the captain had a big problem. One of his servants was very ill. The servant could not get up and was in terrible pain. The captain liked his servant very much. He wanted to help him.
Then the centurion heard about Jesus. People said, “Jesus can heal the sick!” The centurion believed this and ran to Jesus.
“Lord, my servant is at home. He’s very sick!” he cried.
Jesus looked at him kindly and said, “I will come and heal him.”
But the captain shook his head. “Lord, I am not worthy that you should come into my house. But say just one word, and my servant will be healed!”
Jesus was amazed. The people around him were often insecure. But this man trusted very firmly. Jesus smiled and said, “What great faith! Your servant shall be well.”
At that very moment, the servant was healed! The captain was very pleased. He knew: Jesus only has to say one word – and everything will be fine.
Questions to think about
Do you firmly believe that Jesus can help?
Do you know that Jesus sees you and cares for you?
Message of history
Jesus can do anything. If we trust Him, He will help us no matter where we are.
Bible passage
The story of the Roman centurion, which shows his faith and humility, is found in Matthew 8:5-13.
Matthew 8:5-13 (Schlachter 2000):
“But when Jesus came to Capernaum, a centurion came to him and begged him, saying, ‘Lord, my servant is paralyzed at home and in great pain.’ And Jesus said to him, “I will come and heal him.” 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. For I, too, am a man under superiors, 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. When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those who followed, “Truly I say to you, even in Israel I have not found so much faith.” But I say to you, many will come from the east and the west, and will sit at the table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven. But the children of the kingdom will be cast out into the outer darkness; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. And Jesus said to the centurion, “Go; let it be done to you as you have believed. And his servant was healed in that hour.”
