The Gospels of Matthew and Luke both contain the story of Jesus heals the centurion’s servant. During Jesus’ time, Roman centurions were military officers who commanded a hundred soldiers. In the town of Capernaum, a Roman soldier had a servant who was gravely ill and in need of healing. The centurion, though not a Jew, displayed total faith in Jesus and sought his help. Jesus praised the centurion’s remarkable faith.
The healing of the centurion’s servant reminds us that God’s love extends beyond boundaries [1] and social norms. The fact that some scholars suggest that the centurion’s servant may have been his queer lover highlights how God’s love transcends societal expectations and prejudices.
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Jesus Heals The Centurion’s Servant: Comparative Biblical Account
The centurion answered, “Lord, I am not worthy to have You come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. 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.” When Jesus heard this, He marveled and said to those following him, Truly, I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith.”
— Matthew 8:8–10
Matthew’s Story
Matthew 8:5–13 tells the story of Jesus healing the centurion’s servant, also known as pais, whom his master valued highly. Jesus had just finished all his sayings and entered Capernaum. The centurion heard about Jesus and his ability to perform miracles. Desperate for his servant’s well-being, he came and pleaded earnestly with him. He said, “Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed at home, suffering terribly,” to which Jesus replied, “I will come and heal him.”
The centurion replied that he himself was under authority and was not worthy to receive Jesus under his roof. He believed that by only saying a single word, Jesus could heal his servant. In response to the centurion’s faith, his servant was healed immediately.
Jesus spoke and reminded the people: “I say to you that many will come from the east and the west to share the banquet with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. But the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
Luke’s Story
Luke’s account of this story emphasizes the centurion’s faith and humility. The centurion sends the elders of the Jews to ask for Jesus’ help instead of approaching him himself because he feels unworthy to do so. When Jesus agrees to come with them to the centurion’s house, the centurion sends his friends a message saying that he is not worthy for Jesus to enter his home but asks if he can simply speak a word of healing from afar.
The Centurion’s profound trust in Jesus impressed him deeply. This encounter demonstrates that faith transcends cultural and religious boundaries and holds immense power.
What We Can Learn From The Healing Of The Centurion’s Servant
Humility and Trust In God’s Power To Heal
Approaching God for healing requires humility, which means recognizing our limitations as human beings and acknowledging that we need divine intervention to overcome our problems. Humility is a key element of faith and is essential in seeking healing from God. When we approach him with a humble heart, we open ourselves up to his mercy and grace.
Trusting in God’s power to heal requires faith and surrender. We must believe that he has the power to heal us, even when it seems impossible. This kind of trust can be challenging, especially when we are facing difficult circumstances or chronic illnesses. However, when we surrender our fears and doubts to him, we allow him to work in us and through us.
Proclaiming Jesus’ Authority
The centurion’s faith in Jesus as Lord demonstrates the importance of recognizing Jesus’ authority. The centurion recognized that Jesus had the power to heal his servant simply by speaking a word of command. He did not need Jesus to come physically to touch his servant or perform an elaborate ritual; he trusted that Jesus could heal him with just a word.
Conclusion
The story of Jesus healing the centurion’s servant is a powerful reminder of God’s abounding compassion and the power of faith. Despite the differences in the narratives of Matthew and Luke, at its core, this story teaches us about the importance of having genuine faith in Christ.
As we reflect on this story, we must remember that our own faith can move mountains. When we approach God with humility and trust in his power to heal, we open ourselves up to experiencing his grace and mercy in our lives. We can learn from the example set by the Centurion and strive to cultivate such faith within ourselves.