New Testament Stories

Centurion's Servant

A certain centurion's slave, who was highly regarded by him, was sick and about to die. Luke 7:2

                              There was a Centurion in Capernaum who needed Jesus. (A Centurion was a Roman officer in charge of a hundred soldiers.) The Centurion had a servant that was a friend to him. The servant was very sick and close to dying.

     The Centurion had heard about Jesus and sent some Jewish leaders to ask him to come and make his servant well.

     The leaders came to Jesus and said, "This Roman is a good man. He loves our country. He even built the synagogue where we study and worship!"

     So Jesus started to go with them to the man's house. But before they arrived, the Centurion's friend came running out with a message. The message from the Centurion said, "Lord, I am not good enough for you to come to my house. That is why I didn't come for you myself. But I understand giving orders. When I say to a man, come, he comes. If I say go, he goes. If I say I want something done, it gets done. It is the same with you. Just say the word, and my servant will be healed. I know this."

     Jesus was surprised, "Nowhere in all Israel have I seen such faith, not even among God's own people!"

     The friends went back to the Centurion's house and discovered that the servant was well.