Following the Lord Jesus Christ: #33 A Centurion’s Servant Healed

Before we enter Capernaum, let’s consider how this town had become the chosen base of operations for Jesus after He was driven from Nazareth by religious officials there (Luke 4:16, 28–30). Capernaum was the hometown of Peter and Andrew and it was here that Jesus had called them to follow Him (Matthew 4:18–20). He had found the tax collector, Matthew, in Capernaum, and called him to discipleship FLJC: #27 (Matthew 9:9). He often taught in the synagogue there (John 6:59; Mark 1:21).

It was in Capernaum that Jesus did many of His miracles (Matthew 8:5; John 6:17–21).  Jesus healed the nobleman’s son FLJC:#15 (John 4:46–53), Simon Peter’s mother-in-law FLJC: #22 (Mark 1:30–31), and the paralytic FLJC: #26 (Matthew 9:1–2) in this town. In Capernaum, Jesus also cast out an unclean spirit FLJC: #21 (Mark 1:21–25), and performed even more miraculous healings and deliverance as recorded in the gospels.

Yet although Capernaum had been the site of so many proofs of Jesus’ identity, many there refused to believe he was the Christ. Jesus, as we will see later in our journey, eventually included it in a denunciation of several cities: “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. But it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you. And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted to the heavens? No, you will go down to Hades” (Luke 10:13–15).

As we follow Jesus back into Capernaum after the sermon in the plain, we encounter someone in great need.

Matthew 8:5,6 (Matthew and Luke) [NKJV]
Now when Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, pleading with him,
saying, “Lord, my servant [pais] is lying at home paralyzed, dreadfully tormented.”

Luke 7:1-5 (Matthew and Luke) [NKJV]
Now when he concluded all His sayings in the hearing of the people, he entered Capernaum.
And a certain centurion’s servant [doulos], who was dear to him, was sick and ready to die.
So when he heard about Jesus, he sent elders of the Jews to Him, pleading with him to come and heal his servant [doulos].
And when they [the elders of the Jews] came to Jesus, they begged him earnestly, saying that the one [the centurion] for whom he should do this was deserving,
“for he loves our nation, and has built us a synagogue.”

Jesus is approached to heal the servant of a centurion. Taking note of the two different Greek words that describe the servant, we realize that he is not simply a mere servant (doulos), but even more to the centurion, he is considered a dear son (pais). This beloved servant is “lying at home paralyzed, dreadfully tormented,” and “sick and ready to die.”

But who is it that pleads for the healing of the servant—is it the centurion himself, or did the centurion send the “elders of the Jews”? There is an age-old rule of law, the law of agency, which could answer this. In Latin it states, “Qui facit per alium, facit per se.”  This is understood to mean, “He who acts through another does the act himself.”

So it seems that the centurion, a Roman official in charge of the area around Capernaum, had sent the local elders of the Jews to plead on his behalf for Jesus to heal his son. As the elders explained, the man had great love for the Jewish people and arranged for a synagogue to be built for them. A very unusual Roman, indeed!

But will Jesus heal the servant of a Gentile, who is most likely a Gentile himself?

Matthew 8:7-9 (Matthew and Luke) [NKJV]
And Jesus said to him, “I will come and heal him.”
The centurion answered and said, “Lord, I am not worthy that you should come under my roof. But only speak a word, and my servant [pais] will be healed.
For I also am a man under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant [doulos], ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”

Luke 7:6-8 (Matthew and Luke) [NKJV]
Then Jesus went with them [the elders].
And when he was already not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to Him, saying to Him, “Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof.
Therefore I did not even think myself worthy to come to you. But say the word, and my servant [pais] will be healed.
For I also am a man placed under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant [doulos], ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”

Yes! Jesus starts off on his way to the centurion’s house with the elders. But get ready for the next surprise—the centurion sends his friends to stop Jesus from coming to the house! And his reasoning here again expresses his great humility: “I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof.” Luke’s gospel also adds: “I did not even think myself worthy to come to you.”

Then, this Roman officer ruling over the province with 100 soldiers under his authority, explains how he understands that Jesus has the spiritual authority to heal simply by saying the word. Jesus finds this centurion’s great faith astonishing.

Matthew 8:10-13 (Matthew and Luke) [NKJV]
When Jesus heard it, he marveled, and said to those who followed, “Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!
And I say to you that many will come from east and west, and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.
But the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go your way; and as you have believed, so let it be done for you.” And his servant [pais] was healed that same hour.

Luke 7:9,10 (Matthew and Luke) [NKJV]
When Jesus heard these things, He marveled at him, and turned around and said to the crowd that followed him, “I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!”
And those who were sent [the friends], returning to the house, found the servant [doulos] well who had been sick.

Jesus expresses his surprise at the centurion’s great faith that surpassed any in Israel. He then makes the remarkable statement that “many will come from east and west,” meaning Jews and Gentiles from around the world will, in the end, sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.

But some of Israel, the sons of the kingdom, will be cast into the weeping and gnashing of teeth found in the outer darkness. In short, he is telling them that the only way into the kingdom of heaven is by faith in the Son of God, not by birth into any particular nationality. This explains the prophecy in Genesis that all the nations of the earth would be blessed in Abraham.

Genesis 12:2,3
I will make you (Abraham) a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing.
I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you; and in you all the families (nations) of the earth shall be blessed.

Then we hear Jesus say to the centurion by way of his friends (and possibly the elders), “Go your way; and as you have believed, so let it be done for you.” What a day of rejoicing it was in that household when they returned to find the centurion’s servant completely healed! Let’s too, today, be strong in the faith that is in Christ Jesus, giving the glory to God in all that we do and say.

NEXT:  Following the Lord Jesus Christ: #34 God Has Visited His People

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Matthew 8:5-13 [NKJV]
Now when Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him, pleading with Him, 6 saying, “Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, dreadfully tormented.”
And Jesus said to him, “I will come and heal him.”
The centurion answered and said, “Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof. But only speak a word, and my servant will be healed.
For I also am a man under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”
When Jesus heard it, He marveled, and said to those who followed, “Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!
And I say to you that many will come from east and west, and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.
But the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go your way; and as you have believed, so let it be done for you.” And his servant was healed that same hour.

Luke 7:1-10 [NKJV]
Now when He concluded all His sayings in the hearing of the people, He entered Capernaum.
And a certain centurion’s servant, who was dear to him, was sick and ready to die.
So when he heard about Jesus, he sent elders of the Jews to Him, pleading with Him to come and heal his servant.
And when they came to Jesus, they begged Him earnestly, saying that the one for whom He should do this was deserving,
“for he loves our nation, and has built us a synagogue.”
Then Jesus went with them. And when He was already not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to Him, saying to Him, “Lord, do not trouble Yourself, for I am not worthy that You should enter under my roof.
Therefore I did not even think myself worthy to come to You. But say the word, and my servant will be healed.
For I also am a man placed under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”
When Jesus heard these things, He marveled at him, and turned around and said to the crowd that followed Him, “I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!”
And those who were sent, returning to the house, found the servant well who had been sick.