The story is recorded in Matthew 8 and Luke 7 of an event in the city of Capernaum. This city was the place where many of Jesus’ miracles and teachings took place.

There is some difference between the stories in these two accounts, with Matthew telling us that a centurion came to Jesus; and Luke telling us that the centurion sent someone. It is understood that we are said to do that which we do by another individual. The centurion would probably not have made the trip to see Jesus based on the remarks he made at the end of the story, but he directed someone to approach Jesus for him.

This centurion had a servant, one “highly valued by him” (Luke 7:2). This servant was at the point of death, and the centurion heard that Jesus was nearby. Matthew says that the servant was paralyzed and in a lot of pain.

Knowing the reputation of the Lord, the centurion knew Jesus could make his servant well. But he was a Gentile, and he would not ask such a favor of the Lord. Instead, he sent elders of the Jews to ask Jesus to heal his servant.

When the Jews spoke to Jesus about the centurion, they pleaded with Him to come with them. They said, “He is worthy to have you do this for him, for he loves our nation, and he is the one who built us our synagogue” (Luke 7:4-5). 

These elders of the Jews were bold in saying that the centurion was worthy. They must have thought that having built a synagogue and loving his country made him worthy of Jesus’ attention.

So, Jesus went with these elders of the Jews. When they were close to the centurion’s house, the centurion sent his friends out to meet the Lord. He didn’t want Jesus to come into his house. In fact, he didn’t expect that Jesus would return with the elders or appear at his home.

So what did the centurion expect? He said, “I did not presume to come to you. But say the word, and let my servant be healed” (Luke 7:7). He knew that Jesus needed only to speak, and the servant would be healed.

At the conclusion of this dialogue between Jesus and the centurion, those sent to make this request of Jesus found the servant healed of his illness. The healing, however, is not the real story. The real story is in the faith of the centurion.

Here is a man in command of a hundred men. He gives orders, and they obey. He has a servant who does for the centurion whatever he requests. In this situation, the centurion has to humble himself to make a request of a Jew.

The centurion is a Gentile, but he is a good man. The Jews gave Jesus a list of his qualifications: he loves his country; he built them a synagogue; he felt unworthy to make the request of Jesus.

All of these qualifications sound impressive, but they were not what made Jesus want to help him. It was simply his faith. It was his belief that Jesus could make his servant well that impressed the Lord.

Jesus’ statement at the conclusion of this scene gives the centurion the greatest compliment of anything that could be said about him. Jesus said, “I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith” (Luke 7:9).

How great is our faith? May we truly say, “I am crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20).

Sandra Oliver