Next we find Jesus at Capernaum. A certain Roman military officer lived
there, who had a servant lying very sick. The officer loved his faithful
servant. He saw that he was going to die. He had heard of Jesus, and he
sent some of the elders to him, begging that he would come and cure the
sick man. The messengers came to Jesus and urged him to go at once to the
sick one; they told him how kind the officer had been to their people. He
went with them. When they were near the house, other friends came out to
meet the Saviour, and presently the officer came himself. He told Jesus
that he did not feel himself worthy to have so great a man in his house;
that he did not want to trouble him to go there, and at first he thought
he ought not even to come to him, troubling him. He begged that Jesus
would just then and there speak a word that should cure his servant. He
said that he was a man in authority, having servants who obeyed orders.
Jesus, he believed, had but to give orders, and his invisible servants
would obey him. Jesus wondered at his faith.
He turned, and said to the people who were following: “I haven’t found
such great faith as this in all Israel.” Some of those who had been sent
to Jesus, now reached the house where the sick man had lain, and behold
he was well! This story is also told in Matthew viii. 5-13.
[Illustration: THE CENTURION.—Matt. viii. 8.]