Gene’s Daily Scriptural Postings

"These [in Berea] were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so." - Acts 17:11

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Matthew 8:5-13 - Jesus Heals Centurion's Servant from Afar with Powerful Word

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(5) Now when Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him, beseeching Him, (6) And saying, "Lord, my servant is lying in the house paralyzed and grievously tormented." (7) And Jesus said to him, "I will come and heal him." (8) But the centurion answered and said, "Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under the roof of my house; but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed. (9) 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 one, 'Come,' and he comes; and to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it." (10) Now when Jesus heard these words, He was amazed; and He said to those who were following, "Truly I say to you, nowhere in Israel have I found such great faith. (11) But I say to you, many shall come from the east and the west, and shall sit down with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. (12) But the children of the kingdom shall be cast into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth." (13) Then Jesus said to the centurion, "Go, and as you have believed, so be it done to you." And his servant was healed in that hour.

Luke 7:1-10

(1) And when He had finished all His sayings in the ears of the people, He went into Capernaum. (2) Now a certain centurion's servant, who was cherished by him, was ill and about to die. (3) And after hearing about Jesus, he sent the elders of the Jews to beseech Him to come and heal his servant. (4) And after coming to Jesus, they besought Him earnestly, saying that he was worthy to whom He should grant this. (5) "For he loves our nation," they said, "and he built the synagogue for us." (6) Then Jesus went with them; but when He was 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 come under my roof; (7) Therefore, neither did I count myself worthy to come to You; but say the word, and my servant shall be healed. (8) For I also am a man appointed under authority, having soldiers under myself, 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." (9) And when He heard these things, Jesus was amazed at him; and turning to the multitude following Him, He said, "I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such great faith." (10) And when those who had been sent returned to the house, they found the sick servant in good health.

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Like the miracle of the healing of the nobleman's son (John 4:46-54), the healing of the centurion's servant (Matthew 8:5-13; Luke 7:1-10) reveals Christ as able to heal from a distance merely by the power of His word. Because of his experience as a commander, the centurion knew that it was not necessary for Jesus to come to his home to visit the sick servant and pray while standing over the afflicted. Then, as now, distance is not a factor in Christ's ability to heal; His word is sufficient whether near or far.

True faith requires no visible sign. The centurion's faith was in the spiritual capability of Christ; he had confidence in the effectiveness of Christ's word to heal the sick and dying. As a man of authority, he believed and understood that diseases had to obey Jesus' command just as his men had to obey him as their superior officer. He knew that authority transcended distance. An officer need not be personally present to command his soldiers to carry out his orders. It was sufficient for Christ to exercise His will through His word, and it is done. Nevertheless, the quick healing of a sick person from a distance is a rare occurrence in the healing miracles of the Bible (see Matthew 15:21-28; Mark 7:24-30).

— Martin G. Collins