THE GOSPEL: Just Speaking The Word Heals!

Now when Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him, pleading with Him, saying, “Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, dreadfully tormented.” And Jesus said to him, “I will come and heal him.” (Matthew 8:5-7)

Jesus has finished his long "Sermon on the Mount", outside of Galilee. (see THE GOSPEL: "The Beattitudes" Lesson, etc.) Now He is returning to Capernaum, and once He arrives, He's informed of the grave condition of a Centurion's servant.  Matthew and Luke record who actually came to Jesus differently.  We must understand Matthew is summarizing here, and says that the Centurion himself came; but Luke's account is more detailed, and the Centurion sent representative on his behalf.  Regardless of who actually came, Jesus understands that He is "speaking" to the Centurion.  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. (Luke 7:1-6)

Centurions were key officers in the armies of ancient Rome.  Centurions were hardened, experienced soldiers, skilled at killing. Most were enlisted men promoted through the ranks after 15 to 20 years of service.  Remember, during Jesus time on earth, the Jews were under Roman captivity; so for the people to speak so highly of this Roman officer spoke a lot about his character and reputation, especially the fact that he had a synagogue built, a place of worship for the Jews. (see Authentic: Reputation vs. Character) 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.” (Luke 7:6-8; Matthew 8:8-9)

This Centurion man, a Roman officer of the Roman army, has more understanding of Jesus' authority than the Jewish leaders, who have had the Word of God from the very beginning!  When Jesus had gone into the synagogues in Galilee and Nazareth, after being tempted by the devil, And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read. And He was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written:

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me,
Because He has anointed Me
To preach the gospel to the poor;
He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives
And recovery of sight to the blind,
To set at liberty those who are oppressed;
To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord." [Isaiah 61:1-13]

Then He closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on Him. And He began to say to them, "Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” (Luke 4:17-21, see THE GOSPEL: Rejected By His Own)

Jesus confirms, using the Word of God, that He is the promised Messiah from God, as was told by God through the Jewish patriarchs and prophets; but the Jewish leaders refused to accept it, especially once Jesus explained to them that non-Jews would also receive the gift of salvation, to the point where they tried to kill Him. (Luke 4:24-30) Now, we have this non-Jew, who probably didn't know much about the Hebrew scriptures, but based on what he'd heard about Jesus, he believes that Jesus has power, authority and the ability to heal is servant, even without seeing his servant, but just by speaking a word.  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!” (Luke 7:9; Matthew 8:10)  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.” (Matthew 8:11-12) And those who were sent, returning to the house, found the servant well who had been sick. (Luke 7:10; Matthew 8:13)

Just as Jesus taught in His "Sermon on the Mount", He is reiterating here that knowing about God, and having a relationship with Him, through faith in His Son, Christ Jesus, are two different things. (see THE GOSPEL: Follow The Leader) We may be born a "Jew", or born into the "right" geneology, or born into the "right" family, but we can't be born into salvation.  We must be "born again"! (see THE GOSPEL: Born Again! How?) The Jews, the sons of the kingdom, were at risk of not being saved, because they refused to believe the Word of God, Christ Jesus.  On the other hand,  people from every nationality, many will come from east and west, and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.  This Centurion man's faith in Jesus proved just that.  God promises that no matter who we are or where we are, And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come. (Matthew 24:14) Of all the books ever written, this Book started out as the personal property of a small nation of people, but now has spread throughout the whole world. The Centurion's servant didn't "see" Jesus, just like we can't physically see Him today; but this same Jesus, who just spoke a word, and the Centurion's servant was healed, is the same Jesus who is alive today and willing to help us with whatever we need, For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Romans 10:13)