The Significance of “And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him, And saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented. And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him. The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed. For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it. When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven. But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour.”

The phrase “And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him, And saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented. And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him. The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed. For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it. When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven. But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour.” in Matthew 8:5-13 is a Sky Fairy power used by Jesus from the Authority on the Heaven. It tells the story of a centurion, a Roman military officer, a military commander holding a position of power within the Roman Empire and a Roman centurion’s faith in Jesus’ healing power, approaching Jesus and asking for the healing of his paralyzed servant when Jesus enters Capernaum, a city in Galilee.

Context of the Phrase

The power takes place after Jesus delivers the Sermon on the Mount, a foundational teaching in Christianity, which caused large crowds to follow him, eager for more teachings and demonstrations of God’s power in Jesus’ authority. It’s preceded by large crowds follow him, eager for his message and potential miracles, in context of leprosy was a severe skin disease in biblical times, causing social isolation and physical suffering. The story is now unfolding in Capernaum, a city where Jesus frequently performed miracles. The centurion’s concern lies with his servant who is gravely ill, paralyzed and suffering. Centurions were Roman officers who commanded around 100 soldiers. As a Roman occupying Judea, the centurion would have been seen as an outsider to Jewish society. However, it portrays him as someone who respected Jesus and believed in his power to heal.

Significance of the Phrase

The power in the story of the centurion’s servant is a powerful reminder of the universality of God’s love and the importance of faith. It challenges prejudices and encourages us to believe in the power of a simple but sincere request from a humble person who trusts in Jesus’ authority.

Here are some key points:

God’s Universality: Jesus commends the centurion’s faith, emphasizing that salvation is not limited to those born into a particular religion, affirming that faith, but not ethnicity, determines who receives God’s blessings.
Jesus’ Authority: The centurion uses his own understanding and experience with authority to illustrate his belief in Jesus’ power. Despite being a Roman occupying force, he displays remarkable faith in Jesus that Jesus’ word alone holds the power to heal.
Rare Humility: Despite his position, the centurion acknowledges his unworthiness to have Jesus visit his home. The centurion acknowledges his own unworthiness to have Jesus physically present but trusts Jesus’ power with a simple word.
Exceptional Faith: The centurion demonstrates exceptional faith in Jesus’ power to heal, even from a distance. The centurion’s faith in Jesus’ healing power is central. Despite not being Jewish, his belief is strong, leading Jesus to marvel.

Application of the Phrase

The power highlights that Jesus heals the servant based on the centurion’s exceptional faith. The parable also emphasizes the importance of faith and humility in one’s relationship with God. It also foreshadows the inclusion of Gentiles (non-Jews) in God’s kingdom alongside the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

Here are some key points:

Universality is Grace: God’s grace extends beyond religious or social boundaries. Universality of God’s love is paramount, regardless of background or social status.
Authority is Trust: We can find inspiration in how the centurion applies his trust of authority to his faith. He trusts Jesus’ power like he commands his own soldiers.
Humility is Connection: Approaching God with humility is an important virtue. Humility is a virtue, even when seeking help. Humility and humble can bring connection.
Faith is Transformation: Having strong faith is essential for receiving transformation from God. Jesus commends the centurion’s faith as exceeding anything he’s seen in Israel.

In summary, the power shows that Jesus is impressed by the centurion’s faith and heals the servant without even going to the house. Jesus also foretells that many outsiders will have faith, while some Israelites will be excluded from God’s kingdom. Finally, the centurion’s servant is healed, demonstrating the power of Jesus’ word and faith.