Reading Matthew 8:1-13, NIV
Map: leprosy and centurion’s servant cases; both healings involve the requests made and the healer’s responses-if you are willing-leprosy man; centurion…a man under authority..just to give an order..remote healing; the great feast in heaven (vs 11).
Matthew 8:1-13
[1]When Jesus came down from the hill, large crowds followed him.
[2]Then a man suffering from a dreaded skin disease came to him, knelt down before him, and said, “Sir, if you want to, you can make me clean.”
[3]Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him. “I do want to,” he answered. “Be clean!” At once the man was healed of his disease.
[4]Then Jesus said to him, “Listen! Don’t tell anyone, but go straight to the priest and let him examine you; then in order to prove to everyone that you are cured, offer the sacrifice that Moses ordered.”
[5]When Jesus entered Capernaum, a Roman officer met him and begged for help:
[6]“Sir, my servant is sick in bed at home, unable to move and suffering terribly.”
[7]“I will go and make him well,” Jesus said.
[8]“Oh no, sir,” answered the officer. “I do not deserve to have you come into my house. Just give the order, and my servant will get well.
[9]I, too, am a man under the authority of superior officers, and I have soldiers under me. I order this one, ‘Go!’ and he goes; and I order that one, ‘Come!’ and he comes; and I order my slave, ‘Do this!’ and he does it.”
[10]When Jesus heard this, he was surprised and said to the people following him, “I tell you, I have never found anyone in Israel with faith like this.
[11]I assure you that many will come from the east and the west and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob at the feast in the Kingdom of heaven.
[12]But those who should be in the Kingdom will be thrown out into the darkness, where they will cry and grind their teeth.”
[13]Then Jesus said to the officer, “Go home, and what you believe will be done for you.”And the officer’s servant was healed that very moment.