Jesus ministered on an individual basis. In the story we will look at for the next few days, Jesus reached out to heal the servant of a Roman centurion. To understand this story, you need to know that a centurion was a Roman citizen, in charge of at least 100 military men. This was an important and powerful position.
As we begin the story, we see that this centurion is a good employer. He is concerned about the welfare of one of his servants. You really know someone cares when they reach out to you when you are hurting. Everyone seems to want to be around you when you are feeling well. It takes a special person to reach out to those who is sick. This centurion invests his care into the life of his servant. In a strong class system, the servant would have had no real rights, except those given to him by his master. This centurion, however, is not concerned about his servants class in society, he is concerned about his well-being. May we all do likewise!
The interesting phrase in today's passage is "the centurion heard of Jesus". How would he "hear of Jesus"? This man was a Roman soldier. He was one of the elite. He heard of a carpenter's son. Imagine that!
How did you "hear of Jesus"? Did someone tell you about Him? Did you read about Him in a Bible? Did He come to you suddenly, as He did to the apostle Paul?
We don't know how this centurion heard of Jesus, and, for that matter, I don't know how you heard of Jesus. The important issue is that you have heard of Jesus. Hearing of Jesus is a life-changing event, as we will see from looking at this story.
Have you heard? Praise God today if you have heard of Jesus!
