I remember meeting a man several years ago who was suffering from stage four cancer. At this time, he was expected to live less than one year. His life as he knew it would never be the same. There would be no more days of going to work and routine activities that had filled his life.
Then one day everything changed. His caretaker told him about Jesus and how He came to this earth and lived a perfect life and died on the cross for our sins. John 3:16 says, “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.”[1] Over the next several weeks his caretaker told him more about Jesus and how He had transformed her life. She also gave him a Bible and he began to read for himself about Jesus. Not long after that he placed his faith in Jesus and was baptized.
He now had the greatest hope ever in this most difficult time. His physical life was coming to and end, but now there was eternity in heaven to look forward to. Isaiah the prophet tells us in 55:6, “Seek the Lord while you can find him. Call on him now while he is near.” [2] After we die it is too late to come to faith in Jesus. We must call on Him when He can be found and that is in this lifetime. This is what the Roman Officer did for his servant.
In our story, a Roman Officer came to Jesus requesting that his paralyzed servant be healed. This Officer took advantage of Jesus’ visit to Capernaum. He could have made many excuses. He was a Gentile and Jesus was a Jewish Rabbi. According to the customs of the time, Jews wouldn’t mix or speak with Gentiles. The Officer was of a different political persuasion, he was a Roman and Jews hated Roman rule. Yet, Jesus graciously hears the Officer’s request and even offers to visit the servant.
The Roman Officer explains that he isn’t worthy to have Jesus visit. I’m sure this Officer was very aware of the ethnic tensions of the day. But he does have faith in Jesus and explains that Jesus only has to say the word for the servant to be healed. Jesus says the word and the servant is healed.
How about you? Are you willing to seek the Lord while He is near? Or do you have too many excuses why you shouldn’t? Do you know Jesus as your Savior? If not, there is a prayer below to ask Jesus into your heart. If you do know Jesus who is He placing on your heart to share His good news with?
The Sinner’s Prayer
Lord Jesus, for too long I’ve kept you out of my life. I know that I am a sinner and that I cannot save myself. No longer will I close the door when I hear you knocking. By faith I gratefully receive your gift of salvation. I am ready to trust you as my Lord and Savior. Thank you, Lord Jesus, for coming to earth. I believe you are the Son of God who died on the cross for my sins and rose from the dead on the third day. Thank you for bearing my sins and giving me the gift of eternal life. I believe your words are true. Come into my heart, Lord Jesus, and be my Savior. Amen.[3]
To hear more about the healing of the Centurion’s servant, listen here: https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/hope-for-healing
[1,2] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation . Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.
[3] Pritchard, Ray, www.crosswalk.com, accessed July 9, 2020.