Now when he had ended all his sayings in the audience of the people, he entered into Capernaum.
After He had finished all His sayings in the hearing of the people, Jesus entered into Capernaum, which introduces the account of the centurion's servant. As He entered, Jewish elders met Him to ask for the healing of a Roman centurion's servant, who was a slave and was sick unto death. The centurion had the elders bring the request because he felt unworthy to approach Jesus himself. Jesus healed the servant at a distance, making the account a lesson of encouragement.
Though he had never seen Jesus, the centurion trusted His power because reports about Him and His teaching had created faith and met his spiritual need. Though a Roman conqueror, the centurion had overcome national prejudice, respected God's worship, shown kindness to the Jews by building them a synagogue, and deeply loved his servant and sought his recovery.
By rewarding the Gentile centurion's faith in Capernaum, the visit shows that those considered outside Israel can hunger for truth and receive salvation. The event shows Christ working directly among Gentiles to reach beyond Israel and to lead the Jews out of their exclusiveness, teaching that God's kingdom has no boundary separating Jew from Gentile.
After He had finished all His sayings in the hearing of the people, Jesus entered into Capernaum, which introduces the account of the centurion's servant. As He entered, Jewish elders met Him to ask for the healing of a Roman centurion's servant, who was a slave and was sick unto death. The centurion had the elders bring the request because he felt unworthy to approach Jesus himself. Jesus healed the servant at a distance, making the account a lesson of encouragement.
Though he had never seen Jesus, the centurion trusted His power because reports about Him and His teaching had created faith and met his spiritual need. Though a Roman conqueror, the centurion had overcome national prejudice, respected God's worship, shown kindness to the Jews by building them a synagogue, and deeply loved his servant and sought his recovery.
By rewarding the Gentile centurion's faith in Capernaum, the visit shows that those considered outside Israel can hunger for truth and receive salvation. The event shows Christ working directly among Gentiles to reach beyond Israel and to lead the Jews out of their exclusiveness, teaching that God's kingdom has no boundary separating Jew from Gentile.