THE BELIEVING CENTURION
LESSON FOR THE JUNIOR CLASSES
STUDY SCRIPTURE:
MATTHEW 8: 5-13
Key Verse
“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”.
Matthew 8:10
INTRODUCTION.
We are reading this week a very interesting story in the Bible. It involves the Lord Jesus who was a special person who had the power to make people well. He always showed this power to make the life of people better by healing them. He healed a man with a terrible disease called leprosy. Everybody kept away from people with leprosy because they could catch that disease and it would destroy them. But Jesus loved the people with all kinds of sickness. He had compassion on people who were suffering and when this leper asked Jesus to heal him Jesus did not just say the word of healing but He touched the leper with a tender touch and healed him.
It is a very good thing if you have compassion for those who are suffering because they have a great need. When you feel compassion however it involves action, and it makes you think and then decide what you can do to help. Doctors, nurses, firemen, and those who have the job of rescuing those that are in danger are people that show compassion.
Jesus was the person with the greatest amount of compassion and our Lesson encourages us to be like Him showing action to help those in need.
Jesus was always ready to help and so when a Roman soldier called a centurion, who was the boss over 100 soldiers, came to Him and asked him to heal his very sick servant Jesus was ready to jump into action. This soldier ws a very kind man. He had helped the people of Israel in many ways including building a synagogue for them to worship in and study the bible.
This soldier had strong faith in Jesus’ ability and power, and he told Jesus that Jesus did not really have to come to his house to heal the servant. All he had to do was to say the word and the sick servant would not die but would be healed instantly.
The Centurion went on to tell Jesus that he was a man who had authority over many soldiers and if he wanted them to do anything all he did was to tell them to do it and they did it. He knew Jesus had authority over everything and so Jesus did not have to come to his house to heal the sick servant but all he had to do was to say the word and the servant would be healed.
Jesus was amazed at this attitude and the faith in Him held by this soldier. Jesus loved the strong faith of this pagan Roman soldier. He complimented him by telling him that He had never seen such great faith among all the inhabitants of the nation of Israel. This was great faith in him and He would be glad to heal the sick servant.
Jesus warned the crowd of Jews that were there that because of the faith in Him that the people who were not Jews had they would join the believers in Jesus and God the Father and sit at a great Messianic banquet that would be held at the end of the age.
This would be a Great Feast and celebration that Jesus would have on earth, and at that Feast people from all over the world, from every nation, tribe, and languages would be there.
But those people of Israel that did not believe in Him as the Messiah would not be there but would be cast into the Lake of fire and darkness where they would weep and gnash their teeth when they suffered.
We learn many things from this encounter Jesus had with this soldier who had such great faith. But most importantly we learn that if you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ you will join Him one day at this great Messianic Banquet where all kinds of people from all over the world would be present to enjoy the Bountiful provisions that Jesus had brought to them.
All your friends and relatives, your parents, and you sisters and brothers and those who were close to you who believe in the Lord Jesus as their Saviour would be there. You will be very, very happy to see them
So those that believed in Jesus do not have to fear death. They know that they would be with Jesus and be blessed all the way through eternity., So let us trust in Jesus and follow Him, for we know that He has compassion on us and will meet all our needs, take away our fears of death and suffering, provide salvation and eternal life, and look after all those who come to Him for help.