Next we find Jesus at Capernaum. A certain Roman military officer lived there, who had a servant lying very sick. The officer loved his faithful servant. He saw that he was going to die. He had heard of Jesus, and he sent some of the elders to him, begging that he would come and cure the sick man. The messengers came to Jesus and urged him to go at once to the sick one; they told him how kind the officer had been to their people. He went with them. When they were near the house, other friends came out to meet the Saviour, and presently the officer came himself. He told Jesus that he did not feel himself worthy to have so great a man in his house; that he did not want to trouble him to go there, and at first he thought he ought not even to come to him, troubling him. He begged that Jesus would just then and there speak a word that should cure his servant. He said that he was a man in authority, having servants who obeyed orders. Jesus, he believed, had but to give orders, and his invisible servants would obey him. Jesus wondered at his faith.

He turned, and said to the people who were following: “I haven’t found such great faith as this in all Israel.” Some of those who had been sent to Jesus, now reached the house where the sick man had lain, and behold he was well! This story is also told in Matthew viii. 5-13.