A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; NEW TESTAMENT STORIES

                                           NOT WORTHY OF ATTENTION A PART II

"I, a Roman Centurion, live in a town called Capernaum... Life is good here.... I have made many friends among the Jewish people even though I am not Jewish.... I am a Roman citizen..... However, I am very concerned about my servant for he is very ill..... And the doctors have not been able to make him well.... But I have heard that this Man Jesus has come to our town.... And I have heard that He heals people and delivers people from demonic spirits.... I am sure He can heal my servant.... The problem is that I am not Jewish... And His ministry is among Jewish people.... So I have asked some of my Jewish friends to go to Jesus and speak to Him on my behalf..... Perhaps they can plead my case before Jesus.... And He does not even have to come to my home for I am not worthy for him to enter my home."... Please read the typed out attachment when you will learn about a Roman Centurion's concern for his ill servant....

                ATTACHMENT A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; NEW TESTAMENT STORIES

                                      NOT WORTHY OF ATTENTION A PART II

The Centurion is a Roman soldier and, therefore, not one of the Jewish chosen people. One of his servants is very ill and in, in fact, on the point of dying. What is he to do? He has done everything possible so far and no medicine has worked. He is really at his wit's end. But he then learns that Jesus has entered Capernaum and he has heard that this Jesus can and does heal people. It is true, he as a Roman citizen, does not belong to the Jewish people and Jesus' ministry is among Jewish people. However, his situation is very desperate for his servant is near death. Perhaps, Jesus may have mercy upon him and will minister to his servant even though he is not worthy to receive Him in his home as an "unclean" Gentile. Not feeling worthy to even speak to Jesus in person, he asks some of the Jewish elders if they are willing to plead his case before Jesus on his behalf as you can read in Luke 7:4 - 6

When they came to Jesus they pleaded earnestly with Him, "This man deserves to have you do this, because he loves our nation and has built our synagogue." So Jesus went with them.

The Jewish elders speak favourably of the Roman Centurion because he is kind and loving towards them.