The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1900-04-19
TIE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
lsssao n the International Series fel
April "A, I0OO-The Centaies's
Servant Healed.


(Luks 7:l-lo.)
I. Now when he had ended all His say.
Ing In the audience OF the people. he en-.
tered into Capernaum-
Z And Q certain centurion's servant. who
was dear unto Him. was sick, and ready te
die.
& And when. he hsard OF Jesus. he sen,
unto Him the elders Of sne Jews. beseech.
Ing Him that He would come and heal bis
servant.
1 And when they came to Jesus. they be.
sought Him Instantly. saying: That he
was worthy for whom He should do this:
g. For he iovsth our nation. and he hath
built US synagogue.
G. Then Jesus went with them. And wher
He was now not far from the house. the
centurion sent friends to Him. saying unto
Him: Lord. trouble not Thyself; for ] am
not worthy that Thou shouldest enter un.
der my roof;
7. Wherefore neither thought myself
worthy TO come unto Thee; but say In 0
word, and my servant shal be healed.
For / also am a man set under author
ity. having under me soldiers. and say
unto one: Go. and he goeth; and to another;
J Come. and he cometh; and 10 my servant;
DO this. and he doeth II.
g. When Jesus heard these things. II,
marveled at him, and turned him about.
Him: | say unto you. ! have not found SO
great faith. no. not In Israel.
TO- And they that were sent returning tt
the house. found the servant whole that
had been sick.
GOLDEN TEXT. Like as father
pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth
them that fear Him.-Psa. l03:l3.
NOTES AND COMMENTS
The healing of the centurion's serv-
ant was one of the many miracles
which Jesus performed Immediately
after the sermon on the mount. 1t has
which Matthew gives to the sermon
ale followed by two chapters of
miracles. The event of the lesson took
place at Capernaum, which we remem-
ber is the city where Jesus made His
home after the rejection at Nazareth.
Study not only the lesson text but its
parallel in Matthew s:5-13, and the
teaching may be presented under four
heads:
% Character Of the Centurion.
(9 Emphasis Jesus Lays on Faith.
90 Promise to the Genti.es.
Cd Healing Of the Servant.
Character of the Centurion.-The
centurion is an interesting object for
character study. What Luke and
Matthew say of him occupies few
verses, but is decidedly to the point.
From what we are told of the man we
can picture him as one of quiet and
unassuming dignity. We are told that
"he was worthy" And the fact that
he could get the elders of the Jews to
go for him to Jesus shows that he
commanded the honor and respect of
others. He was man in authority,
being as u centurion in command of
about hundred men; but he was also
under authority, and knew how to
obey. In spite of the good opinion Of
others and the position he held in the
Roman army, he counted himself not
worthy that Jesus should enter under
his roof. He was kindly man, for
we are told his servant was dear unto
him." and beside the elders referred
to him as one who "loveth our ma
ton" We know he was religious
man, for he had founded synagogue.
Chief Of all his good qualities was
that of faith, and Jesus especially COM
mended it.
Emphasis Jesus Lays on Faith
| 1t is in just such man that we would
look for faith, faith in God and faith
in men. Faith is the foundation upon
which all strong character is built.
Jesus had performed many wonderful
miracles in Capernaum, and when the
centurion heard of Him he sent for
the help He alone could give. The
| servant was near to death. Jesus had
helped others, and he believed that
He could help him. Jesus came, and
when He was near the house the CEN
turion came out. He had not meant
that Jesus should go to the trouble
of coming to him. He reasoned that
as he could send one of his soldiers
to do certain thing, so Jesus. in COM
mand not only of material things,
but of things spiritual, could have
but spoken, and his servant would be
healed. Marvellous faith! No Won
der Jesus exclaimed: Il have not
found so great faith, no, not in Is
rael"
We may note that Jesus certainly
knew as much about this centurion 'as
we can know from the story we have
Perhaps lie knew more, living in the
same town where this officer had his
headquarters. lie knew the man had
the good qualities that we have men
toned, but He pointed out not his evi
dent humility, not the kindness OF
heart he exhibited, not his benevo
lence, but his faith. Faith is the
chief of all the qualities of the heart
save that of love, and faith and love
90 together. Now abideth faith
hope, love"
Promise to the Gentiles.-Matthev
(s:11, 12) records what Luke omits
the remark of Jesus which may b'
construed into promise to the Gen
tile world. He says: MANY shal
come from the east and west (outsid
Of the chosen people,, and shall 81
down with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob