I Believe You Will, Jesus

By Mary Vee
Matthew 8 and Luke 7

From Matthew's Journal 

Photo by Mary Vee. View down to the Sea of Galilee from
the Mountain where it is believed Jesus was at this time.
Capernaum is down and to the left by the shore.

We'd spent much of the day on the side of a mountain bordering the Sea of Galilee with crowds of people and Jesus. It was the most amazing time I'd spent under the teachings of a great rabbi. My name is Matthew, and I am a disciple of Jesus. 

Once the people left, Jesus walked down to the city located on the shore called Capernaum. 

Some elders of the Jews came to Jesus. "Please, rabbi. We were sent to ask your help."

Jesus said, "What do you need?"

One man seemed to be their leader. He said, "There is a centurion's servant who is highly valued by his master. The servant is sick and about to die. The centurion sent us to ask for your help. This man, we feel, deserves to have your help because he loves our nation and has built our synagogue."

Jesus chose to go with the men. The other disciples and I followed to see what would happen. 

We walked through the city, turning at side streets.

After turning one corner, the leader of the elders said, "His house isn't much farther."

About this same time, a group of men ran from the direction we were walking. They shouted, "Wait. We have a message from our master, the centurion. He says, 'Lord, don't trouble yourself, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. That is why I did not consider myself worthy to come to you. Please, simply say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, 'Go,' and he goes. I tell that one, 'Come' and he comes. I say to my servant, 'Do this' and he does it."

Jesus smiled. His eyebrows raised. He turned to the crowd that followed us and said, "Please listen, I have not found such great man of faith anywhere in Israel. 

"Many will come from the east and the west and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. 

"But those who lived in the kingdom beforehand, those who have no loyalty or belief in the king, or have a desire to serve will be thrown outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."

Jesus turned to them and said, "Go. Tell your master the healing you asked for your servant has been done as you believed it would." 

The servants ran back to their master's home as Jesus said to deliver the message.

We went to the home a little later and saw the servant well. He was up and feeling fine.

What lesson did I learn from this? Well, I suppose it would be that when I ask God for help I should first believe that He will listen and help, then I should let Him take charge. His answer is best.

 Come back to read the next story.

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sources: 
*A Harmony of the Gospels for Historical Study, An Analytical Synopsis of the Four Gospels by William Arnold Stevens and Ernest DeWitt Burton, Charles Scribner's Sons, New York 1932
*New International Version, New King James Version. 
*My Bible College training.
*My notes and walk through classes I've taught in Children's church. Answers to student questions, etc.
*Pastoral sermons on this time
*Matthew Henry Commentary
*F. LaGard Smith Commentary
*My notes from my trip to Israel.
*Photos from my trip to Israel.