A Soldier's Faith: Healing the Centurion''s Servant - NCCG.ORG Ning Network Archive 2008-10

A SOLDIER'S FAITH
Healing of the Centurion's Servant
by Karin Adams and Barbara Wilmerton Haas

The house was filled with balloons...

...and streamers...

...and friends...

...and presents...

......lots and LOTS of presents!!!

Joey met his best friend Tyler at the door. "Did you get
it?" he whispered excitedly.

"Not yet," Tyler responded, "but I WILL!" Joey quickly spied
out the table where all of Tyler's birthday gifts were being
placed until time to open them.

Joey spotted one particularly large box, sitting directly in
the middle of the table, wrapped in shiny blue paper with a huge
white ribbon taped to the top. Joey grew excited at the
possibility. "Tyler," he said. "Do you think it could be in THAT
one?"

Tyler, who was also eyeing the same package, agreed. "It
could be," he replied.

It was a wonderful birthday party. They played all sorts of
games, ate lots of pizza, and ice cream, and cake. FINALLY, it
was time to open the gifts.

Joey kept a close eye on Tyler as he peeled the paper off
each package. Tyler received lots of neat things, like the brand
new baseball and glove, the remote control car, and the super
sonic water soaker.

The last box to open was the one with the shiny blue paper.
"Could this be it?" Tyler carefully removed the paper, lifted the
lid, and...and...and...pulled out a...

...basketball.

A basketball? Joey's heart SANK. He knew this was not what
his friend had been waiting for. Amazingly, Tyler still smiled
and seemed to be enjoying himself.

After the last of the guests had left, Tyler and Joey took
all of Tyler's presents upstairs to his room. Joey felt bad for
his friend and said, "I'm sorry you didn't get it."

Tyler looked right at Joey and said, "Don't worry, Joey.
It's coming."

Suddenly, they heard the front door open and close. Tyler
looked up with excitement and confidence in his eyes. "It's
HERE!" he exclaimed and ran down the stairs, skipping them two at
a time. Joey was not far behind.

Sure enough, when Tyler reached the bottom of the stairs,
there stood his father holding a brand new puppy.

* * *

Joey was shocked. "How did you KNOW it was coming?" Joey
asked.

Tyler turned around and, looking Joey square in the eye,
said, "Because my father gave me his word that I would get a
puppy on my birthday, and my father ALWAYS keeps his word." With
that, Joey and Tyler burst into laughter and raced outside to
play with Tyler's new puppy.

* * *

A very long time ago, after Yah'shua finished
preaching to a large crowd of people, He came down
from the mountain and headed back toward the town of Capernaum.

As the crowd thronged the streets of Capernaum, a very dear
servant lay on his bed, under his master's roof, paralyzed and so
sick, he was ready to die. His master, a wealthy centurion
(commanding officer in the Roman army), sat beside his bed,
feeling totally helpless, not knowing what to do.

Quickly the news spread through the streets with much
excitement. People were shouting everywhere - to the ones leaning
out their windows above, and over their shoulders to people
standing behind them, and far back to those standing at the edge
of the crowd who could not see over taller people's heads:

"Yah'shua IS HERE!

The One Who has healed so many sick
people...

...and even raised people
from the dead.

COME AND SEE!"

Word of Yah'shua' arrival soon reached the ears of the Roman
centurion. Not wanting to leave his dying servant's side because
he loved him so dearly, and realizing that Yah'shua was the only one
who could help him, this loyal commanding officer sent for
leaders of the synagogue, which he himself had built.

As soon as the leaders came to his home, the centurion said,
"Go quickly and find Yah'shua. BEG Him to come and heal my servant."
Knowing how very much the centurion loved their nation and how
much he had given so they could have their very own synagogue,
they quickly obeyed and started out to find Yah'shua.

It wasn't easy, for the men had to push their way through
the crowded streets. However, the synagogue leaders soon found
Yah'shua. They wasted no time at all getting right up to where Yah'shua
could hear them and immediately started to earnestly plead with
Him to come with them and heal the centurion's dying servant. "If
anyone deserves your help, it is this man," they urged. "He loves
the Jews and even paid personally to build us a synagogue."

After listening intently to the men, Yah'shua said, "I will
come and heal his servant." He then followed the synagogue
leaders through the crowded streets, as they led the way to the
respected centurion's home.

Not far from the home, friends of the centurion arrived with
a message for Yah'shua. "Sir, do not trouble yourself to come to my
home, for I am unworthy for you to enter under my roof or even to
come and meet you. Just speak a word, and I know my dear servant
will be healed," the centurion's message read. "I know how it is,
for I receive orders from my superior officers and I give orders
to those under my authority. All I have to say is, 'Go!' and they
go, or 'Come!' and they come, and to my servant, 'Do this or
that' and he does it. So if you just say, 'Be healed,' my servant
will be made well."

When Yah'shua heard the centurion's words, he was totally
amazed. Yah'shua marveled at the faith of the centurion. He turned
around and said to the crowd that was following Him, "Never among
all the Jews in Israel have I met a man with faith like this."
Then the centurion came himself and Yah'shua turned to him and said,
"Go your way. Just as you have believed, it will be done."

When the centurion and his friends returned to the house,
they found the servant had been completely healed in the same
hour that Yah'shua promised healing.

When Yah'shua gives His word, you can be sure He will keep His
promise!

* * *

THINK!

Do you think the centurion was afraid to ask for Yah'shua' help?
Do you think Yah'shua understood why the centurion did not
feel worthy for him to come into his house?
Why did Yah'shua marvel at the centurion's faith?

REMEMBER:

When Yah'shua gives His word, you can be sure He will keep His
promise!

A VERSE TO LEARN

"Delight thyself also in Yahweh; and he shall give thee
the desires of thine heart" (Psalm 37:4).

LET'S PRAY

****************************************************
Dear Father, thank You for the good things You do for
us each and every day. May we always put our trust
in You and in Your ability to do what You say You
will do. Let us remember that nothing takes You by
surprise because You know all things and are in
all places. In Yah'shua' name. Amen.
****************************************************

CAN YOU FIND THIS STORY IN THE BIBLE?
Matthew 8:5-13; Luke 7:1-10

You can view this Bible story in full color with pictures and
resources to go along with the story at
http://www.childrenschapel.org/biblestories/centurion.html

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