Basic Questions

1. Identify as completely as possible the person in need (e.g., age, ethnic origin, religion, gender, social status).
   A centurion's servant.

2. What was the immediate, obvious need?
   The servant was paralyzed and suffering near death.

3. Who took the initiative in effecting the healing?
   The person in need? Others? Jesus?
   How was it expressed?
   The centurion or the centurion's friends asked Jesus to heal the servant.

4. Describe the actions or process leading to the healing; that is, what was said (e.g., questions, requests, commands) and what was done (e.g., approaching, following, touching, publicly/privately), and by whom?
   The centurion or the centurion's friends asked Jesus to heal the sick servant.
   The centurion felt unworthy. The centurion was willing to take Jesus at His word.

5. Did the person in need or someone else verbally express faith? Non-verbally? Describe how and by whom faith was in involved in this healing.
   Faith was expressed by the centurion - he took Jesus at His word.

6. What were the evidences that the person was healed?
   The servant was found well after the request was made to Jesus.

7. What were the reactions to the healing?
   It doesn't really say. The centurion was probably grateful since he valued the servant. The centurion's faith in Jesus probably increased.

8. What in this narrative led Jesus to minister healing to the person in need?
   The centurion's faith - he took Jesus at His word.

Digging Deeper

1. What is the centuirion implying when he says (or his friends say for him, in Luke) to Jesus, "For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, 'Go,' and he goes; and that one, 'Come,' and he comes. I say to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it." ?
   Jesus has complete authority in heaven and on earth!
   Matthew 20:18     Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me."

2. Contrast the attitude of the Roman centurion with that of the Jews (as expressed in Matthew 8:11-12, and in Luke 7:3-5).
   The centurion feels he doesn't deserve Jesus under his roof while the Jews feel he is worthy because of his works.

   In Luke's account, the interceding Jews say to Jesus that the centurion "deserves to have you do this, because he loves our nation and has built our synagogue." Must we be deserving in order to receive healing?
   Nobody is really deserving.
   Rev 5:2-3     And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, "Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?" But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it.
   Rev 5:12     In a loud voice they sang: "Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!"

   Don't we sometimes feel that someone who has been good, or faithful, or generous, etc. doesn't deserve the suffering she or he is enduring? Is good health a reward?
   It's human to feel that a "good" person doesn't deserve pain. Good health is not a reward it can't be earned.
   Eph 2:8-9     For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-- not by works, so that no one can boast.
   1 Cor 2:4-5     My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power.
   John 10:10     ... I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
   John 16:33     "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

3. What would have happened to the servant if the centurion hadn't interceded on his behalf?
   The servant probably would have died.

   Merely asking for healing may not be enough. How does this account make clear that the centurion's request is trustful and expectant?
   The centurion believed that if Jesus said his servant would be healed then it would happen. He trusted Jesus' word.

   What does this teach you? Are your prayers expectant? Confident?
   If Jesus says something or impresses something on your heart - take him at his word!

   Sometimes more expectant and confident than others? What causes the difference?
   If Jesus has given you guidance or discernment in your prayers - let this increase your confidence. Jesus' / the Holy Spirit's guidance and direction make all the difference.

4. How did Jesus express love, counseling or encouragement?
   Jesus was amazed at the centurion's faith.

5. What lesson(s) have you learned about healing from this account? Read Jesus' Word.
   Read Faith Works.
   
   Jesus need not be physically present for healing to occur.
   When Jesus gives His word, you can be sure He will keep His promise!
   Because of who Jesus is, He can turn the weakest faith into strong faith!