Luke 7:1-10                  Also in (Matthew 8 5-13)

(1) Now when he had ended all his sayings in the audience of the people, he entered into Capernaum. (2) And a certain centurion's servant, who was dear unto him, was sick, and ready to die. (3) And when he heard of Jesus, he sent unto him the elders of the Jews, beseeching him that he would come and heal his servant. (4) And when they came to Jesus, they besought him instantly, saying, That he was worthy for whom he should do this: (5) for he loveth our nation, and he hath built us a synagogue. (6) Then Jesus went with them. And when he was now not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to him, saying unto him, Lord, trouble not thyself: for I am not worthy that thou shouldest enter under my roof: (7) wherefore neither thought I myself worthy to come unto thee: but say in a word, and my servant shall be healed. (8) For I also am a man set under authority, having under me soldiers, and I say unto one, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it. (9) When Jesus heard these things, he marvelled at him, and turned him about, and said unto the people that followed him, I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. (10) And they that were sent, returning to the house, found the servant whole that had been sick.

  Jesus has been on a roll now performing miracles. In this story it is evident that the word is spreading about Jesus and all that He is doing. The story says the Centurion sent elders and Beseeched Jesus. In Matthew, the story says the Centurion himself went to Jesus. Lets not get wrapped up on the unimportant so called detail. We had discussed in earlier studies that each person that has witnessed these and wrote about might not have included or excluded everything the other would have. They all saw it from different perspectives. Both stories tell that Jesus was Beseeched. Meaning they were urgently imploring Jesus about the centurions Servant. Jesus says He would come and heal the servant.

  The Centurion tells Jesus that he is not worthy of Jesus to enter his house, but to just speak the word only. The centurion understood Jesus’s authority, for he was a person in authority himself, and knew Jesus did not have to be present physically to heal his servant. Jesus states He has not seen such great faith in Israel. When the centurion and elders returned to the house, the servant was healed.

In this lesson we are being taught the power of authority and what it means. Lets look at these verses.

Matthew 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power (authority-NIV) is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

Titus 2:15 These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.

Luke 9:1 Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases.

Luke 4:36 And they were all amazed, and spake among themselves, saying, What a word is this! for with authority and power he commandeth the unclean spirits, and they come out.

 It is very clear we are to have authority over sickness, disease, devils, unclean spirits, etc.

John 14:12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.