The Healing of the Centurion's Servant

In Matthew eight we have a beautiful story in the life of Jesus, which shows his great compassion and love for humanity. The healing of the centurion's servant. Note that the centurion would not allow Jesus to come to his house but asked him to speak the word only.

The centurion, being a man in authority on the physical plane, recognized that Jesus exercised like authority on the mental and spiritual planes. Without this recognition he would not have known that Jesus could heal his servant by the power of his word.

"Speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed."

It is no wonder that Jesus marveled at this faith. And how quickly was this faith answered by an affirmative response from a heart of love and a mind of understanding.

"Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee."

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How simple the words, yet how fraught with meaning! What majesty and what might! From whence came the power of this spoken word? Is it not necessary to suppose that the word of man, when spoken in compliance with the law of Truth, is also all-powerful? We cannot believe that Jesus had an occult power not possessed by other men. To think this would be superstition. We certainly cannot suppose that he was especially endowed with power from on high, for this would be to believe in a partial God. There is but one logical answer to the power of Jesus. He believed what he taught and so completely lived his teachings that he was able to demonstrate them. But we should remember that his will was ever in accord with the Divine Mind.

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And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lving on a bed: and Jesus, seeing their faith, said unto the sick of the palsy,

Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.

And, behold, certain of the scribes said within themselves, This man blasphemeth.

And Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said,

Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts?

For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk?

But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,)

Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house.

No man putteth a piece of new cloth unto an old garment; for that which is put in to fill it up taketh from the garment, and the rent is made worse.

Neither do men put new wine into old bottles; else the

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bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and the bottles perish: but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved.

And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment:

For she said within herself,

If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole,

But Jesus turned him about; and when he saw her, he said,

Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole.

And the woman was made whole from that Hour.

And when Jesus departed thence, two blind men followed him, crying, and saying,

Thou Son of David, have mercy on us.

And when he was come into the house, the blind men came to him: and Jesus saith unto them,

Believe ye that I am able to do this?

They said unto him,

Yea, Lord.

Then touched he their eyes, saying,

According to your faith be it unto you.

~MATTHEW -- Nine.