When Jesus had finished everything he wanted to say to the people, he went to Capernaum. There a Roman army officer’s valuable slave was sick and near death. The officer had heard about Jesus and sent some Jewish leaders to him. They were to ask Jesus to come and save the servant’s life. They came to Jesus and begged, “He needs your help. He loves our people and built our synagogue at his own expense.”

Jesus went with them. He was not far from the house when the officer sent friends to tell Jesus, “Sir, don’t bother. I don’t deserve to have you come into my house. That’s why I didn’t come to you. But just give a command, and let my servant be cured. As you know, I’m in a chain of command and have soldiers at my command. I tell one of them, ‘Go!’ and he goes, and another, ‘Come!’ and he comes. I tell my servant, ‘Do this!’ and he does it.”

Jesus was amazed at the officer when he heard these words. He turned to the crowd following him and said, “I can guarantee that I haven’t found faith as great as this in Israel.”

When the men who had been sent returned to the house, they found the servant healthy again.