Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed at home, suffering terribly. The centurion's petition is for his servant (pais, which can mean child, boy, or servant) — he is advocating for someone dependent on him. The suffering that the centurion describes is acute; the concern is genuine. A Roman military officer concerned about a servant's welfare is already unusual; his willingness to seek help from a Jewish teacher is more so. The lord address and the straightforward description of the need communicate a directness and a trust that Jesus will explicitly commend as exceeding what he has found in Israel.

COMMUNITY REFLECTIONS

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