A Roman centurion, who lived in Capernaum, had a beloved servant who became very ill. He decided to ask the Capernaum elders to speak to Jesus about it. Thus, Jesus agreed to go to the centurion’s house. When the centurion saw Jesus coming, he sent friends outside to say, “I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof. But say the word, and my servant will be healed.” When Jesus heard this, he said, “I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!”
Why was a centurion living in Capernaum? When the elders went to Jesus, they said the centurion loved the Jewish people, and he had built them a synagogue. So, why did he think he was not worthy? Where did his great faith come from?
The disciples learned many things about prayer from Jesus. He taught them to pray privately for their own needs. They learned to pray for others, even for their enemies. One day, a disciple said to Jesus, "Lord, teach us to pray,” like John the Baptist taught his disciples. So, Jesus gave them a model prayer that became known as the Lord’s Prayer. Part of the prayer says, “And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.”
What are some different words to substitute for “debts”? We should know that God understands us and readily forgives us. We can learn to understand and forgive our debtors. Why is it important to forgive other people?
Jesus and the disciples stopped near a Samaritan town on their way to Galilee. The disciples went into town to buy food. Jesus, however, chose to sit and rest beside a well outside of town. Soon, a Samaritan woman came to draw water from the well, and Jesus asked her for a drink. His request surprised her. After they spoke a little more, Jesus revealed to her that he was the source of “living water,” which she could have asked for if she had understood who she was speaking to.
When we drink a cup of water, we can remember that Jesus gives us water that satisfies our spiritual thirst. Jesus said it becomes “a well of water springing up to eternal life.” Do we need to ask for this “living water”? What is spiritual thirst?
During one great sermon, Jesus taught the disciples about love. He also tried to help them understand how God acts in the world when he spoke of the sun and the rain. Jesus said the Father in heaven “makes his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.” Then, he gave them something to strive for. He said, “Be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.” This teaching is a portion of what became known as the Sermon on the Mount.
Discussion Questions
Sun and rain are part of God’s creation, and all people need them in order to live here on earth. What was Jesus saying about God when he talked about sun and rain? People also need a supreme goal for living. How can we become perfect?
