Thoughts on a Conversation with a Stranger – Part 8

The story continues from yesterday (here): https://copytestprove.com/thoughts-on-a-conversation-with-a-stranger-part-7/

If you want to join me from the beginning, start here: https://copytestprove.com/thoughts-on-a-conversation-with-a-stranger-part-1/

He asked, ‘Since you’re always quoting the Bible, can you tell me of some instances of cultural differences in the Bible and what was a good result?’

‘Sure. The first one that easily comes to mind is when the Roman centurion asks Jesus to heal his servant. He sent the message through respected Jewish elders. Jesus said He’d come. Then he sent friends who passed on the message saying, ‘You don’t have to come to the house. Speak the word and he shall be healed.’’

The man looked a little curious. ‘I am familiar with that story. But I’m not seeing a culture difference.’

‘He was a Roman centurion. That was his life. Giving and carrying out orders, up and down the chain of command.’

‘So you’re saying it wasn’t faith…?’

‘No, I’m just saying that he had faith that Jesus had the power to heal and it was just a matter of Him ‘saying the word’. Most times He laid hands on people or had to be there physically. A lot of times people asked for a sign to prove that what He was saying was really from God. But this unbeliever didn’t need any of that.’

‘I never thought of it like that.’

‘Me neither, until very recently. It might not even be the right interpretation, but it does give food for thought.’

‘Any other…?’

‘Sure!’

The story continues tomorrow. And just in case you don’t know the story, I’ve posted it below:

Jesus Heals a Centurion’s Servant (Luke 7:1-10)

7 After he had finished all his sayings in the hearing of the people, he entered Capernaum. ² Now a centurion had a servant who was sick and at the point of death, who was highly valued by him. ³ When the centurion heard about Jesus, he sent to him elders of the Jews, asking him to come and heal his servant. ⁴ And when they came to Jesus, they pleaded with him earnestly, saying, “He is worthy to have you do this for him, ⁵ for he loves our nation, and he is the one who built us our synagogue.” ⁶ And Jesus went with them. When he was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends, saying to him, “Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you come under my roof. ⁷ Therefore I did not presume to come to you. But say the word, and let my servant be healed. ⁸ For I too am a man set under authority, with soldiers under me: and I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” ⁹ When Jesus heard these things, he marveled at him, and turning to the crowd that followed him, said, “I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith.” ¹⁰ And when those who had been sent returned to the house, they found the servant well.