[Illustration:  The house built upon the sand.]

HEALING THE CENTURION’S SERVANT.

Jesus entered into Capernaum, a city by the Sea of Galilee, and while He was there a certain Centurion, or captain in the Roman army, had a favourite servant who was sick of the palsy and in great pain.  When this Roman heard of Jesus, he sought the Jewish elders and implored them to go to Christ and beseech Him to cure the sick servant.  And the elders came to Jesus and besought Him urgently to do this miracle, saying, “He is a worthy man, this Roman captain, for he loveth the Jews and hath built us a synagogue.”

So Jesus went with them, and when He had come near the house, the Centurion himself came to meet Him, saying, “Lord, trouble not Thyself, for I am not worthy that Thou shouldest enter my house.  Speak the word only, and this sickness shall depart and my servant be made whole.  For I am a man under authority of the Emperor, having many soldiers under me, and I say unto this man, ‘Go,’ and he goeth; to another, ‘Come,’ and he cometh, and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he doeth it.  Wherefore, if I can so readily command my servants to do my bidding, I know that if Thou biddest this sickness to go out from my servant it will surely go.”

Jesus marvelled at the man’s words, and said to His followers, “Verily, I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in all Israel.”  And to the Centurion He said, “Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee.”  And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour, and when those that had been sent returned to the house, they found the servant whole that had been sick.

[Illustration:  Christ and the centurion.]

ANOINTING THE FEET OF JESUS.

On one occasion, a proud Pharisee, whose name was Simon, invited Jesus to eat with him.  But the invitation was a cold one.  There was no kiss of welcome, no water to bathe His hot and dusty feet, no perfumed ointment for His head:  nothing but a bare admission to a vacant place at the table was granted to Jesus.  But there He reclined, His left elbow resting on a cushion, and His feet projecting beyond the edge of the couch.

Now it happened that a poor, sinful woman was passing, who, discovering that Jesus was in the house, timidly entered, and stood behind Him.  She had an alabaster box of ointment, and, as she looked on Jesus, she wept.  Her tears fell upon His feet; so, stooping down, she tenderly wiped them away with her long hair; then she kissed the Saviour’s feet, and anointed them with the fragrant ointment.  This was done as a token of respect and love.