Christ had said to the nobleman whose son He healed, "Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe." John 4:48. He was grieved that His own nation should require these outward signs of His Messiahship. Again and again He had marveled at their unbelief. But He marveled at the faith of the centurion who came to Him. The centurion did not question the Saviour's power. He did not even ask Him to come in person to perform the miracle. "Speak the word only," he said, "and my servant shall be healed."

Dette kapitel er bygget op over Matt 8,5-13; Luk 7,1-17
Kristus havde sagt til den kongelige embedsmand, hvis søn han havde helbredt: "Hvis I ikke får tegn og undere at se, vil I ikke tro." Joh. 4,48. Han var bedrøvet over, at hans eget folk kunne fordre disse ydre tegn på, at han var Messias. Atter og atter havde han undret sig over deres vantro. Men han undrede sig over denne høvedsmands tro, som kom til ham. Høvedsmanden tvivlede ikke om Frelserens magt. Han bad ham end ikke om at komme for personlig at udføre miraklet. Han sagde: "Sig kun et ord, så bliver min tjener rask."