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.

But an evil eye had noted the kindly act; and the proud Pharisee
thought within himself, if Jesus were the prophet He professes to be,
He would certainly have known that the woman was a great sinner, and
would not have allowed her to touch Him. But Jesus came to save
sinners. He loves them, though He hates their sins. He rebuked the
haughty Simon; and showed him how he had neglected the commonest rites
of hospitality towards his guest, while this poor woman had treated
Jesus with the greatest rev