Luke 7

It was a warm and sunny day. Unfortunately, the welcoming weather did nothing to aid my illness. I had no idea what I had, but my symptoms were only getting worse. Every day I coughed up blood and other fluids, and the fever I had never subsided. My body ached on a daily basis, and I grew tired after attempting to get out of bed; eventually my illness had overtaken me to the point where I stayed in bed all day and night.
Before my sickness, I (Josiah) was the favored servant of the powerful centurion Levi. Being in Levi’s favor, I was in charge over the rest of the servants of his household. Once my disease had left me bedridden, Levi felt the need to consult a man known to do many miracles. Though I have only heard of him from afar, I knew his name: Jesus. Once I heard that Levi was going to try and bring him to heal me, I knew I must be near death. This only brought me to a pit of depression and despair. What if this man was merely a myth and he couldn’t heal me? We’re the last of my days meant to be shared in a bed, lying in pain and fear? I didn’t believe much could save me, but Levi insisted on sending messengers to find Jesus.

In their efforts to bring Jesus to me, the messengers begged him to heal to me because I was the favored in Levi’s household. Eventually persuaded, Jesus agreed. I was started to gain an inkling of hope, maybe this man was as the rumors stated. Maybe he was a man who could really heal me. But before Jesus was at the house, Levi told him that he didn’t have to come! He was the one who wanted me healed and yet he didn’t invite him to the house? How would he heal me then? Surely this was a joke, how could Levi not want me to be healed?
But Levi then sent a messenger to tell Jesus that he believed that he could heal from a distance. Levi didn’t want Jesus to enter a household he felt was unworthy of his presence. Instead he believed that this man could heal me more than 15 miles from my actual presence. At first I thought he was crazy- but apparently Levi’s faith proved beneficial. I stopped vomiting, and I was actually able to walk around. My fever was gone, I could eat solid food, and I could breathe normally. I couldn’t believe I was healed. I still don’t know how to react. Who was this man? Was he just more than a man? He couldn’t be just a prophet. He had to be something more. My curiosity got the best of me because a couple days later I headed out to find Jesus.