Then Jesus went with them. And when He was already not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to Him, saying to Him, "Lord, do not trouble Yourself, for I am not worthy that You should enter under my roof. Therefore I did not even think myself worthy to come to You. But say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I also am a man placed under authority, having soldiers under me."
--Luke 7:6-8a (NKJV)
From the daily Bible reading on July 28, 2013 of Psalm 123; Luke 7:1-29; 2 Chronicles 21-23.
Luke tells us of a centurion whose name we never learn, but one thing we do know about this man is that he was not the typical Roman officer. Pax Romana, the Peace of Rome, was established and maintained with an iron fist. Its army was fierce, powerful, and feared. Its troops, while well disciplined, could be cruel, their officers humorless and with little or no compassion. Many of the soldiers of the famed Roman Legion were pressed into duty from the ranks of the defeated people in Rome's relentless conquest of foreign lands. Perhaps our centurion was one of these, for he certainly does not fit the image of the usual leader of a hundred Roman soldiers. According to Luke, this man showed great compassion, to his servant and to the Jewish people under his charge. Luke accompanied Paul on many of his journeys and spent time with him while Paul served under house arrest in Rome, chained to Roman guards day and night. So Luke would have closely observed many soldiers and their leaders over the years. He tells us that this centurion treated the Jews kindly, even building a synagogue for them. They, in turn, apparently respected him, for their elders were the ones who approached Jesus on his behalf, saying he was deserving of Jesus' help. For the centurion asked for nothing but the healing of his servant, who meant a lot to him and who was very ill and near death.
The centurion must have sensed exactly who Jesus was, because even though he was a powerful figure in Capernaum and was held in high esteem by the Jews under his control, he felt himself unworthy to talk to Jesus in person, to approach Him, or for Jesus to even enter his house. But he knew that all Jesus had to do was say the word and his servant would be healed. And here's the kicker. Being a commanding officer, he still served under others and his authority came to him from and through those above him in rank. This atypical Roman centurion recognized that Jesus acted and served with authority, and he knew just where that authority originated - from God above.
Jesus acknowledged the faith this Gentile centurion held in God and His ultimate authority and how he saw this authority being passed to and exercised by Jesus, and so granted the centurion's request and healed his servant. If we have the same faith as this centurion who had not been told the full story of Christ as we have the blessing of knowing, then Jesus will answer our prayer just as He restored the health of that dying servant so long ago. God, in His compassion for us, gave Jesus the ultimate authority over all creation, to serve us, and to save us. Amen.
Lord Jesus, You saw the great faith this humble centurion showed when he recognized Your authority. His authority was over a few men and came from another man, from Caesar. Your authority is over all creation and comes from God. As the centurion tried to serve the people under his charge, You came not as a conqueror but as a servant, not to condemn the world but to save it. And all we have to do in return is just what that centurion did - to believe in You. In Your holy and beautiful name O Lord Jesus we pray. Amen.
The centurion must have sensed exactly who Jesus was, because even though he was a powerful figure in Capernaum and was held in high esteem by the Jews under his control, he felt himself unworthy to talk to Jesus in person, to approach Him, or for Jesus to even enter his house. But he knew that all Jesus had to do was say the word and his servant would be healed. And here's the kicker. Being a commanding officer, he still served under others and his authority came to him from and through those above him in rank. This atypical Roman centurion recognized that Jesus acted and served with authority, and he knew just where that authority originated - from God above.
Jesus acknowledged the faith this Gentile centurion held in God and His ultimate authority and how he saw this authority being passed to and exercised by Jesus, and so granted the centurion's request and healed his servant. If we have the same faith as this centurion who had not been told the full story of Christ as we have the blessing of knowing, then Jesus will answer our prayer just as He restored the health of that dying servant so long ago. God, in His compassion for us, gave Jesus the ultimate authority over all creation, to serve us, and to save us. Amen.
Lord Jesus, You saw the great faith this humble centurion showed when he recognized Your authority. His authority was over a few men and came from another man, from Caesar. Your authority is over all creation and comes from God. As the centurion tried to serve the people under his charge, You came not as a conqueror but as a servant, not to condemn the world but to save it. And all we have to do in return is just what that centurion did - to believe in You. In Your holy and beautiful name O Lord Jesus we pray. Amen.
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