As a progressive Christian, I believe there are many names for God and many ways to a loving God; this article reflects one of those ways. Take from here what works for you. Celebrate life with joy and peace!
Many times, when this story about the Roman Centurion soldier whose servant Jesus heals from a distance is talked about, there are typically two main lessons. Jesus’ power to heal and the faith of the soldier.
Some questions for us to consider are: What were the circumstances to this healing? What was going on inside the Centurion’s head as he approached Jesus to entice him to come heal his servant? Why did Jesus even respond to this Roman soldier’s invitation?
Perhaps there are lessons here for us about how to reach out and honor those we don’t know. How we move beyond social structures and first impressions. How reaching out, moving beyond social borders, sets up a situation where healing can take place. How we can tear down walls of prejudice and misunderstanding.
Let’s look at the Roman Centurion’s dilemma. Here he is, stationed in Capernaum, a fishing village of about 1,500 people on the Sea of Galilee. And his servant is very sick, near death. He’s desperate!
Suddenly someone runs into the Centurion’s home saying Jesus had just come into town; Jesus, the healer!
Everyone in town had heard about Jesus. Capernaum is the home town of Peter and Andrew, two brothers who had abandoned their fishing business to follow Jesus.
There were also stories of how Jesus had previously healed Peter’s mother-in-law and several others from the fishing village that night. Word had gotten around. Jesus is a healer. We don’t know what the Centurion thought of Jesus, but we know this servant, whom he loved very much, was dying and he was grief stricken.
This was not a typical love; nor was this Centurion a typical head of a local Roman army garrison of occupying soldiers. This Centurion had taken the time to learn about the customs of the Jews of Capernaum, he knew how they gathered at the synagogue, and had even paid for their new synagogue when the first had needed extensive repair.
This Centurion is also aware of, and respectful, of the local customs and traditions. He is a man of honor and he honors Jesus by reaching out to him through the proper channels of respect, through the elders of the synagogue. He’s hoping they will use their influence and get Jesus to rush to his home. A life was at stake!
For reasons we will never fully know, the elders did just as their friend the Centurion had asked, and they rush to Jesus and beg him, “Please, please, will you come to this Roman’s home? He’s worthy of having you do this for him, for he loves our people, and it is he who built our synagogue for us.” And Jesus starts making his way toward the Centurion’s home.
Meanwhile, the Centurion had been thinking further because he knew Jesus would still face the barrier, as a Jew, of entering into his home, that of an unclean Roman. In order to fully welcome and honor Jesus the healer, some old traditions, some old ways of thinking would need to be broken or transformed. And this Jesus, who himself was different, might consider new ideas. Are there some old ways of thinking that need to be transformed for healing to take place in our lives?
So after sending the Elders of the synagogue to Jesus, we hear that a second messenger arrives. The Centurion had thought outside the box, and applied a Roman tradition to this Jewish situation: if a Centurion could command people from afar, this Jesus could too; if a messenger sent the orders on his behalf, it would be done. Jesus could do the same thing.
The Centurion, as a military tactician, as someone who had to adapt to new cultures and situations, as someone who could think outside the box, set up the scenario and healing took place.
It wasn’t about the “worthiness” of the Centurion and all of his credentials as we heard about in the first appeal to Jesus from the elders; it was in the second appeal to Jesus where the Centurion discounts his worthiness. “… for I am not worthy to have you come under my roof; therefore I did not presume to come to you. But only speak the word, and let my servant by healed.”
He had faith in Jesus. He had respect for Jesus. And Jesus was amazed by this and told the crowd, “I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith.” And healing took place. Hallelujah!
What lessons can we learn here? Think of a situation or a relationship in your life that needs healing. How can respect play a part in paving the way for healing? How can thinking outside of the box open the door to opportunities for healing?
Where do you need healing in your life? From a hurting relationship? A physical healing? An emotional healing? A spiritual healing?
Jesus said the Centurion’s faith was great! Let healing take place. And so it is.
