After Jesus had finished all his sayings in the hearing of the people, he entered Capernaum. A centurion there had a slave whom he valued highly, and who was ill and close to death. When he heard about Jesus, he sent some Jewish elders to him, asking him to come and heal his slave. When they came to Jesus, they appealed to him earnestly, saying, ‘He is 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 went with them, but when he was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to say to him, ‘Lord, do not trouble yourself, 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 be healed. For I also am a man set under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to one, “Go”, and he goes, and to another, “Come”, and he comes, and to my slave, “Do this”, and the slave does it.’ When Jesus heard this he was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd that followed him, he said, ‘I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith.’ When those who had been sent returned to the house, they found the slave in good health. (NRSV).
It reads like many of the healing stories of Jesus. An illness, a request, a miracle.
But a Roman centurion sending for a Jewish healer is not everyday.
Our unnamed military leader is an influential part of the occupying army. He stood out among his fellow soldiers. It was noticed and has led to promotion and his being sent to Capernaum. He will later describe himself as ‘under authority’.
But this man has not only turned heads in Rome. He has won even the respect of those whose land he occupies. Many a Jew would prefer him not to be there. But those who have come to know him recognise that they could have done a lot worse. He is a good man.
As war stories often tell us – the individual is not always the same as the army. On the very testimony of the Jewish elders this soldier does not hold a reputation for de-struction but con-struction. He has even led his fearsome army in the building of their synagogue.
Without doubt this was a strategic move. But as our story unfolds I find myself believing that it is more than mere strategy. This man values ‘highly’ his slave; he has established relationships that cross race and religion; he inspires loyalty.
This a man who is true and genuine. He is attractive, intriguing, and wise – a leader of leaders. A man who knows what it is to be sent and to do the sending.
I wonder if Jesus wanted to meet him?
Our general’s initial request was ‘come and heal’. According to our writer, Jesus was physically present for all previous miracles. That he would need to ‘come’ in order to bring wholeness to this servant is a given.
But as Jesus approaches the house more messengers are sent. They do not seek to risk the healing – but they are there to prevent Jesus’ entry into their master’s home. This gentile did not presume to come to Jesus – and he will not accept Jesus coming to him. Perhaps it is out of concern for Jesus’ cleanliness. Perhaps he is simply overwhelmed by the thought of the famous Rabbi sitting in his living room.
Whatever the details it would seem our leader is also a man of humility. He sends his simple request: ‘…speak the word, and let my servant be healed.’
In the same way our centurion has spoken and people acted he expects that Jesus holds similar authority. His spent a lifetime saying ‘Go’, ‘Come’, ‘Do’. He believes a leader like Jesus can do the same.
It is a profound – even enlightened – reasoning.
And even the Son of God is ‘amazed’. Indeed, all he can do is turn and name this man’s actions: ‘faith’. An exemplary – previously un-found – faith.
We are left to presume that even Jesus obeyed this gentile. Luke offers a simple testimony to the messengers discovery: ‘…they found the slave in good health.’
It is enough to indicate that Jesus responded with his own sending.