TEXT TO REFLECT
5 When he had entered Capernaum, a centurion came forward to him, appealing to him, 6 “Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed at home, suffering terribly.” 7 And he said to him, “I will come and heal him.” 8 But the centurion replied, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof, but only say the word, and my servant will be healed. 9 For I too am a man 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 servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” 10 When Jesus heard this, he marveled and said to those who followed him, “Truly, I tell you, with no one in Israel have I found such faith. 11 I tell you, many will come from east and west and recline at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven, 12 while the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” 13 And to the centurion Jesus said, “Go; let it be done for you as you have believed.” And the servant was healed at that very moment.
MATTHEW 8:5-13
RELFECT
This telling of this story would have stirred a scandal in religious circles. But this story would also inspire faith and reveal what God is looking for in a person of faith.
A Roman military commander, a centurion, approached Jesus and humbly appealed to him to heal his servant who was suffering greatly from an illness. That a centurion would approach Jesus for divine help was very unusual. The Romans were conquerors and occupiers of where the Jews lived. Militarily and economically, they were the masters and the Jews the slaves. Just in military and economic might, the Romans were far superior to the Jews. Why would a high ranking officer from a 'superior' race approach a man from an 'inferior' race to ask for divine healing? Further, he approached Jesus, not arrogantly flaunting his position, but humbly, acknowledging that this homeless Jewish carpenter had divine authority to command the heavenly powers.
This centurion must also have known that the Jewish religion was a 'closed' religion. Non-Jews were considered outsiders and were excluded from any divine favours from Yahweh their God. To an ordinary Roman citizen, the thought of approaching Jesus for divine healing was simply this: Why seek help from a loser god overseeing a loser nation? And even if I did, would this very exclusive god want to help me, a military commander from a nation that has invaded and humiliated the Jews?
There were just too many hurdles for this Roman centurion to approach Jesus for help. Yet he did. And Jesus marveled at his faith. Outwardly, there seemed to be nothing that would encourage the centurion to approach Jesus. Yet this military commander may have observed certain strange things about Jesus. He might have noticed that Jesus, even while serving the lowest in society, had power over illnesses, storms, and even heavenly beings. The sick were being healed, the lame could walk, and demons were being cast out. All these signs and wonders despite Jesus being poor and homeless. Jesus clearly had the authority of a divine sovereign. The centurion might also have noticed that Jesus was kind even to outcasts - lepers and sinners. Whatever he saw and heard, the centurion was convinced that Jesus would be willing and had the power and authority to heal his servant.
What would have been more scandalous to the Jews was that Jesus agreed to minister to the centurions' servant. And as he did so, he commented that those outside the formal religious order would be considered children of Abraham and hence God's chosen people, while those within the order would find themselves cast out. This comment from Jesus that "many will come from east and west and recline at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven, while the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness", informs us what God is looking for in a child of His Kingdom. God's yardstick can be distilled into two simple yet heart-searching questions: 1) do you believe that Jesus is sovereign and has power and authority over all things? and 2) that Jesus forgives and has mercy towards his enemies?
RELATE
One of the problems about organised religion is that it often draws lines delineating who is in and who is out. We assume that those in the church will receive God's favour while those outside the church will not. We seek refuge in convenient labels: Christians are in; Buddhists, Muslims, gays, drug-addicts, smokers and non-religious people among many others are out. But God looks deeper, yet more simply. And asks two penetrating questions: Do you believe that I am God, and as God I can do all things? Do you believe that though I am God, I want to be servant (to the extent of dying for you), even to my enemies, if you will let me serve you? Whether we label ourselves Christian or "others", the same criteria apply.
REST
Father, please help me believe that you are God, and as God, you are sovereign over all things. Nothing is impossible for you. And help me to believe that even though you are so powerful and so high up, you will have mercy on one as unworthy as me, and that you not only have mercy on me, but you offer to be my servant. I deserve nothing good from you; yet you want to serve me. Help me to believe this. I pray in the Name of Jesus Christ your Son, who came to save and serve the least deserving, and who gave His life for us. Amen.
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