The Shy Gentile Centurion from Capernaum
[1] After he had finished all his sayings in the hearing of the people, he entered Capernaum.
[2] Now a centurion had a servant who was sick and at the point of death, who was highly valued by him. [3] When the centurion heard about Jesus, he sent to him elders of the Jews, asking him to come and heal his servant. [4] And when they came to Jesus, they pleaded with him earnestly, saying, “He is worthy to have you do this for him, [5] for he loves our nation, and he is the one who built us our synagogue.”
[6] And Jesus went with them. When he was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends, saying to him, “Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you come under my roof. [7] Therefore I did not presume to come to you. But say the word, and let my servant be healed. [8] For I too 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 servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”
[9] When Jesus heard these things, he marveled at him, and turning to the crowd that followed him, said, “I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith.”
[10] And when those who had been sent returned to the house, they found the servant well. (ESV)
There are so many amazing details in here!
Jesus went with the Jewish Elders Towards the House
In so many ways we paint the Pharisees as the bad guys and Jesus as the hero. Jesus didn’t see it that way. There are many times that He respects and cares for the religious leaders of His day. Here is one instance where He probably traveled along and had a good conversation with them.
The Centurion Didn’t Actually See Jesus
In Luke’s version, the Centurion never saw Jesus. He sent the Jewish leaders and then he sent friends, but he never went to Jesus himself. This reflects his own logic a little bit. He can order people around and they do what he says, but note none of the people that came were his soldiers.None of them came because of obligation, but because of their care for the Centurion and his servant.
He understood the authority he had as the leader of 100 Roman soldiers, but he didn’t abuse it. His own understanding of authority is what helped him have faith in Jesus. He believed that Jesus had authority over his servant’s sickness even over miles of distance.
Jesus Makes a Proclamation about the Gentiles, and The Jewish Leaders are There for It
The guys that came to get Jesus and take Him to this Centurion had to be pretty progressive. Conservative Jewish leaders would hate Rome with a passion. These guys were soliciting a controversial Rabbi to help out a leader of 100 Roman soldiers! We don’t know how much time Jesus spent with them, or what all they knew, but we do have the conclusion: “I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith.”
This would have been a slap in the face to any of these guys trying to show how faithful they were. Pro-Gentile language would get Jesus and the Apostle Paul in all kinds of trouble multiple times. It may even be the reason that Paul was eventually beheaded.
But Jesus is clear: the door is open to anyone that has faith. It doesn’t matter what race or nationality or income level you are. He has come for all who believe in Him.
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