Devotions

The pallor of death reflected off the face of each one in the home. As my dear father lay paralyzed and dying, incredibly only his eyes held any glimmer of hope. The rest of us peered through hollow eyes of despair. Our master wept openly with an ashen countenance that spoke of the love he held for my father, his long trusted servant.

Capernaum was the only home I had ever known. My parents had come with their master, a Roman Centurion some fifteen years before. One year later my mother gave birth to a girl, me, their only child. The master treated my parents with respect, which resulted in their faithful obedience. Eventually the relationship grew into a loyal brotherhood. We always referred to the master as “Centurion”; however, where others cringed in fear at the title, I said it with loving reverence as another child might say, “Grandfather.”

Centurion came by the order of Rome following a request of Herod. His mission was to keep order and peace in the active fishing town of Capernaum. Populated mainly by Jews, we Romans could have expected to be treated with disdain; but early on Centurion won the hearts of all the Jews. They knew him as a fair and generous man who valued truth and justice. The one hundred soldiers under his authority followed their leader with obedience and integrity.

Years before, Centurion provided the leadership and considerable personal funds for the building of the Jewish synagogue. As a result, even the Jews who had resisted the presence of Rome in Capernaum, accepted Centurion and by extension his household of servants. The master and my father recognized that the Jews possessed the teaching of God and several of the Jewish leaders willingly taught them from the Scriptures.

Only on very rare occasions did the Jews come to Centurion’s home as it represented considerable sacrifice. Entering the home of a Gentile required extensive ceremonial cleansing rites in accordance with Jewish traditions. Therefore, we all startled from our quiet grief when five of the Jewish elders noisily appeared at our door. Centurion went out to greet them and see what was the matter. Their enthusiasm translated into volume so we could easily hear their story from inside the house. Their words tumbled forth in the manner of one with much to say, and little time to say it.

As they urgently conveyed their message, I caught bits and phrases that brought a gleam of hope to my heavy heart. Apparently the Rabbi Jesus had spent the last couple of days teaching in the country, from a hillside and on the plains. The elders told of his teaching, unlike the teachings of any other rabbis. They exclaimed over numerous miracles and healings. Recognizing the pressure of time, for my father lay paralyzed and dreadfully tormented, the elders pled with Centurion to go to Jesus and beseech him to heal his dying servant.

Centurion resisted, “But I am not worthy to approach the man. Jesus is a Jew and a teacher of Jews. Will he answer the petitions of a Roman?”

“But yes! His teaching is like no other. He shows love for his enemy. His judgment is true and right. He can see into the heart of a man and knows whether it is good or evil.”

“Go then, and bring the man. If what you say is true, He is a man of Power. He is our Hope.”

Without hesitation, the elders ran faster than I’d ever seen a Jew run. Slowly Centurion followed down the street, eyes fixed and straining for the first sign of their return with the Rabbi. The color had returned to his face and faith had replaced his look of despondence.

The elders easily found Jesus for crowds flocked around him. When they came to Jesus, they desperately entreated him, "Please come heal the Centurion’s servant. The man deserves to have you do this, because he loves our nation and has built our synagogue."

Jesus agreed and followed the elders toward the home of the Centurion. When Centurion saw the approaching crowd, he sent me to meet them with a message. I looked into the eyes of Jesus and was filled with the same faith I had seen in the face of Centurion. I delivered the message: The Centurion says, "Lord, don't trouble yourself, for I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. That is why I did not even consider myself worthy to come to you. But say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, 'Go,' and he goes; and that one, 'Come,' and he comes. I say to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it."

For a moment, Jesus stood in amazed silence. Turning to the crowd, He marveled, “I tell you, I have not found such great faith even in Israel.” He continued, “I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. But the subjects of the kingdom will be thrown outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

Jesus gazed over a distance of about a hundred yards toward the Centurion. His compassionate eyes filled us with an assurance that our request had been granted. He called out in a loud voice, “Go! It will be done just as you believed it would.” And indeed, my father was healed at that very hour. We returned to the house to find him healthy and well with arms opened wide to receive his family.

Bible quotes from NIV. Luke 7:1-7; Matt. 8:5-13