Centurian Luke 7
The day I met Jesus I didnt actually meet him - not as such.
I had been living in Capernaum for several years having been posted there with the legion from Rome and rising through the ranks to become Centurion of the fort. I liked it there. The people were friendly and accommodated our troops without resistance or aggravation. I had made a concerted effort to get on side with the towns elders and the leaders of the synagogue and in return the townspeople had been happy to do business with us. Trade with the fort was good for the local economy. I made sure my men showed respect to the townspeople and behaved properly at all times , so peace was maintained and my bosses in Rome were pleased. When the town synagogue had suffered damage in a small earthquake my soldiers and I had helped to rebuild it ( I even paid for some of the repairs) I considered it an act of friendship in a time of stress in the local community. In return many of the locals were happy to work with and for the legion. We employed bakers, weavers and farriers from Capernaum to supply our various needs. I also chose to turn a blind eye to some of the romantic liaisons which my men struck up with the local women.
As for me, I had a small household on the edge of town, somewhat away from the fort in a quiet area mostly populated by merchants and Pharisees. I lived alone with three servants all of whom had been with me for many years. The three of them had served with me in combat and we had been through some difficult situations together. They were good men, friends really. I know that any one of them would happily have laid down their lives for me - and to be honest I might well have done the same for them. You can't put a price on loyalty and service and faithfulness.
The day that I almost met Jesus was the end of a very long week for me. My house servant Justus had been ill for many months. It had started when he had noticed a swelling on his leg which initially he thought was a bruise. He didnt mention it to me for quite some time but eventually, when it hadnt got any better, it caused him to start limping and I noticed. I was cross with him that he hadnt told me about it sooner, but I arranged for a medic from the legion to come and see him. The medic examined him and gave him a poultice to put on the affected area. But he also told me that he had seen this sort of thing before and that he believed it to be an infection which might spread to other parts of Justus's body. He looked very serious.
The poultices didnt seem to make much of a difference to Justus, who insisted on continuing to work even though I insisted on light household duties only. After three or four months I noticed Justus becoming weak and a bit breathless. He tried to maintian his sense of humour and battle on but the whole household could see that he was really struggling. He didnt have a wife or family - he had given me the best years of his life. So I felt completely obliged to care for him. And I wanted to anyway. I felt wretchedly helpless watching my friend who had served me so well for so long, just fading away.
Eventually Justus was confined to bed. My other two servants spent every hour of the day caring for him and I was with him as much as I could be - my duties at the fort kept me busy for too much of the time. We all knew he was going to die. Everything else in the house ground to a halt as we all sat by his bedside waiting for the inevitable.
Then one of my neighbours came to tell me that Jesus was back in Capurneum. He had visited our town before and people were still talking about the amazing things that he had done. My neighbour was one of the elders in the local synagogue and he urged me to go and see Jesus and ask him to come and lay hands on Justus. But I didnt want to leave my friend who I knew was so close to death. I wanted to be with him if he was going to pass away. So I asked my neighbour if he wouldnt mind going to find Jesus to see if he could ask him to come on my behalf. My lovely neighbour said he would be happy to do that and left immediately. I sat beside Justus listening to his ragged breath rasping as he struggled to stay alive.
After a couple of hours my kitchen boy came in to the room and told me that there was a large crowd coming up the road towards my house. I went to the window and sure enough I could see my neighbour with Jesus and a big crowd of followers and spectators all coming my way. I was somewhat take aback - I hadnt realised that so many people would come. In fact, I hadnt really thought anyone would come at all. I knew Jesus was in such huge demand and that his work was really among the Jews not us gentiles. I was worried about the effect so much noise and disruption might have on Justus so I told my kitchen boy to go out and deliver a message to Jesus
' Just tell him that I'm a soldier and Im used to giving and receiving commands. I know how authority works. When I give an order I know it will be obeyed and I recognise that Jesus has authority over sickness and disease. So just ask him if he would be good enough to speak an authoritative word of command to the sickness in my servant. Tell him he really doesnt need to come here in person. Im only a gentile and I know that it is not really suitable for Jesus to be in my house or to be seen in my company. Just ask him to tell the sickness to go and thank him very much for coming'
My servant scurried off into the street and I watched at the window as he approached the Rabbi and I saw him start to speak. Jesus and his followers stopped and listened to my kitchen boy. I saw Jesus looking up at the house and then I heard him speak in a very loud voice. I could clearly hear him as he said ' Yes! THIS is what faith looks like! I have not yet found such great faith even in my own people, the people of Israel.' Then Jesus looked up at me and waved with a big smile, turned on his heels and walked off down the road. As I stood watching him retreat I heard a noise from behind me and I turned to see Justus sitting up in bed looking a little confused and my cook Marcus clapping his hands and jumping up and down with a look of joy and amazement on his face. Justus was completely and utterly well. It was categorically a miracle. Every trace of sickness had gone from his thin wasted body. And the first thing he said to me was ' Master, Im absolutely starving! Would there be any chance I could have some soup or some bread and something to drink?' I laughed and called for Quintus who had just come back in from the street. He came running up to the bed chamber and almost fell over in surprise when he saw Justus sitting up looking fit and healthy.
There was a huge party in our house that evening. The neighbours came in to celebrate with us and my fellow centurions and the legionary from the fort were there too. Everyone knew the close bond I have with my servants, and indeed with all my men and they were happy for me and for Justus. My Jewish friends found it hard to believe that Jesus had healed my servant without even being near him and there was much talk that night and in the days that followed about what this meant - some even dared to assert that Jesus might be the Jews long awaited Messiah. I dont know much about their religion, all I know is that my friend and faithful servant has been returned to me and my heart is full of gratitude. One day I would like to really meet Jesus face to face so that I can thank him. I wonder if our paths will ever cross again.
I had been living in Capernaum for several years having been posted there with the legion from Rome and rising through the ranks to become Centurion of the fort. I liked it there. The people were friendly and accommodated our troops without resistance or aggravation. I had made a concerted effort to get on side with the towns elders and the leaders of the synagogue and in return the townspeople had been happy to do business with us. Trade with the fort was good for the local economy. I made sure my men showed respect to the townspeople and behaved properly at all times , so peace was maintained and my bosses in Rome were pleased. When the town synagogue had suffered damage in a small earthquake my soldiers and I had helped to rebuild it ( I even paid for some of the repairs) I considered it an act of friendship in a time of stress in the local community. In return many of the locals were happy to work with and for the legion. We employed bakers, weavers and farriers from Capernaum to supply our various needs. I also chose to turn a blind eye to some of the romantic liaisons which my men struck up with the local women.
As for me, I had a small household on the edge of town, somewhat away from the fort in a quiet area mostly populated by merchants and Pharisees. I lived alone with three servants all of whom had been with me for many years. The three of them had served with me in combat and we had been through some difficult situations together. They were good men, friends really. I know that any one of them would happily have laid down their lives for me - and to be honest I might well have done the same for them. You can't put a price on loyalty and service and faithfulness.
The day that I almost met Jesus was the end of a very long week for me. My house servant Justus had been ill for many months. It had started when he had noticed a swelling on his leg which initially he thought was a bruise. He didnt mention it to me for quite some time but eventually, when it hadnt got any better, it caused him to start limping and I noticed. I was cross with him that he hadnt told me about it sooner, but I arranged for a medic from the legion to come and see him. The medic examined him and gave him a poultice to put on the affected area. But he also told me that he had seen this sort of thing before and that he believed it to be an infection which might spread to other parts of Justus's body. He looked very serious.
The poultices didnt seem to make much of a difference to Justus, who insisted on continuing to work even though I insisted on light household duties only. After three or four months I noticed Justus becoming weak and a bit breathless. He tried to maintian his sense of humour and battle on but the whole household could see that he was really struggling. He didnt have a wife or family - he had given me the best years of his life. So I felt completely obliged to care for him. And I wanted to anyway. I felt wretchedly helpless watching my friend who had served me so well for so long, just fading away.
Eventually Justus was confined to bed. My other two servants spent every hour of the day caring for him and I was with him as much as I could be - my duties at the fort kept me busy for too much of the time. We all knew he was going to die. Everything else in the house ground to a halt as we all sat by his bedside waiting for the inevitable.
Then one of my neighbours came to tell me that Jesus was back in Capurneum. He had visited our town before and people were still talking about the amazing things that he had done. My neighbour was one of the elders in the local synagogue and he urged me to go and see Jesus and ask him to come and lay hands on Justus. But I didnt want to leave my friend who I knew was so close to death. I wanted to be with him if he was going to pass away. So I asked my neighbour if he wouldnt mind going to find Jesus to see if he could ask him to come on my behalf. My lovely neighbour said he would be happy to do that and left immediately. I sat beside Justus listening to his ragged breath rasping as he struggled to stay alive.
After a couple of hours my kitchen boy came in to the room and told me that there was a large crowd coming up the road towards my house. I went to the window and sure enough I could see my neighbour with Jesus and a big crowd of followers and spectators all coming my way. I was somewhat take aback - I hadnt realised that so many people would come. In fact, I hadnt really thought anyone would come at all. I knew Jesus was in such huge demand and that his work was really among the Jews not us gentiles. I was worried about the effect so much noise and disruption might have on Justus so I told my kitchen boy to go out and deliver a message to Jesus
' Just tell him that I'm a soldier and Im used to giving and receiving commands. I know how authority works. When I give an order I know it will be obeyed and I recognise that Jesus has authority over sickness and disease. So just ask him if he would be good enough to speak an authoritative word of command to the sickness in my servant. Tell him he really doesnt need to come here in person. Im only a gentile and I know that it is not really suitable for Jesus to be in my house or to be seen in my company. Just ask him to tell the sickness to go and thank him very much for coming'
My servant scurried off into the street and I watched at the window as he approached the Rabbi and I saw him start to speak. Jesus and his followers stopped and listened to my kitchen boy. I saw Jesus looking up at the house and then I heard him speak in a very loud voice. I could clearly hear him as he said ' Yes! THIS is what faith looks like! I have not yet found such great faith even in my own people, the people of Israel.' Then Jesus looked up at me and waved with a big smile, turned on his heels and walked off down the road. As I stood watching him retreat I heard a noise from behind me and I turned to see Justus sitting up in bed looking a little confused and my cook Marcus clapping his hands and jumping up and down with a look of joy and amazement on his face. Justus was completely and utterly well. It was categorically a miracle. Every trace of sickness had gone from his thin wasted body. And the first thing he said to me was ' Master, Im absolutely starving! Would there be any chance I could have some soup or some bread and something to drink?' I laughed and called for Quintus who had just come back in from the street. He came running up to the bed chamber and almost fell over in surprise when he saw Justus sitting up looking fit and healthy.
There was a huge party in our house that evening. The neighbours came in to celebrate with us and my fellow centurions and the legionary from the fort were there too. Everyone knew the close bond I have with my servants, and indeed with all my men and they were happy for me and for Justus. My Jewish friends found it hard to believe that Jesus had healed my servant without even being near him and there was much talk that night and in the days that followed about what this meant - some even dared to assert that Jesus might be the Jews long awaited Messiah. I dont know much about their religion, all I know is that my friend and faithful servant has been returned to me and my heart is full of gratitude. One day I would like to really meet Jesus face to face so that I can thank him. I wonder if our paths will ever cross again.
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