The Centurion’s Slave

With tears in my eyes, I hurry down the road. My slave is sick, he may even die, but I know who can help him.

I have heard much about this Jewish man named Jesus. They say he teaches like no one before him, that he has compassion. And, most importantly to me right now, he can heal the sick.

It’s crazy, really. Under Roman law I can just kill a slave when he gets too sick to work. That’s what all my fellow soldiers said to do, some even offered to do it for me! In my view, though, he’s not property, he’s a person. Who knew I would end up caring about Jews?

The problem is, I can’t ask Jesus to come into my home. It is forbidden for a Jew to enter a Roman dwelling. If he is the miracle working rabbi that I believe him to be, he doesn’t even have to enter my home. I’m not worthy to be in this teacher’s presence, let alone invite him into my house!

Well, there he is. As he is approaching me, I see his eyes. They are full of compassion, yet it feels like they are looking straight through me. This is a mistake. Why should someone as great as him help me? Here goes nothing!

“Lord, don’t trouble yourself by coming to my home, for I am not worthy of such an honor. I am not even worthy to come and meet you. Just say the word from where you are, and my servant will be healed. I know this because I am under the authority of my superior officers, and I have authority over my soldiers. I only need to say, ‘Go,’ and they go, or ‘Come,’ and they come. And if I say to my slaves, ‘Do this,’ they do it.”

He looks at me, and I am suddenly terrified that I have offended him, but then I feel a warmth toward me as he speaks and says, “I tell you, I haven’t seen faith like this in all Israel!”

I thank him and turn toward home. Something odd has happened, and I am going to have to really ponder it to make sense of it all. Another one of my servants is running down the road toward me. He needn’t get out of breath; I know what he is going to say.

My servant is well. Jesus has healed him.

What power, what majesty the man has! Yet, what grace and compassion he offers. There really is something special about him. I need to know more…

See Luke 7:1-10 for the full story.