Luke 7:9-10

Luke 7:9-10 - A Centurion

      The historian, Polybius, described the job in this way.
      "Centurions are required not to be bold and adventurous so much as good leaders of steady and prudent mind, not prone to take the offensive to start fighting wantonly, but able when overwhelmed and hard-pressed to stand fast and die at their post."
     There were few ways for a man to progress in Roman society. The army offered opportunities. In the Roman army, it was possible to rise from common soldier to that elevated position of centurion. A centurion's rank brought an excellent income and various privileges. In this way, a man could become a Roman citizen. Upon retirement, a generous bonus would make life very pleasant.
     Archaeology and historical studies have also shown that the life of a Roman soldier had some advantages many other people living in the times lacked. Among these was somewhat better food and medical care that was advanced for its time.
     Nonetheless, it was still a dangerous life and it was usually only the best who could move from common soldier, surviving battles and rising to the rank of centurion.
     Assignment to Israel was not a pleasant duty station. The Jewish people were resistant to the Roman way of life. From the Roman point of view they were akin to atheists, for they neglected all other gods in favor of their one. They practiced circumcision, which was an appalling mutilation from the non-Jewish way of thinking. Their dietary habits were strange and they considered non-Israelites to be unclean.
      The Roman army didn't like their centurions to fraternize with the men under their authority. So, once a man received such a promotion, they would send him to unit where he and the soldiers were unfamiliar with each other.
      This centurion seems to have become a “God-fearer.” Among the Jewish people of the time, there were those who were called “Hellenistic Jews” or Jew of the Diaspora (dispersion). They lived outside Israel and had much more liberal points of view. They were missionary minded and had made many converts, called God-fearers. These Gentiles (non-Jews) were attracted to the spirituality and ethical nature of worshipping Yahweh.
      The God-fearers generally did not become full converts, in the sense of practicing circumcision or following ritual laws (such as the dietary ones. But the Hellenistic Jews allowed God-fearers to worship with them, something that the more Orthodox Jews of Israel would rarely do.
     This centurion, this probable “God-fearer” was living in Israel where many of its people would not have easily accepted him or associated with him. Nevertheless, he had paid for building a synagogue in the community where he served. A level of familiarity and respect grew between him and the other people of the town.
      He had acquired a servant through his increased income. The servant was evidently a good sort, hard-working and faithful.
      Then the servant fell ill and death approached. But the centurion had heard about Jesus. He felt unworthy to go to Jesus in person, but only sent word to him through the Jewish leaders who spoke positively on his behalf.
      A man came running to the Centurion's home. "The teacher is coming to you, he is coming to heal your servant."
       "Tell the teacher that I am not worthy to receive him under my roof. Let him only speak the word and I know my servant will be healed..."
      He knows about authority. He has served under authority and has been a man of authority. He knows what it is to serve under someone who deserves that power. If this amazing teacher says that the servant will be healed, it will be done, whether he is present or not.
      So he sends this message to the teacher. His faith is confirmed, for the servant arises from bed, made new in health.
      Jesus praised the faith of the centurion.

     Can you imagine what the centurion felt when he heard that this great teacher had praised the faith of a God-fearer, a Gentile who was “unclean” by Orthodox standards?