The Centurion's Slave

The Centurion's Slave

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Scene 1 - A Surprising Roman Army Officer

Scene 2 - Some Surprising Friends

Scene 3 - A Surprising Message

Scene 4 - A Man of Great Faith

Today's story from the Bible is full of surprises! (Luke's Gospel, chapter7, verses 1 to 10)

(Here is the background to my sketch)

Scene 1 - A Surprising Roman Army OfficerIsrael (also called Judea), the country were Jesus lived, had beenconquered by the mighty Roman Empire. Every major town had itsgarrison of Roman Army soldiers, to make sure the people obeyed andpaid tax money to Rome. They people hated the Romans!

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In the city of Capernaum there were Roman soldiers, and over them aCenturion, a very important army officer and probably the Romancommander of the city.

A Centurion commanded about 100 men (that's where the name comesfrom - we have centuries of 100 years, cricketers score centuries of 100runs sometimes, and a Centurion commanded 100 men). A Centurionhad to be brave, for he led his men into battle from the front-line. Hehad a special plume across his helmet, and had his armour polished likesilver, so his men could see him. But so could the enemy, and manycenturions died in battle, being targets for the enemy soldiers.

Some Centurions commanded other centurions, and so might command1000 men, but they still led their own century into battle.

The Centurion in our story must have been an important officer. He wasrich and powerful. It seems he had everything, but he was SAD, for hisslave, who he loved more as a friend, was very sick, and DYING. That isa surprise! Who ever heard of a tough army officer caring for a slave, aservant he had bought as we might buy a dog?


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A good job, money, friends, even power, cannot keep us happy.

Scene 2 - Some Surprising FriendsJesus had made many sick people well. He is God's Son, and nothing istoo hard for Him. The Roman Centurion heard that Jesus had come intohis city, and thought "Jesus can stop my slave from dying!".

He asked some friends to find Jesus and ask Him to come and save hisslave, whom he loved. But what surprising friends! They were theleaders of the people, who had been defeated by the Romans! Surelythey won't go to help the hated Romans. But they do! Why?


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They find Jesus - it wasn't hard, for the city was buzzing with talk aboutHim. "Please come to the Centurion's house, for he is a GOOD man. Heloves our people, and has built us our synagogue." (a place where theycame to praise God, like our church buildings)


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A good soldier need not be a rough, cruel man. This one was loved bythe people he ruled over. He was kind, and was already doing the thingsthat Jesus said to do (though maybe he had never heard Jesus) and hewanted to please God. "DO WHAT HE TELLS YOU" (John chapter 2,verse 5)

Jesus stopped what he was doing and began to go to the Centurion'shouse.

Scene 3 - A Surprising MessageWhile Jesus was on the way, and not far from the Centurion's house,some more friends of the Centurion's met Him, with a surprisingmessage from the Centurion.

(The Bible does not tell us who this second lot of friends were, but at aguess they would have been some of his soldiers).

The Centurion's soldiers told Jesus his message - "I'm not good enoughfor you to come to my house (true, but Jesus loved him, and was cominganyway). Just SAY the word, and my servant will be healed! I take ordersfrom my commanding officer, and I give orders to my soldiers, and theydo them. Just give the order, and my servant will be healed."


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Jesus had healed many sick people by touching them, but never yetwithout seeing them at all.

Scene 4 - A Man of Great FaithJesus just stood there and he was amazed. He said "I tell you, not even inIsrael have I found such faith!"

Just then the Centurion arrived himself. Perhaps he thought "Jesus willbe too busy to come", then having sent his message thought "my friendsmight not get my message right, and my servant will die - I'd better gomyself" ( Matthew chapter 8 verse 5 - see Footnote: at the end )


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He kneels before Jesus and repeats the message himself.

"Lord, I'm not good enough...". The people thought he was verygood, but he knew all the bad things he had done, and our gooddeeds can never make up for our bad ones. (see how he calls Jesus"Lord", meaning master, king. What a way for a Romancommander to speak of Jesus, the carpenter's son from the bush.)

"Lord, I'm a man under orders, and I give orders. Just give theorder, and my servant will be healed"


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Jesus saw the Centurion's great TRUST, for that is what faith is. Likewhen I go to my dentist - I trust she knows more about my teeth than Ido, and if she says "I need to drill and fill" I let her do it. I trust her evenwhen she comes at me with a big needle, to ease pain, not cause it. Thatis what trusting in Jesus is like, when you willingly "DO WHAT HE

TELLS YOU".

What did Jesus tell him?

"Go, it will be done, just as you believed it would." Just as you TRUSTED

it would. (Matthew chapter 8 verse 13)

The centurion did exactly that - "Go!" - he ran home, to find his servantup and well and bouncing with energy and health, and his happy friendsto meet him.

Does Jesus heal everyone who is sick, and calls on Him for help? Theanswer is no - not everyone. For sometimes He has something better inmind. Sometimes we see it later on, sometimes we just have to TRUST

Him and wait.

Nearly 40 years ago, when I had just become a follower of Jesus, I wasplanning a holiday. That's a good thing! But the day before my holiday Ifell off my motorbike, broke my collar-bone, and was in bed bandagedup and in pain for a long time. That's a bad thing, isn't it? Could Jesushave fixed my broken bone and sent me on my holiday? Sure he could


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have. But I had a better time of it than a holiday would have given. I readmy Bible every day, I had lots of time to pray to Him, I learned so muchfrom Him. Many new friends came to visit me too, and one of them laterbecame my lovely wife!

Just TRUST Jesus, and do what he tells you!

DO WHATEVER HE TELLS YOU

Footnote: Matthew's account seems a bit different from Luke's. Did theCenturion come himself or just send friends? But it is often that waywhen we have 2 different eye-witness accounts of an event, as anypolice, lawyer or judge would tell you. People remember different partsof the whole event, but often miss something someone else sees andthinks is very important. My story above fits both accounts well, and isnot original. We cannot of course be sure, but it is plausible.

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