Jesus Heals a Centurion’s Servant

The Jews prided their racial purity, and it was drilled into them to maintain this purity after coming back from their Babylonian Exile. This they assumed because their had not kept everything Moses had instructed them to follow in the book of Deuteronomy. Jesus’ fellow Jews avoided mixing with people of other faiths. They did not even enter their houses and associate with them, least they be defiled according to what Moses had taught them.

The Centurion of today’s Gospel reading probably like a great list of people, was impressed by the Jewish religion. He sponsored many a ventures of the Jewish Leaders, and sought to be a convert to the Jewish religion. He desired to follow the Jewish faith in spirit, therefore, he was mindful of those around him, including his sick servant. He was mindful also of the Jews and Jesus and that they should not be defiled by entering his house. Therefore in this story in Luke’s Gospel, we do not find the Centurion directly approaching Jesus, lest his shadow defile them. His solution is simple, he requests the Jewish Leaders (probably through letters) to take the message to Jesus. Then Jesus does the unthinkable, He desires to visit the Centurions home. The Centurion makes haste, he quickly sends messengers, ‘Jesus you need not come. Just give the order from wherever you are, and what you command will be done. Are you not the King/the Messiah. Say the word and it shall be done.’

Jesus is impressed by the Centurions faith, conviction and mindfulness of others. Jesus exclaimed to those who were with Him, , “I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith.”