Jesus & The Centurion

At night, Jacqueline and I are currently reading three books 1  : Your Every Day Read and Pray Bible for Kids by Janice Emmerson, New Catholic Picture Bible by Rev. Lawrence G. Lovasik, and The Neddiad: How Neddie Took the Train, Went to Hollywood, and Saved Civilization by Daniel Pinkwater. That's right, two Bibles. We have been reading at least one Bible every night for quite a few years--at least 9, and probably double that, but I'm a bad record-keeper...but sometimes Jacqueline likes to read two. Lately she's been pushing for three, but I told her I would rather mix it in with something else. But suffice it to say that I am very familiar with both of the testaments...and all of the major stories. And not just from the "kid" versions, either: Jacqueline and I read the real, honest-to-God (pun intended) Bible cover to cover. (Which did take about seven years, by the way.)

So I know the story of Jesus and the Centurion quite well.

And I've always liked that story, actually. I like the fact that the Centurion cares so much about his servant. I like the fact that even though he's a member of the Evil Roman Empire, the Centurion is a good guy. I like the way that he is matter of fact about asking Jesus to heal his servant from afar, and puts it in terms of his own military experience. And I like the fact that he has absolute faith in Jesus. No hemming and hawing, no beating around the bush, just, "Please do this." I admire that kind of faith. I yearn for that kind of faith.

I do not have that kind of faith.

But even though I have read this story a number of times, even though I am absolutely familiar with all of the details of this story...I found that I had to pause several times as I read it to Jacqueline tonight. Because I started tearing up.

I was really moved by this story. 

It got to me.

What do you make of that?

Matthew 8:5-13 (King James Version)

5 And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him,

6 And saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented.

7 And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him.

8 The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed.

9 For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.

10 When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.

11 And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven.

12 But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

13 And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour.

1  Her choice, not mine, by the way. But it's funny, because I think she does tend to be more like me than either of the boys. There's a certain un-hingedness about us that we neither strive for or can control, and this is just one of the many ways that that manifests itself.