Jesus had a “terrible reputation” (dependent on whom you asked.) He spent time with the wrong kind of people. He ate with the grungy and the despised of the world. He associated with the worst among us. He reached out to the poor, the broken, and the marginalized.
But Jesus also found himself sometimes among “the powerful” of his time. He associated with people of “means” and “influence.” He even drew near to the purported enemies” of Israel and dared to praise them.
In either situation, faith shows up in unexpected “ways” and in unexpected “places.”
Jesus is approached by a group of “Jewish elders” seeking his help. Apparently there was a Roman Centurion who had a deeply cherished slave who was ravaged by illness.
This centurion obviously heard something about Jesus. He believes that somehow, someway, this “Galilean subject of Rome,” this “mere peasant,” might be able to do the impossible: that Jesus might be able to heal the sick and stave off the forces of death.
Oddly, the centurion and Jesus never meet face-to-face. All their interactions occur through the means of “other people.”
First, it is the local Jewish leaders who ask for Jesus’ help. The centurion, they say, “is worthy of having you do this for him.” Hearing this, Jesus sets out apparently without much in the way of hesitation at all.
Now, no one would have blamed him for being hesitant. After all, entering the house of a Gentile would make Jesus ritually unclean.
Even bigger, a centurion is not your typically “friendly neighbor.” Centurions are the “sharp edge” of Rome’s power, a “cruel force” that has dominated the people of Israel. Jesus has a number of reasons to resist helping this centurion even when he is commended to by the local leadership. From the perspective of many of Jesus’ neighbors – this centurion represents everything that is “wrong about their world.”
And yet, Jesus accompanies them. He is willing to see this centurion’s slave. But on his way, another set of individuals enter the scene.
The centurion sends “friends” to stop Jesus from entering into his house. He recognizes that he is unworthy to host Jesus. This is a rather “extraordinary display of humility and submission” for a Roman military leader used to having his orders followed and not questioned.
Jesus is “dazzled” by this centurion’s faith, marveling that such faith is not even found among God’s chosen people. This is shocking. Why would Jesus praise a foreigner, a Gentile, a centurion so highly?
Imagine for a moment if Jesus were to walk into this congregation and declare our enemies to be more faithful than we are. Imagine for a moment if Jesus were to declare our oppressors more faithful than we are. Imagine for a moment if Jesus declared “a terrorist” more faithful than we are, a criminal more faithful than we are. This is how shocking Jesus’ “words” would have been.
If we havebeen paying attention to the Gospel of Luke, we shouldn’t be so surprised. The foreigner and the stranger and our worst enemy are as welcome at God’s table as anyone else is. After all, it was mere shepherds, not the kings of the world, who welcomed Jesus at his birth. God will not be restrained by the boundaries that “we” draw around one another. God will surprise us; God will even “enrage us” when God’s grace extends even over those whom we deem “unworthy” of such a gift.
The centurion recognized a kind of “power” in Jesus. And, from all the reports, it was a different kind of power.
Military might cannot heal the sick or raise the dead. An army can’t heal faithful servants. Imperial power cannot gain the affections of a people, but usually only their fear. Jesus’ power is unlike that wielded by Rome or by any other empire.
Jesus’ power – heals people and communities; it brings the powerful down from their thrones and lifts up the lowly. That is, Jesus’ power – turns the world topsey – turvey.
That a centurion would recognize this “power” is the very essence of faith. He believed, he trusted that Jesus could heal his slave.
The centurion’s faith was bold, willing to reach out to Jesus through a number of other people. He put his reputation on the line.
Due to the bitter hostilities between Israel and Rome, Jesus should have no part in healing a centurion’s servant. But the centurion asks nonetheless. He has faith. He reaches out. He believes Jesus can and will do it. The centurion is willing to make a fool of himself in public if necessary.
All Jesus could do is say, “No!” And deny his request.
So the centurion stepped out and makes a leap of faith. Without Jesus being there the slave is healed…
And the people marvel over what has just gone down…and Jesus’ fame continues to spread…and his status goes up another notch!
Faith – in the most unlikely places…
Faith – in the most unlikely people…
Amen.