A centurion came to Jesus asking for help. His servant lay at home paralyzed and was in terrible suffering. Jesus offered to go and heal him. But the centurion said that he did not deserve to have Jesus in his house. He just wanted Jesus to say the word so that the servant could be healed. Jesus commended his faith and said, “I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith”. Of course the servant was healed at that very hour.

Most of the centurions referred to in the New Testament are mentioned with honour. This centurion found in Mat 8:5-13 was a heathen, a Roman soldier who believed in the power of Jesus. He was not hesitant about meeting Jesus openly. He was concerned about his slave .Either the servant was wonderful and irreplaceable or the centurion was kind and responsible or both. His concern about the recovery of the man who worked for him is commendable. He was a man who remembered the devoted service of the sick man. How many of us would act as he did in similar situations? Are we concerned about those who work for us?

The centurion was humble and went to Jesus seeking help. Though he was a Roman commander he went to Jesus. This is in total contrast to the self righteous arrogance of those who could not accept Jesus as the son of God in the days of Jesus. While his concern for his slave is extraordinary, even his faith is marvelous. He did not want Jesus to visit his place to heal the sick man. He understood that Jesus had power over time and space and therefore trusted in the word of God as against Naaman who could not obey the God-inspired word of Elisha. Such faith could easily move mountains. It is amazing that while His own people were filled with skepticism, the Roman centurion trusted in the efficacy of the word that proceeded from Jesus’ month. Jesus Himself marveled at the man’s insight faith and humility. Occasional outbursts of piety cannot make us people of faith. A faithful understanding of God’s love and matching action can do wonders in a person’s life. Apparently, the centurion had an integrated personality. His overt act of seeking restoration of his servant’s health is balanced by his inner faith. Faith without action is dead. His concern for the servant and his inner conviction about the source of health, are covetable aspects of one’s personality. May God grant that our external acts of piety match with our inner thirst for the healing touch of God.

While the centurion’s servant was paralyzed physically there are many who are spiritually paralyzed. It is our responsibility to approach God for their spiritual deliverance, so that they can be fully restored.

May God liberate us from all kinds of spiritual numbness and make us strong enough to lead others to total spiritual healing and deliverance.

Dr. (Mrs.) Edriana Jeyasingh