Knowing Christ = Eternal Life

4th Sunday after Pentecost   2009            Matthew 8:5-13

At that time Jesus entered Capernaum, a centurion came forward to him,  beseeching him and saying, “Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed at home, in terrible distress.” And he said to him, “I will come and heal him.” But the centurion answered him, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof; but only say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I am a man under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes, and to my slave, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” When Jesus heard him, he marveled, and said to those who followed him, “Truly, I say to you, not even in Israel have I found such faith. I tell you, many will come from east and west and sit at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven, while the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness; there men will weep and gnash their teeth.”  And to the centurion Jesus said, “Go; be it done for you as you have believed.” And the servant was healed at that very moment.

The Centurion demonstrates a great amount of faith in Christ.   He does not come to Jesus asking that Jesus pray for his beloved sick servant.  He lays at Jesus’ feet the crisis:  the servant is perilously ill and in great pain.   Jesus says He will come and heal the servant. 

In this story we see the Centurion has sized up Jesus and understands that Jesus is a man of power.  Jesus, howcver, is not commanding a cohort of soldiers; rather Jesus is able to command the wind, evil powers, illness and death.  The Centurion’s faith is not merely in healing; his faith is in the man who can heal.  Whether he can articulate the idea or not, the Centurion is expressing a belief in the divinity of Christ.   The powers that Jesus possesses come from God, and rightfully belong to God alone.  The Centurion is expressing a belief  – the answer to the question, “Who is Jesus?”   The Centurion believes Jesus has the power over sickness and death because he believes that Jesus in fact is the Messiah and the Son of God.   “Who is Jesus?” is the central question which this Gospel lesson answers.

The Centurion also expresses his faith in Jesus and who Jesus is through his tremendous humility in expressing to Christ that he is not worthy to have Christ come to his home.  The Centurion is a military leader in the army which has conquered the Jews.  He could be emboldened to seek mercy from Jesus for his servant because of his own status as conquering military officer.  

Neither the Centurion’s faith nor his social status as a conquering army officer takes away his meekness and humility before the Lord Jesus in whom the Centurion sees the power of God. 

We are indeed to approach Christ boldly in prayer with our requests.  But then we learn from the Centurion it is Christ’s mercy and goodness not our righteousness which causes Christ to heal and answer prayer.   Abba Zosimas says:

What can be simpler than to love everyone and be loved by everyone? What great comfort do we not receive from the commandments of Christ? Nonetheless, our free will is not passionate enough. If it were truly passionate, then by the grace of God everything would appear simple for our free will. As I have frequently told you, a small inclination of our desire is able to attract God for our assistance. Moreover, as the sacred Antony says: “Virtue only requires our desire.” Or again: “We do not need to make a great journey in order to reach the heavenly kingdom, nor do we need to cross the seas in order to acquire  virtue.” What rest is lacking from the meek and humble person? Truly: “The meek shall inherit the land, and delight themselves in abundant prosperity” (Psalm 37:11).     (John Chryssavgis, In the Heart of the Desert)

The Centurion is a man of faith.  His faith however is not in a vague benevolent power in the universe.  Rather the Centurion recognizes God in Jesus Christ.   The Centurion understands that Jesus doesn’t have to pray to the Father to ask God the Father to do the healing, for in fact Christ Himself possesses the power to heal, to command sickness, demons and nature.  The essential question to be answered is “Who is Jesus?”    When we understand how the Gospels answer that question, then we understand what we need to do.

Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God,

and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.

(John 17:3)