1 The Rev. Amanda Eiman 2 nd Sunday after Pentecost May 29, 2016 John 7:1-10 Good morning/evening. Today in our Gospel we hear a short, action-packed healing story. There are quite a lot of characters for only 10 short verses there is a centurion, his slave, the elders, the centurion s friends, and of course Jesus. All of them contribute to the healing found in this story, but one character the centurion might merit a bit more of our attention today, as he also shows unprecedented and unexpected faith that even astounds Jesus himself. Part of the surprise is because a centurion in biblical times was a very powerful figure the commander of a military of one hundred soldiers, with all the authority of Herod or Rome behind him. He was accustomed to doing things by simple command. He ordered soldiers and servants, and his instructions were carried out. (NIB Vol IX, p. 156).
2 But he was also a Gentile and thus in many ways an outsider in this Jewish village where this healing story takes place. It is from both of these positions the powerful one and yet an outsider, that the centurion speaks up on behalf of his sick slave. He hears that Jesus is coming to town, and so he wants to reach out to him. He has heard that he is a healer and teacher. But he has never met Jesus still, he places hope and trust in him and asks Jesus to heal his slave. And we see that he does this not by going directly to him but by turning to the Jewish elders. He asks them for help and asks them to advocate on his behalf. They vouch for the merit of his request by saying to Jesus, He is worthy of having you do this for him, for he loves our people, and it is he who built our synagogue for us But even with their support, questions remained. Would Jesus listen to the prayers of an outsider on behalf of an even greater outsider, the slave? The centurion is aware that he doesn t really belong. He
3 isn t sure that Jesus will help him, or even listen to his concerns. But by taking this risk, no matter what the outcome might be, the centurion gives voice to the voiceless and power to the powerless. His actions make all the difference to his slave, who otherwise may have died. The slave was an overlooked, voiceless, and powerless person so much so that we don t even hear them utter a word in this story nor do we know if they were a man or a woman. But the centurion shows us what it means to stand up, show up and speak up on behalf of someone in need. His compassion for this nameless servant is commendable. And so when Jesus hears the request of these elders, and of the centurion, he immediately goes with them. But then as they all are all making their way to the centurion s home, they are met on the road by a group of the centurion s friends. These friends bring Jesus a message from the centurion: Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you come under my
4 roof; therefore I did not presume to come to you. But only speak the word, and let my servant be healed. These words astound Jesus, who replies, I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith. The centurion s faith is groundbreaking because he understands that Jesus does not need to come to his house in order to heal the slave. He does not need to see Jesus face to face but he believes that Jesus has the power to transform lives simply because he is Christ. You and I live after the time when Jesus walked on the earth. But we too can be like the centurion and place our confidence in God s healing power. Because thankfully God is not limited by human constraints, power, or even physical presence. Jesus healing, strength, and caring transcend time and place. Remember, the centurion and Jesus never even meet face to face in this story, yet the slave was healed. So this story might prompt us to consider where we, as Jesus Christ s followers, are being called by him to assist, advocate and help those
5 in need. Our prayers for one another and our actions on one another s behalf can offer life-changing power just like the centurion s did for the slave. He spoke up, he was an advocate, and he even involved the community, in the healing of someone who was an even greater outsider than himself. There are many people in this world even today whose reality might be very similar to that slave. People who are beloved children of God but whom others do not treat as if they were valued. So the centurion reminds us to pray for, to companion, to help people who are overlooked, and to welcome those who might often be unwelcome. Whom do you or I know who might benefit from a visit or a phone call today? Where might we go and whom might we be willing to help? What can we learn from the centurion s actions and Jesus willingness to go where he was needed?
6 Every day, each one of us has the opportunity to be a messenger of God s hope and love and to be a healing presence sometimes even in unexpected ways. Where is Christ calling you to do that today?