Luke 7:1-8: a reflection

1After he had finished speaking in the hearing of the people, he entered into Capernaum. 2A certain centurion’s servant, who was dear to him, was sick and at the point of death. 3When he heard about Jesus, he sent to him elders of the Jews, asking him to come and save his servant. 4When they came to Jesus, they begged him earnestly, saying, “He is worthy for you to do this for him, 5for he loves our nation, and he built our synagogue for us.” 6Jesus went with them. When he was now not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to him, saying to him, “Lord, don’t trouble yourself, for I am not worthy for you to come under my roof. 7Therefore I didn’t even think myself worthy to come to you; but say the word, and my servant will be healed. 8For I also am a man placed under authority, having under myself soldiers. I tell this one, ‘Go!’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come!’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”

A Roman centurion has a beloved servant who is dying, and he sends to Jesus for help. The Jewish elders who bring his request commend him warmly: he is worthy, they say, for he loves our nation and built us our synagogue. In their eyes, this good man has earned Jesus' help. But the centurion himself sees things very differently. When Jesus draws near, he sends word: Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you come under my roof.

There is a striking contrast here. Others said the centurion was worthy; he said he was not. And it was this very humility, joined to great faith, that Jesus honored. The centurion, a man of authority who understood how a word of command works, trusted that Jesus needed only to speak and his servant would be healed. He did not presume on his own goodness or standing; he simply cast himself on the authority of Jesus' word, from a posture of humility.

True faith and true humility go together, as they did in this centurion. He did not come to Jesus claiming to deserve his help, as the elders claimed on his behalf; he came saying, I am not worthy, yet trusting completely in the power of Jesus' word. That is exactly how we are to come to Christ: not on the basis of our own worthiness, which we do not have, but in humble, confident trust that his word is enough. Come as the centurion came, not worthy, yet believing, and find that Jesus honors such faith.

Lord Jesus, others thought the centurion worthy, but he said he was not, and yet trusted your word completely, and you honored his humble faith. Teach me to come to you that way, not claiming to deserve your help, but trusting fully in the power of your word. I am not worthy, yet I believe. Say the word, Lord, and let it be enough. Amen.