Learning from Jesus – learning to see the truth
Most of us meet a lot of people and it is a help to know what to expect from them. So we put people into categories, going by the clues of dress, age, accent and profession. However, when the pub landlord turned out to have a degree in history we were surprised. When a man with spectacular muscles and tattoos, came out of a shop and went off pushing an elderly man in a wheelchair, I looked twice. A friend was taken aback when the well-dressed woman she met turned out to have been a communist party member most of her life.
So when we read this story of Jesus and the Roman centurion's slave we may well have some assumptions challenged. Would we expect a Roman officer to care this much about a dying slave? Is it likely that this Gentile foreigner would send for a possibly disreputable Jewish healer? Why would he expect the Jewish elders to run errands for him, a soldier in the army of occupation?
There are, however, more surprises to come. It turns out that the centurion is honoured locally for having built the synagogue. Then he tells Jesus that he is not worthy for him to enter his house, 'but, Lord, only speak the word, and let my servant be healed'. This Gentile soldier who must have faced the suspicion and antagonism of the people, has learnt enough from them about the God of Israel to identify himself with Jewish worship, and to recognise in Jesus the power and authority of God.
But most surprising of all, Jesus is surprised and amazed. He is not surprised by a soldier caring for a slave, nor by a Roman who had built a synagogue. He is amazed by the centurion's faith. 'Not even in Israel' had he found such faith.
How do we see people? Do we let the barriers of superficial expectations hide the real person? Are we, perhaps unconsciously, deciding that someone will never respond to hospitality, or even to our prayers, and invitations? We assume that faith is beyond some people. So we simply don't bother about them - and we are never surprised.
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