1 When Jesus had finished saying all these things to the people, he went to Capernaum. 2 A Roman officer there had a servant who was very dear to him; the man was sick and about to die. 3 When the officer heard about Jesus, he sent some Jewish elders to ask him to come and heal his servant. 4 They came to Jesus and begged him earnestly, “This man really deserves your help. 5 He loves our people and he himself built a synagogue for us.”
6 So Jesus went with them. He was not far from the house when the officer sent friends to tell him, “Sir, don’t trouble yourself. I do not deserve to have you come into my house, 7 neither do I consider myself worthy to come to you in person. Just give the order, and my servant will get well. 8 I, too, am a man placed under the authority of superior officers, and I have soldiers under me. I order this one, ‘Go!’ and he goes; I order that one, ‘Come!’ and he comes; and I order my slave, ‘Do this!’ and he does it.”
9 Jesus was surprised when he heard this; he turned around and said to the crowd following him, “I tell you, I have never found faith like this, not even in Israel!”
10 The messengers went back to the officer’s house and found his servant well.
Read Luke 7:1-10 in context and/or in other translations on BibleGateway.com!
When reading about the Roman officer who asks for Jesus to heal his servant, I am continually amazed by his second message, the response he gives when Jesus starts moving towards his home. When realizing that Jesus was going to help him, perhaps he felt very self-conscious, or perhaps very unworthy.
While his initial request is for Jesus to come and help in Luke’s gospel, perhaps the message is a little more like what we read in Matthew’s gospel where we have his words specifically: “Sir, my servant is sick in bed at home, unable to move and suffering terribly.” (Matthew 8:6)
Perhaps the understanding of the elders this Roman officer sent were of the understanding that Jesus needed to be there personally, or perhaps, as we read Jesus’ response in Matthew’s gospel, “I will go and make him well.” (Matthew 8:7)
However, whether the events happened more like Matthew’s version or more like Luke’s version, the Roman officer’s response to Jesus when He agrees to come and help is amazing. “Sir, don’t trouble yourself. I do not deserve to have you come into my house, neither do I consider myself worthy to come to you in person. Just give the order, and my servant will get well. I, too, am a man placed under the authority of superior officers, and I have soldiers under me. I order this one, ‘Go!’ and he goes; I order that one, ‘Come!’ and he comes; and I order my slave, ‘Do this!’ and he does it.” (v. 6b-8)
What amazes me about Luke’s gospel is that this Roman officer wants to avoid any appearance of forcing or intimidating Jesus into helping him. While we know looking back on this event that Jesus would not have helped if there was that sort of attitude present, from reading the officer’s response, I see him trying to get as far away from even giving that appearance to those present in the crowd at that time.
Perhaps, according to Luke, if the officer had come in person and if Jesus had went with him to have Jesus personally heal his servant, this may have given the impression that the officer was forcing Jesus to help, rather than Jesus simply helping from His own free will.
It is from this officer’s messengers that we get the most amazing example of faith in the gospels –according to Jesus – and it is where we truly begin to see this Roman officer’s character. This officer was different from the stereotype. He followed orders, but he also cared about those under him. This officer was more interested in making friends than exerting force – and because of this, this Roman officer gives us an incredible example of faith that even surprises Jesus.
This Roman officer shows us we can live apart from the stereotypes of culture, and that when we live humbly and dependant on Jesus, we too can display an extraordinary level of faith!
This thought was inspired by studying the Walking With Jesus “Reflective Bible Study” package. To discover insights like this in your own study time, click here and give Reflective Bible Study a try today!
Subscribe to this blog and never miss an insight.