Opinion of a Roman Centurion

27. Opinion of a Roman Centurion

Here we have a high ranking Roman soldier with a son who is apparently seriously ill. Aware of Jesus’ reputation as a healer, the centurion asks the Jewish elders to petition Jesus on his behalf, that he come to his son’s aid. Jesus consents.

But just before Jesus arrives, he is stopped by friends of the centurion who convey a most interesting message. He is told not to trouble himself by coming further, but to perform the healing from where he is: “Sir, trouble not thyself: for I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: wherefore neither thought I myself worthy to come unto thee: but say the word.”

What’s going on? The centurion clearly has faith that Jesus does not need to see the child or even enter his house in order to perform the healing. What would give him that faith?

Apparently it has something to do with his regard for Jesus and his understanding of the nature of authority: “For I also am a man set under authority, having under myself soldiers: and I say to this one, Go, and he goeth; and to another Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.”

A possible interpretation: Clearly the centurion holds Jesus in high esteem. Here he is, a high-ranking soldier in the service of the Roman Empire, and he does not feel himself worthy to approach Jesus, a member of a small religious sect completely under Roman rule! That is quite a statement. A military man who thinks in terms of hierarchy and rank, he has placed Jesus at some level higher than himself – not militarily, but spiritually.

The centurion then draws a seemingly logical conclusion: if he, by virtue of being a centurion of the Roman Empire, has command over others – saying unto this one “Go, and he goeth” – Jesus, being of “higher rank” and in service of God, must have something even more powerful under his command. So powerful that he can act at a distance, and heal the centurion’s son.

We all put ourselves under some authority, consciously or unconsciously. It could be the authority of our culture, of the company we work for, or of our family. Setting ourselves under authority confers upon us certain benefits, and certain responsibilities. Jesus put himself under the highest authority possible: God. The centurion understood that and grasped the consequences as well; and at that, Jesus marveled.

See also “Opinion of Disciples about Jesus,” Commentary 10-47.