“As he entered Capernaum, a centurion came forward, beseeching him saying, “Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed at home, in terrible distress.” And he said to him, “I will come and heal him.” But the centurion answered him, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof; but only say the word, and my servant will be healed.”
Matthew 8:5-8 (RSV)
The Roman Centurion pursued Jesus for the sake of his servant, who became paralyzed and was bedridden. He probably stood out in that crowd around Jesus, since not many Roman Centurions publicly followed Him. As he pushed through to get closer to Jesus, he realized there was something exceptional about Him, which was the divine, real presence of God.
When he asked Jesus to heal his servant, Jesus offered to go to his home, but the centurion stopped Him, asking Him to only say the word, and his servant would be healed. As the Centurion stood face to face with Jesus, he sensed the real presence of God, and believed in His power and authority, and that His spoken word would be enough. He was also more aware of his own unworthiness. Jesus did what he asked and the paralyzed servant was healed. When Jesus spoke, He miraculously brought back life to a dead spinal cord.
The Centurion left all his pride, prestige and previous perceptions of God behind him, in order to totally invest himself in Jesus, and his investment paid off. Everything Jesus did was an act of God’s love, grace and mercy, which no one is worthy of, because it is the gift of God.
Jesus had just entered the town of Capernaum when He met the Roman Centurion. Capernaum, in Hebrew, literally translates to “Village of Comfort.” How beautiful and fitting it is to go to the Village of Comfort to ask the divine Son of God for a miraculous healing. The Centurion also found his Savior that day, in the Village of Comfort.
God intended for His church to be a Village of Comfort for the world, and to carry the scent of His son everywhere we go, and in all we do. We who believe, carry the presence of Jesus through His Spirit who lives within us, and He wants us to share Him with the world.
“For we are the aroma of Christ for God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing.” (2 Corinthians 2:15)
Like the Centurion, we also revere His presence and believe in the power of His spoken word. We have fully invested ourselves by faith in the divine person of Jesus, His cross and resurrection.
Lord, we revere your holy Presence, and thank you for making us an aroma of Christ and your church, a Village of Comfort for all who seek you. We are unworthy, yet we thank you for all the benefits of salvation, healing and renewal that you have given us by grace through faith in you. Amen