For I also am a man placed under authority (Luke 7:8 NKJV)

The healing of the Centurion's servant (in the Greek, his "slave") is the latest in the series of Gospel propers read during Epiphany that attest to Christ coming for Jew and Gentile alike, and that the Gentiles would inherit the blessing of God because the Jews would reject their Messiah. It was apparently appointed for Epiphany for the final verses which read: "And I say to you, that many shall come from east and west, and recline at the table with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven; but the sons of the kingdom shall be cast out into the outer darkness; in that place there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth." (Luke 7:11-12)

That having been said, the underlying teaching is the relationship of faith and authority, as expressed through submission and trust.

To more fully understand the story, we should begin with looking at the nature of the military office of the Roman Centurion (A story that also appears with slightly less detail in the eighth chapter of Matthew.).

The Centurion (from the Latin: centurio) was a professional officer of the Roman army. In Roman legions, Centurions commanded a centuria or "century" of one hundred men. A full scale legion on war footing consisted of 4,800 men, 48 centuries each led by a centurion and which included lesser non-commissioned officers. In addition to the 48 "company level" Centurions, and lesser leaders, there were five senior Centurions, called First Centurions, and then the handful aristocratic officers who included one who was appointed as legion commander.

The Roman centurion was distinguished by his uniform: his armor was silvered, he wore his sword on his left side rather than his right, he wore a more ornate crest on his helmet, and a Centurion wore his decorations and awards prominently on his torso in battle, to show his bravery to friend and foe alike. As a symbol of authority he also carried a short staff (stick) - usually a vine stave, called vitis - as a symbol of his authority. This is the origin of the swagger stick carried by senior non-commissioned officers and officers in many armies to this day.

Centurions fought on foot, but were the lowest ranking officers who were provided with a horse to ride while on march. Centurions were also allotted a slave to maintain their kit and prepare their food. The record suggests that the slaves were often rewarded with their freedom upon the pensioning of the unit and many became trusted overseers of estates to which an ex-officer might attain after a long career.

The Roman army was a long service army, like that of the old British Empire. A young man who enlisted at age sixteen was committed to twenty years of service, after which he would be pensioned with the grant of land. Most who enlisted would be trained, serve and be pensioned together (although replacements might be added to keep the legion up to strength.)

A man had to have a minimum of twelve years of service to be considered for the rank of Centurion in a new century or legion being raised or as a replacement for a man lost in battle. He had to be able to read and write. It helped to have connections or backers from the higher officer corps. In addition to combat leadership and the maintenance of discipline, a Centurion had administrative duties. In the long Roman Peace many legions were dispersed in places like Palestine to keep the peace and to enforce Roman rule.

In such a case, a unit and its Centurion might serve in one garrison post for many years until called home to Rome to be disbanded and pensioned. The Centurion thus often became the only Roman official who was in residence and like the later British Army in India, might become respected and even liked depending upon the enlightenment of his rule.

Such must have been the case with the Centurion in our gospel this morning. The story begins with the grave illness of the Centurions servant. Luke begins: "So when he heard about Jesus, he sent elders of the Jews to Him, pleading with Him to come and heal his servant."

Note that the Centurion, a pagan and a Roman, was on such terms with the local Jewish leaders in the community that they went to Jesus on his behalf. That this was out of respect and not mere obligation is shown in the next verses (v.4-5): "And when they came to Jesus, they begged Him earnestly, saying that the one for whom He should do this was deserving, "for he loves our nation, and has built us a synagogue."

It is probable that the Centurion was a God-fearer, but we cannot be certain. God-fearers were Gentiles who worshipped at the synagogue and read the Hebrew scriptures but would not submit to circumcision or keep all the Jewish dietary laws. Thus, they were not considered to be Jews.

What is clear is that the Centurion had won the respect of the local population as evidenced by Jesus being told "he loves our nation and has built us a synagogue."

The bible also clearly states that the Centurion also came personally to see Jesus, and the timeline between Matthew and Luke's accounts would suggest that he most likely came later on horseback.

And when He had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him, entreating Him,
and saying, Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed at home, suffering great pain. (Matthew 8:5-6)

For a Roman, even a Roman who had taken great pains to build a relationship with the conquered people he ruled, to send a delegation to see Jesus, was extraordinary. To come in person to seek out Jesus in this manner would be seen as astonishing.

Lest we miss the obvious: For a Roman officer in his position to take this step must be seen in and of itself as an act of faith. Jesus answered him with a firm promise. "And he said to him, "I will come and heal him." ( Matthew 8:7)

Then in Luke 7:6 continues: "Now Jesus started on His way with them; and when He was already not far from the house, the centurion sent friends, saying to Him, "Lord, do not trouble Yourself further, for I am not worthy for You to come under my roof; for this reason I did not even consider myself worthy to come to You, but just say the word, and my servant will be healed. It is not mere self-depreciation that caused the Centurion to tell Jesus that it was not necessary for him to actually come to his residence. Being a non-Jew, but one familiar with Jewish teaching, the Centurion would have known that Jesus, as a rabbi could not, under Jewish law even enter the Centurion's home without becoming ritually unclean. This is yet another sign of respect for the teaching and tradition which Jesus, in the Centurion's understanding, represented.

It is then that the Centurion utters the most profound words of the exchange: ""For I, too, am a man under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to this one, 'Go!' and he goes; and to another, 'Come!' and he comes; and to my slave, 'Do this!' and he does it." (Luke 7:8 & Matthew 8:8)

In this brief exchange the Roman Centurion demonstrates faith, trust and submission. He does this by his actions, not by a profession of faith at an altar call.

He exhibits trust and submission as evidence of faith.

The Centurion trusted in the word of Christ, and believed that his word was good.

Paul in Romans 8:28 says: "And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." We need to trust that God is entirely in control of all our circumstances, and of all that might befall us. We also need to trust that God will always work in our lives for an outcome of good.

The Centurion displays submission (Luke 7:8-9):
For I too am a man under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to this one, "Go!" and he goes; and to another, "Come!" and he comes; and to my slave, "Do this!" and he does it. Now when Jesus heard this, He marveled at him, and turned and said to the multitude that was following Him, "I say to you, not even in Israel have I found such great faith."

The Centurion could understand authority because he both exercised and lived under authority himself. Christians submit willingly to godly authority so that God can give us authority. We need to see that the authority that Jesus had in the world, and even now has in our lives, results from His own perfect submission to the Father. Christ is fully God and fully man. He is inferior to the Father in Order, but not in substance or nature within the Trinity. As the Son of God, Jesus possesses real authority in heaven and on earth. Furthermore Christ can empower those who come under His authority because He has been given that authority by the Father Himself.

In Matthew 28:18-20 we see: "And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." The Lord makes it clear here that ALL authority (and power) belongs to Him. He holds the keys of death and of Hades. Whatever might happen, our trust is in the One who can control ANY event. And what does He do? He does not force anyone to follow Him. He does not brandish His power to instill fear or awe in the beholders, nor should his disciples. Their commission, and ours, is to make disciples, even as He did.

Christ grants spiritual authority for spiritual leadership:
Therefore, I exhort the elders among you, as your fellow elder and witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a partaker also of the glory that is to be revealed, shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness; nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock. (1 Peter 5:1-3)

Spiritual leadership is never oppressive or intrusive, but those who are called to leadership, must also live lives of obedience themselves. The priest or husband or parent is given certain authority, but is first and foremost under authority. All will answer for how that authority was exercised.

The authority of the believer is derived from Christ and is best understood by our position in relationship to Christ. In Ephesians 5:22-24, St. Paul writes: "Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. Similarly, Paul writes that masters should love their slaves and slaves should love their masters.

In Christ resides all power and authority and autonomy, yet He is in perfect submission to the Father. As we walk in Christ, part of our peace results from knowing that God is in control of all that comes into our lives. And our response to Him is in shouldering the responsibilities that He entrusts to us, be it in the role He has called us to, or in the circumstances He has placed us in. We have the authority to be God's person, for we belong to Him. And He will give us the strength to do the right thing in every situation. Once this is settled in our minds, we can look to Him for guidance in what steps He would have us take in life in all our relationships and duties.

The Centurion made no overt and public declaration of faith, yet his faith was fully demonstrated by his prior obedience. Against all custom and expectation he had shown a love for the Lord which entirely flowed from his actions. He was not justified by these works, but they testify to a faith which came at some point through his "love of the Jewish people and nation" and his association with the synagogue. And this faith is made complete in his submission to Christ, in whom he recognized the ultimate source of authority.

Paul writes "Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father." (Phil 2:9-11 NIV)

The Centurion was a man of real authority, yet he saw Christ as the greater authority. We should see the Centurion as an example of how God works in our lives to bring us into submission. It is His will and not our will that must be done. We must never allow human will or authority to usurp that authority which rightfully belongs to God. We in the Reformed Catholic tradition must never replace one infallible pope with every man and woman as their own infallible pope.

For I also am a man placed under authority