Scripture: Luke 7:3-5
When the centurion heard about Jesus, he sent some Jewish elders to Jesus to ask him to come and heal his servant. When they came to Jesus, they earnestly pleaded with Jesus. “He deserves to have you do this for him,” they said. “He loves our people and he built our synagogue for us.”
Thought for the Day: Life is complicated! Jesus makes a move to Capernaum, a fishing village on the northern side of the Sea of Galilee. The Greek name, Capernaum, literally translates as: disorderly accumulation of objects. I don’t know about you, but that cracks me up. Though it might also be a good description of the setting. It is a more Gentile community, though it was a mixed group of maybe a thousand people, including Jews. The Romans were an occupying force at the time of Jesus, and they ruled harshly so as to maintain the Peace of Rome (Pax Romana). They also brought with them Roman gods and temples, at times (not always) requiring occupied people to participate in some of the Roman religious practices. Then you come across a passage where some of Jesus’ fellow Jews speak on behalf of a Roman centurion, pleading his case to Jesus. Interesting, these are Jewish elders who seem to recognize Jesus as a healer. But we also learn how this Roman centurion loves the people of Capernaum (we can assume Jew and Gentile alike), and he built the synagogue for the Jewish community there in town. Try making a simple diagram where there are clear lines delineating the difference groups described in this passage. It is complicated! Jesus will later recognize the complications for the Roman centurion, yet demonstrates respect for him and his unique position. Modern day Christianity has a tendency to simplify faith into very clear categories — good and bad, right and wrong, holy and unholy, insiders and outsiders. Then you read a passage like this, and your recognize how life is a bit more complicated. Yet Jesus seems to find a way of living with grace amidst the complications of life.
Prayer: Using Jesus as an example, I hope I can live graciously amidst this complicated world. O God, I will most definitely need your help. Amen.
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