Centurion of Capernaum (Roman officer)

• Centurion of Capernaum (Roman officer)
• Hermas (disciple and pupil of Gamaliel)
• Locations - Hattin horns
• Stephen (disciple and martyr)

• Centurion of Capernaum (Roman officer)

Jesus enters Capernaum coming from the country. Only the Twelve are with Him, or rather, only eleven apostles, as John is not there. The usual greetings of the crowd form a vast range of expressions, from the entirely simple ones of children, to the rather shy ones of women, to the enraptured ones of people cured miraculously, and those which are either curious or ironical. There are enough to satisfy all tastes. And Jesus replies to everybody according to how He is greeted: caressing the little ones, blessing the women, smiling at those cured miraculously, and with deep respect for the others.

But this time the series is completed by the greeting of a centurion of the town, I think. He greets Him: «Hail, Master!» to which Jesus replies: «May God come to you.»

While the crowd draws close to see the outcome of the meeting, the centurion continues: «I have been waiting for You for several days. You do not recognise me as one of those who were listening to You on the Mount. I was wearing plain clothes. Are You not asking me why I went there?»

«No, I am not, but what do you want from Me?»

«I have instructions to follow those who hold meetings, because too often Rome has had to regret having granted permission for apparently honest meetings. But seeing and listening to You, I thought of You as a… as a…

177.2

I have a servant who is ill, Lord. He is lying in my house, in his bed, paralyzed by a disease of the bones and he suffers dreadfully. Our doctors cannot cure him. Your doctors refuse to come. I invited them to come because it is a disease caused by the corrupt air of this area and they know how to cure it with the herbs of the feversome soil of the shore where the water stagnates before being absorbed by the sand of the sea. I am very sorry because he is a faithful servant.»

«I will come and cure him.»

«No, my Lord. I am not asking You to go to all that trouble. I am a heathen, filth, as far as you are concerned. If the Jewish doctors are afraid of becoming contaminated by coming to my house, all the more reason it would contaminate You, Who are divine. I am not worthy that You should enter under my roof, but if You say only one word here, my servant will be cured because You rule over everything. Now if I, who am subject to my authorities, the first being Caesar, for whom I must act, think and behave as I am told, can in turn order soldiers under me, and if I say to one: “Go” to another: “Come” and to a servant: “Do that”, the first one will go where I send him, the other will come because I call him, and the third will do what I tell him, You, as You are Who You are, will be immediately obeyed by the disease, which will vanish.»

«But the disease is not a man…» objects Jesus.

«Neither are You a man, You are the Man. You can therefore give orders to elements and fevers, because everything is subject to Your power.»

177.3

Some elders of Capernaum take Jesus aside and say to Him: «He is a Roman, but listen to him because he is an honest man who respects and helps us. It was he who built our synagogue and he has given strict instructions to his soldiers not to gibe at us on Sabbaths. Grant him, therefore, the grace, for the sake of Your town so that he may not be disappointed and irritated, and his fondness for us may not turn into hatred.»

And Jesus, after listening to them, turns around smiling at the centurion and says: «Go ahead and I will come after you.»

But the centurion says once again: «No, my Lord, I have told You: it would be a great honour if You entered under my roof, but I do not deserve so much; say only one word and my servant will be cured.»

«Let it be so. Go and have faith. This very moment the fever is leaving him and life is flowing back into his limbs. Endeavour to get Life to come also to your soul. Go.»

The centurion salutes, then bows and goes away.

177.4

Jesus watches him go away, then turns to the people present and says: «I solemnly tell you that I did not find so much faith in Israel. Oh! It is quite true[1]! “The people that walked in darkness saw a great light; on those who live in a land of deep shadow a light has shone”, and also “The Messiah will hoist His flag over the nations and gather them together”. Oh! My Kingdom! They will really flow to you in immense numbers! More numerous than all the camels and dromedaries of Madian and Ephah, than those who bring the gold and incense of Sheba, more numerous than all the flocks of Kedar and the rams of Nebaioth, will be those who come to you and My heart will exult with joy seeing all the peoples of the sea and the wealth of the nations coming to Me. The islands are waiting for Me to adore Me, and the children of foreigners will build the walls of My Church, the gates of which will lie open continually to receive the kings and the wealth of the nations and sanctify them in Me. What Isaiah saw, will be accomplished! I tell you that many will come from the east and the west and will sit with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the Kingdom of Heaven, whereas the children of the Kingdom will be thrown out into the dark, where there will be weeping and grinding of teeth.»

«You therefore foretell that the gentiles will be equal to the children of Abraham?»

«Not equal, but greater. You can only regret that it is due to your fault. Not I, but the Prophets say so, and the signs already confirm it.

177.5

Now some of you should go to the house of the centurion and ascertain that his servant is cured as the faith of the Roman deserved. Come. Perhaps in the house there are some sick people waiting for Me.»

Jesus with the apostles and a few more people turns His steps towards the usual house where He stays when in Capernaum, while most of the people, driven by curiosity, rush towards the centurion’s house making a great noise.

• Bible - Gospel of Luke
• Bible - Gospel of Matthew
• Centurion of Capernaum (Roman officer)
• Healing and physical miracles
• Miracles of Jesus Christ
• Paganism and pagans
• Romans

Une aube claire fait briller comme des perles les eaux du lac et enveloppe les collines d’une brume légère. A travers ce voile de mousseline, les oliviers et les noyers, les maisons et les villages, juchés sur les sommets arrondis qui environnent le lac, appa­raissent embellis. Les barques glissent tranquillement et sans bruit en direction de Capharnaüm. Mais, à un certain moment, Pierre tourne la barre du gouvernail si brusquement que la barque penche d’un côté.

« Que fais-tu ? demande André.

– Je vois la barque d’un hibou ! Elle sort maintenant de Capharnaüm. J’ai de bons yeux et, depuis hier soir, un flair de fin limier. Je ne veux pas qu’ils nous voient. Je retourne au fleuve. Nous irons à pied. »

L’autre barque a elle aussi suivi la manœuvre, mais Jacques, qui tient la barre, demande à Pierre :

« Pourquoi as-tu fait cela ?

– Je te le dirai. Suis-moi. »

Jésus, qui est assis à la poupe, se réveille quand il est presque à la hauteur du Jourdain.

« Mais que fais-tu, Simon ? lui demande-t-il.

– On descend ici. Il y a un chacal en vue. On ne peut pas aller à Capharnaüm aujourd’hui. Je vais y aller, moi d’abord, pour me rendre compte. Simon et Nathanaël viennent avec moi : trois personnes dignes contre trois indignes… si du moins les indignes ne sont pas plus nombreux.

– Ne vois pas des pièges partout, maintenant ! N’est-ce pas la barque de Simon le pharisien ?

– C’est bien elle.

– Il n’était pas à la capture de Jean.

– Moi, je n’en sais rien.

– Il est toujours respectueux à mon égard.

– Je n’en sais rien.

– Tu me fais paraître lâche.

– Je n’en sais rien. »

Bien que Jésus n’ait pas envie de rire, il doit sourire devant ce saint entêtement de Pierre.

« Mais nous devrons quand même aller à Capharnaüm. Si ce n’est pas aujourd’hui, ce sera plus tard…

– Je t’ai dit que j’y allais d’abord, moi, et je me rendrai compte et… le cas échéant… je ferai encore cette… ce sera une belle couleuvre à avaler… mais je le ferai par amour pour toi… J’irai… j’irai chez le centurion lui demander sa protection…

– Mais non, il ne faut pas ! »

La barque s’arrête sur une petite plage déserte en face de Bethsaïde. Tous descendent.

« Venez, vous deux. Viens toi aussi, Philippe. Vous, les jeunes, restez ici, Nous aurons vite fait. »

Elie, le nouveau disciple, supplie :

« Viens chez moi, Maître. Je serais si heureux de te donner l’hospitalité…

– Je viens. Simon, tu me rejoindras chez Elie. Adieu, Simon. Va. Mais sois bon, prudent et miséricordieux. Viens, que je t’embrasse et te bénisse. »

Pierre ne promet pas d’être bon, ni patient, ni miséricordieux. Il se tait et échange un baiser avec son Maître. Simon le Zélote, Barthélemy et Philippe échangent eux aussi un baiser d’adieu et les deux groupes se séparent en prenant deux directions opposées.

• André (apostle)
• Barthélémy - Nathanaël (apostle)
• Centurion of Capernaum (Roman officer)
• Elie de Corozaïn (Elie de Chorazeïn)
• James of Zebedee (apostle)
• Jean-Baptiste
• Philip (apostle)
• Places - Capharnaüm
• Simon of Capernaum (Pharisee)
• Simon the Zealot (apostle)
• Simon-Pierre - Simon de Jonas (apostle)

Peter comes back only the following morning. And he is calmer than when he left, because he was made welcome at Capernaum and the town had been cleared of Eli and Joachim.

«They must have taken part in the plot. Because I asked some friends when they had left, and I understood that they had not come back after going to the Baptist as penitents. And I do not think that they will come back so soon, now that I mentioned that they were present at the arrest… There is much turmoil because of the Baptist’s capture… I will ensure that the whole world knows about it… It is the best weapon we have. I also met Simon, the Pharisee… But if he really is what he appeared to me, I think he is favourably disposed towards us. He said to Me: “Tell the Master not to follow the Jordan along the western valley. The other side is safer” he said stressing the words. And he ended: “I have not seen you. I have not spoken to you. Don’t forget. And mind what you do in mine, yours and everybody’s interest. Tell the Master that I am a friend” and he kept looking up, as if he were speaking to the wind. They are always false, even when doing good things and… and I will say “strange”, so that You will not reproach me. But… ehi!… but I went and I had a little chat with the centurion. Just… to ask: “Is your servant well?”, and when I was told that he was, I said: “That is good! Make sure you keep him healthy because they are laying snares for the Master. The Baptist has already been captured…” and the Roman grasped the idea immediately. A cunning fellow he is! He replied: “Where there is a vexillum, there will be a guard for Him, and there will be someone reminding the Jews that no plot is allowed under the sign of Rome, death or the galley being the punishment”. They are heathens, but I could have kissed him. I like people who understand and take action! So we can go.»

«Let us go. But all that was not necessary» says Jesus.

«It was… it was necessary indeed!» Jesus says goodbye to the hospitable family and also to the new disciple, to whom He must have given some instructions.

• Centurion of Capernaum (Roman officer)
• Elijah of Capernaum (Pharisee)
• Jean-Baptiste
• Joachim of Capernaum (Sanhedrist and Pharisee)
• Romans
• Simon of Capernaum (Pharisee)
• Simon-Pierre - Simon de Jonas (apostle)

They are already near Engannim – which must be a beautiful little town supplied with water brought from the hills by means of an elevated aqueduct, probably a Roman work – when the noise of an oncoming military squad makes them take refuge on the edge of the road. The hooves of the horses resound on the road, which here, near the town, shows signs of a paving that appears through the dust gathered on it with rubble. The road has obviously never been swept with a besom.

«Hail, Master! How do You happen to be here?» shouts Publius Quintilianus dismounting from his horse, and going towards Jesus with a broad smile, holding the horse by the reins. His soldiers slow down to keep pace with their superior.

«I am going to Jerusalem for Passover.»

«I am going, too. We are reinforcing the guard for the festivity, also because Pontius Pilate is coming to town, too, and Claudia is there. We are her runners. The roads are so insecure! The eagles drive jackals away» says the soldier laughing and looks at Jesus. He then continues in a low voice: «Double watch this year, to protect the back of filthy Antipas. There is a lot of ill-feeling because of the capture of the Prophet. Ill-feeling in Israel… and consequently dissatisfaction among us. But… we have already ensured that the High Priest and his stooges have been… benignly lectured…» and he ends in a low voice: «Go without any fear. All the claws have been retracted into the paws. Oh! They are afraid of us. If we only clear our throats, they take it for a roar. Will you speak at Jerusalem? Come near the Praetorium. Claudia speaks of You as of a great philosopher. That is a good thing because Claudia is the proconsul.»

192.6

He looks around and sees Peter flushed, perspiring with his load. «And that boy?»

«An orphan I brought with Me.»

«But that man of Yours is working too hard! Boy, are you afraid to come on the horse with me for a few yards? I will keep you under my chlamys and I will go slow. I will hand you back to him when we are at the gate.»

The boy does not object, he is as mild as a lamb, and Publius lifts him up onto the saddle.

And while he is ordering his soldiers to go slow he also sees the man from Endor. He stares at him and says: «What! You here?»

«I am here. I have stopped selling eggs to the Romans. But the chicken are still there. I am now with the Master…»

«Good for you! You will have greater comfort. Goodbye. Hail, Master. I will wait for You at that group of trees.» And he spurs his horse.

«Do you know him? And does he know you?» many ask John of Endor.

«Yes, as his supplier of chicken. He did not know me before, but once I was summoned to the headquarters at Nain to fix the prices, and he was there. Since then he always spoke to me when I went to Caesarea to buy books or tools. He calls me Cyclops or Diogenes. He is not a bad fellow, and although I cannot bear Romans I have never offended him because he might be useful to me.»

«Did you hear that, Master? My speech to the centurion at Capernaum was a good thing. I feel more relaxed now» says Peter.

They reach the thicket in the shade of which the patrol has dismounted.

«I am handing the boy back to You. Have You orders, Master?»

«No, Publius. May God show Himself to you.»

«Hail», he mounts his horse and spurs it, followed by his men with a loud rattle of hooves and body-armour.

• Caiaphas (high priest)
• Centurion of Capernaum (Roman officer)
• Claudia Procula (Roman lady)
• Herod Antipas
• Jean d'Endor (Félix)
• Jean-Baptiste
• Pontius Pilate
• Publius Quintilianus (Roman officer)
• Romans
• Sanhedrin