Christ and the Centurion






He was reliable, - a loyal son of Rome,

Had sworn allegiance to the emperor,

And made now at Caparnaum his home

As a Centurion a well trained warrior.


One Hundred men obeyed his firm command,

Part of the  hated force that occupied

This Jewish province  and their Holy Land,

Deemed for his duties highly qualified.


A man with courage and integrity,

Whose men stood at attention at his word,

A man whose words rang of veracity,

Well skilled with arms, the club, the lance, the sword.



Sharp honed his javelin and swift his horse,

Attended to by servants that served well,

A member of the occupying force

That tyrannized the land of Israel.



A member of the occupiers, he,

A force much loathed that weighed down and oppressed,

But who does knows God's ;great benignity,

Preferring this centurion over the rest.



His big heart hungered deeply for the truth.

An upright man he straight and generous,

He even built a synagogue for Jews

But now the generous man felt deep distress.



He had a servant slave, now gravely ill

That lay with palsy stricken on his cot,

Who could his cherished servant cure and heal ?

Not the Empire;might, - but only God.



Centurions are to provinces assigned,

Have different virtues, or the lack thereof.

Some are indifferent, harsh, and some are kind,

But this centurion knew faith and love.



Thus this Centurion dependable and brave

Forgot to give firm orders and command,

And for a gravely sick and palsied slave

Became petitioner and supplicant.




What heart! - what trouble for a servant slave,-

He must have loved him, held him very dear,

He'd do his best the palsied man to save

Andheard that Rabbi Jesus was now near.




His faith in Rabbi Jesus overrode

His shyness as a begging overlord,

But he dared venture forth from his abode,

And pleaded: "Master only speak The WORD"!




"Oh Lord I am not worthy that you come

Into my house, abode nor roof thereof,

I am unworthy, paynim,serving Rome,

Just say the Word - THE WORD - that is enough".




Oh wondrous faith, - humility and faith,

That made the palsied servant hale and well,

And  Jesus, marvelling greatly spoke His praise

For such great faith,- not found in Israel.




Respecter of the person God is not,-

The Father draws and choses whom He will,

Whatever be the nation, age or spot,

Believers with abundant grace to fill.




(c) Elizabeth Dandy






Luke 7:1-10

Matthew 8.5-13

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