The Nameless Hero of Faith

After a centurion has appealed to the Jewish elders in a bid to save the life of his "highly regarded" slave, an interesting exchange develops which defies the typical definition of greatness. It is thus a story to be grappled with, as it challenges the well-meaning heroism of the world with the heroics of faith. (Luke 7/ Matthew 8...I prefer the more detailed Luke 7 version here.)

The Jewish elders explain to Jesus, "He is worthy for You to grant this to him; for he loves our nation, and it was he who built us our synagogue." To paraphrase a little, "This guy is really worth your time, he loves the people and is really patriotic for Israel. He even constructed our local worship building!"

The centurion loves the people, he obviously has some respect or understanding for Judaism (if not outright conversion), he has worked hard in the service of others, he cares for even his slave, he has the recommendation of the people his Emperor has conquered and at this point in the text we can see that the centurion believes that Jesus has at least some power to help him.

If this fellow isn't worthy, (Jew vs Gentile theological discussion aside) then certainly no Gentile is worthy.

Jesus appears to take the bait so to speak. But I believe it is because He knew what would be written in history to follow and also because Jesus isn't one to deny those who knock, worthy or not.

What makes the case of the centurion so unique follows next, for as Jesus arrived near to the centurion's household, the centurion's friends bid him come no further saying, "Lord do not trouble Yourself further, for I am not fit for You to come under my roof; for this reason I did not even consider myself worthy to come to You..." (v.6)

As it turns out, the centurion did not think himself worthy as the Jewish elders praised him; and it was for this reason Jesus considered him worthy. The centurion acknowledged that Jesus was Lord and had the power to do the impossible; in other words, by sheer report of Jesus the centurion knew his superior commander from the rest of the world's meaningless monarchs. He had never met Jesus and yet acknowledged His authority (v.8).

Worldliness always measures heroism and righteousness by signs that it can see: patriotism, loyalty to family and kinsmen, moral acts, buildings and battles.

By contrast, the great spirituality of the Centurion was measured by his unwillingness to count himself as anyone more than a man under the hand of God; and that this God was alone worthy and able to accomplish what concerned him; even the impossible.

Coming Clean versus Copping Out

"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside they are full of robbery and self indulgence! You blind Pharisee, first clean the inside of the cup and of the dish, so that the outside of it may become clean also." (Matthew 23:25-26)

1. This was Jesus Christ, speaking to the Jewish religious leaders, the Pharisees about their preoccupation with all appearances of good and righteous conduct. Through a great many added laws and moral prescriptions these leaders thought they had achieved good standing in the eyes of God. They cleaned up the outer appearance, but the inner remained filthy.

Jesus denounced their blind rule following as not only the wrong way to righteousness, but also utter hypocrisy: the Pharisees frequently performed their man-made rules at the cost of true morality. Any honest or dishonest lawyer can tell you that simply the correct application of law does not at all necessarily entail morality or justice.

The Pharisees denial of Jesus as the Messiah, or the Saviour, came from their other commitment. They had a strong commitment to a standard of righteousness which had been invented by themselves and their forefathers the rabbis. It touched their conduct, true enough, but it did not result in morality and more importantly, it did not resurrect their souls from sin.

2. "And when Pilate saw that he was accomplishing nothing but rather that a riot was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the multitude, saying, "I am innocent of this Man's blood; see to that yourselves."

Pontius Pilate washed his hands of Jesus Christ, literally, as well as figuratively. When the Jewish mob threatened to riot (John 19:12) if Jesus were not crucified, Pilate gave in. He was unwilling to stir the Emperor's wrath nor have an unruly lot on his hands, so he knowingly condemned an innocent man (Matt 27:23, John 18:38).

Pilate knew that Jesus was no ordinary man, but his denial of Christ was a decision to remain agnostic. Jesus said to Pilate, "You say correctly that I am a king. For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, to bear witness to the truth. Every one who is of the truth hears My voice." In response to the living example of the "Way the Truth and the Life" (John 14:6), Pilate responded, "What is truth?" (John 18:38). In Christ's wrongful execution, as well as in response to Christ's claims to be God in the flesh, Pilate attempted to cast off the decision.

But there is no such thing as agnosticism with Jesus. The words, made famous by former president George W. Bush were actually spoken by another "tyrant" first: Jesus Christ. "He who is not with Me is against Me; and he who does not gather with me, scatters." (Matt 12:30)

Pontius Pilate did not wash his hands of Jesus, he denied Jesus.

3. "...There was a woman in the city who was a sinner; and when she learned that He was reclining at table in the Pharisee's house she brought an alabaster vial of perfume, and standing behind Him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet His feet with her tears, and kept wiping them with the heair of her head, and kissing His feet, and anointing them with the perfume." (Luke 7:37-38)

This unnamed "immoral woman" from the gospel of Luke had the gall to approach Jesus in the home of a Pharisee no less. This was most certainly not kosher. A great many things could be said about how this woman behaved toward Jesus: gratitude, tenderness, humility, submission; all of these certainly. However, the end result is what I am interested in here, and that is love.

As a result, Jesus tells the woman her sins are forgiven, that she is saved and she may "go in peace" (Luke 7:48, 50).

Conclusion

The Pharisees tried to clean themselves, as did Pilate; but the sinner washed Jesus' feet in humiliating repentance. The Pharisees were condemned, and Pilate executed Christ, but the woman was saved. There is another great washing in the New Testament I have not mentioned: Christ washing the feet of His disciples (John 13:5), and at first Peter is reluctant to be considered worthy of the honour.

The lesson I draw from all these washings is that Jesus is willing to wash me; if I would but only be willing to admit that He alone can make me truly clean.