The Centurion

Today, I would like to appreciate, in my own way, Matthew the Apostle’s formulation of the event of the healing of the centurion’s servant (8:5-13). I am talking about the literarily detailed meaning. Three things demonstrate Matthew's determination to show that this leader resembles Jesus. 1- Breaking the distance that prevents him from reaching Jesus, the distance of religion and identity... Jesus also, in telling the leader: “I will come to him”, broke the distance between Him and the distant world. 2- He came for the sake of a sick servant. Jesus, too, came into a world enslaved by its sins. 3- He confessed that Jesus was above him in power and status. Jesus met this humility with a higher humility with His astonishment at this Gentile leader. I agree with the commentators who saw in this healing a divine thrust to serve the nations. However, I like to see that, in this formulation, Matthew is prompting us to believe that there are, among the nations, people who resemble Jesus, whom God wants us to meet in order to eradicate anxiety and to settle in the wonderment!