Matthew 8:5-13
This seems like such a straight forward passage until you delve into it a bit more. On the surface you have Jesus speaking to a Centurion, a very unlikely person for an itinerant Jewish preacher to speak to (a soldier of an occupying army) and on the other it seems peculiar that the Centurion would seek out this itinerant Jewish preacher for help. The interesting part has not yet begun though. This seems like such a simple translation of something that was never in English, Latin or Greek. The original word for the Centurions 'servant' was Pais. This word is not as easily translated to simply 'servant' Pais carries a whole different connotation, that of a subordinate same sex lover. This was not uncommon at all at the time and I have written about this before (Sept. 17, 2012 "a dear slave" Luke 7:1-10)
What I find fascinating here is twofold. One of course is that Jesus knows what kind of relationship this is and is willing to help the Centurion, a testament to God's all embracing love. The other part of the equation is that The Centurion states he is not worthy. The Centurion at the very least has a sense of his guilt for either being a Roman officer (unlikely) or for having this male lover (possible). In spite of this, the man seeks Jesus out. Why? Would not you do anything for the person you loved? We often say we'd give our life for our kids, our spouse or a friend. That's the situation here. The Centurion is going to extra ordinary lengths for the sake of his pais . If the Centurions judgement is correct about Jesus, he risks condemnation. Condemnation or Cure, a fifty - fifty proposition? Would you risk it for someone you loved. Would you risk it for a casual fling, for a casual sexual encounter? You can tell though this was no casual sexual partner for the Centurion. At the very least he was a really good slave and considered a member of his immediate family(not a 'traditional family') But using that word pais lends considerable more weight to some kind of intimate, sexual relationship.
All I can say is that this is an incredible passage speaking to the all embracing love of Jesus. Jesus knew everything that was going on with the Centurion and embraced him and the genuine love this man had for his lover. Jesus did not hesitate to render a cure.
Will Jesus be any less generous with us? We are all sinners. But as far as being gay, perhaps Jesus is noting that no cure (for that) is needed. Jesus loves us just as we are, as God envisioned us to be and created us to be. We should celebrate who we are and not fail to love. When we fail in some way, when we sin, we should ask forgiveness and help as the Centurion did. God will be no less generous. But as for being gay, redemption is not needed. Celebration is.
What I find fascinating here is twofold. One of course is that Jesus knows what kind of relationship this is and is willing to help the Centurion, a testament to God's all embracing love. The other part of the equation is that The Centurion states he is not worthy. The Centurion at the very least has a sense of his guilt for either being a Roman officer (unlikely) or for having this male lover (possible). In spite of this, the man seeks Jesus out. Why? Would not you do anything for the person you loved? We often say we'd give our life for our kids, our spouse or a friend. That's the situation here. The Centurion is going to extra ordinary lengths for the sake of his pais . If the Centurions judgement is correct about Jesus, he risks condemnation. Condemnation or Cure, a fifty - fifty proposition? Would you risk it for someone you loved. Would you risk it for a casual fling, for a casual sexual encounter? You can tell though this was no casual sexual partner for the Centurion. At the very least he was a really good slave and considered a member of his immediate family(not a 'traditional family') But using that word pais lends considerable more weight to some kind of intimate, sexual relationship.
All I can say is that this is an incredible passage speaking to the all embracing love of Jesus. Jesus knew everything that was going on with the Centurion and embraced him and the genuine love this man had for his lover. Jesus did not hesitate to render a cure.
Will Jesus be any less generous with us? We are all sinners. But as far as being gay, perhaps Jesus is noting that no cure (for that) is needed. Jesus loves us just as we are, as God envisioned us to be and created us to be. We should celebrate who we are and not fail to love. When we fail in some way, when we sin, we should ask forgiveness and help as the Centurion did. God will be no less generous. But as for being gay, redemption is not needed. Celebration is.
When he entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, appealing to him and saying, ‘Lord, my servant is lying at home paralysed, in terrible distress.’ And he said to him, ‘I will come and cure him.’ The centurion answered, ‘Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof; but only speak the word, and my servant will be healed. For I also am a man under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to one, “Go”, and he goes, and to another, “Come”, and he comes, and to my slave, “Do this”, and the slave does it.’ When Jesus heard him, he was amazed and said to those who followed him, ‘Truly I tell you, in no one in Israel have I found such faith. I tell you, many will come from east and west and will eat with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven, while the heirs of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ And to the centurion Jesus said, ‘Go; let it be done for you according to your faith.’ And the servant was healed in that hour.
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