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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
