Chapter 8: Centurion, Part 1

At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was known as the Italian Regiment.

Over the past few chapters we have search for 

faith in the realm of anticipation and expectation. 

Today we move into a new area of our search, 

where frustration and violence are the norm.

Faith doesn’t just happen.  There is a thought, an event or even 

just a casual word from a stranger that just 

seems so out of the ordinary that you can’t ignore it.  Faith invades 

your status quo at that moment and throws fear, 

uncertainty, even doubt into your conventional wisdom.  

You first thought on this invasion:  What’s the catch?.  

One might say that the initial evidence of real faith is ... suspicion.

We are at an outdoor religious service.  

People are flocking to hear an evangelist  in animal skins.  

He is baptisizing them in a muddy, shallow, slow moving river 

flowing through a desert wilderness. 

This is a familiar scene for many of us.  

But we are not concerned with the familiar.  

Over there, on that outcropping of rock above the river, 

is a man in a dull red cloak, huddled in the shadows of the rock.  

He is out of place in this gathering.  

That’s who we are looking for.  

Sir, a moment of your time.

I haven’t got time for you.  Be on your way.

We just have a few questions.  We won’t give you away.

What?  What do you mean?

We mean that we know you aren’t here to listen to the Baptist.

How do you know that?

You seem quite content with what and who you are.  

You are not a seeker of absolution.

And what am I then?

A servant of the status quo.  A Soldier.

That’s is very observant.

It wasn’t hard.  You are clean shaven with cropped hair in a land in 

where beards and long hair are the fashion.  

Also, your short sword was glistening in the sun.

Damn!  I thought I had that covered.

So.  May we talk a bit?  We are not from around here either 

so we have no agenda against you or your mission, whatever it may be.

There seems to be no harm in talking. I am not here in secret.  I’m juist being discrete.  What are your questions?

What are you doing here?

I thought you weren’t interested in my mission?

We have no agenda against it.  That doesn’t mean we have no interest in it.  

You are out of place here.  We are interested in the out of place.

Alright.  That man down there -- the baptist -- is causing quite a stir in both Jerusalem and Ceasaria.  Even though he hasn’t gone to either city.  I was ordered to find out what he is doing and why...and if it poses a threat.  He is, as you put it, out of place in our view of things.

And is he a threat?

Not as I can see.  In fact, he has some benefit to Rome.

How so?

He is insulting the local leaders; impuning their integrity.  And the people listen to him.  That weakens the leaders’ authority.  Makes them less likely to be able to stand up to the Roman authority.

But doesn’t that strengthen subversive movements that might be a threat?

Those kind of movements are poorly equipped, undisciplined and under trained.  They cannot stand up to the army of Rome.  They are merely an annoyance.

So you will be leaving soon?

Not so sure.

Why?

I am a soldier.  I understand authority.   A few minutes ago, a man came forward to be baptized.  The baptist stopped his preaching and talked quietly with him, deferentially. He recognizes this new man’s authority...and he hasn’t recognized any man’s authority.  The baptist has a following but not the desire to lead.  If he has found someone to submit to, his people will turn and follow whoever he tells them to.  Look!  There!  The baptist has sent two of his own after the new man.  That’s where the threat lies.  Not in the baptist.  He is now my mission.  I will follow him and find out what his plan is.

Very interesting.  We’ll catch up with you later.