Sometimes even in the secular world we encounter cases of extraordinary faith. PEOPLE magazine recently reported about such a case involving professional acrobat Henri Rechatin.
When Henri was a younger man, he used to do a high-wire act across Niagara Falls. During one of his performances, he requested a volunteer from the crowd to ride piggyback across the falls with him. A young lady named Janyck accepted the challenge.
They have been married now for 25 years. Obviously, if someone will go with you across Niagara Falls on a tightrope, you can quit worrying about whether he or she genuinely believes in you. Extraordinary Faith!
Jesus encountered a man with that kind of faith. He was a centurion probably in the army of Herod Antipas. He was a man of authority and power. But he had some characteristics that endeared him to Jesus.
FOR ONE THING HE WAS A KIND MAN. He had a servant. Most men of power and prestige did back then. But this servant was dear to him. Perhaps this servant had served more than one generation of this centurion’s family. Now the servant lay critically ill and the centurion was concerned. When he heard of the marvelous works of Jesus he sent a delegation of Jews to ask Jesus to come and heal his servant. Perhaps he thought that the Master would not heed the request of a Gentile.
The Jewish delegation implored Jesus to heed the centurion’s request. "He is a worthy man," they said. "He loves our nation and helped us rebuild our synagogue." Yes, he was a kind and generous man.
Does it surprise you to find such kindness in an officer of an occupying army? There is much kindness in the world. I like what Neil Millar said recently in THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR:
"In an age contorted by violence, I have no doubt whatever that people are born to kindness as a wind is born to movement. After all, if tenderness were rare instead of normal, wouldn’t the newspapers give it headlines? MOTHER CHERISHES FAMILYBLIND PERSON HELPED ACROSS STREETPRISONERS VISITEDDESTITUTE PEOPLE CARED FORBOY SHARES HIS LUNCH WITH PUPPYBUSY SCHOOLGIRL TAKES TIME OFF TO TEACH FATHER HOPSCOTCHand on and on. But such events are not news; they are as common and as beautiful as dandelions."
You don’t have to be a believer to be kind. When Henry James, the great American novelist, was saying goodbye to his young nephew, Billy, son of his brother William, he said something the boy never forgot. It was simply this: "Willie, there are three things that are important in human life. The first is to be kind. The second is to be kind. The third is to be kind."
You may not be familiar with the name, Stephen Grellet. Grellet was born in France, was a Quaker, and died in New Jersey in 1855. That’s about all we know about him, except for a few lines he penned that have made him immortal:
"I shall pass through this world but once. Any good I can do, or any kindness that I can show any human being, let me do it now and not defer it. For I shall not pass this way again."
This centurion would surely have endorsed those sentiments. He was a kind man.
HE WAS ALSO A HUMBLE MAN. Jesus was impressed by the testimony of these Jewish friends and went with the delegation toward the centurion’s house. As they neared the house the centurion sent out another delegation. This time it was some of his friends. He sent with them a message. The message read like this: "Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you come under my roof; therefore I did not presume to come to you. But say the word and let my servant be healed." (RSV) "I am not worthy to have you come under my roof..." For a man of authority this centurion was remarkably humble.
Humility is a quality that is out of favor in most quarters nowadays. We are more attuned to "winning through intimidation." We are like terrible-tempered Lucy in the "Peanuts" comic strip. Lucy comes into the room where Linus is watching TV. He says to her, "I was here first, so I get to watch what I want." Without a word Lucy marches to the set and flips the channel to her program. Linus protests. "Hey!" Assuming her best know-it-all stance, Lucy intones, "In the 19th chapter of the book of Matthew it says, `Many that are first will be last, and the last first.’" Linus’s response to this paradox sounds like something you or I would say. He mutters, "I’ll bet Matthew didn’t have an older sister!" (1)
Humility is a quality in short supply, but how refreshing it is when we do find it in a person. There is a wonderful story about actress Joan Fontaine. Shortly after her triumph in the motion picture, REBECCA, she was invited to dinner at the Sam Goldwyn’s home. Goldwyn’s hilltop residence was the symbol of success to the Hollywood stars of that day. You had really made it when you got that invitation to "come up." Fontaine and her husband, Brian Aherne, were prepared for this summit meeting par excellence. They arrived in their finest clothes, fashionably late, only to discover that no other cars had parked in the driveway. To avoid seeming eager, they decided to drive around awhile but still no one showed up. "Let’s go home and check the invitation," Brian suggested. "We must have the wrong day." So they did, but the date and time were right. Now an hour late, they courageously made their entrance, only to discover that the Goldwyns were indeed waiting for them-for a dinner alone. (2)
Henry James, you will remember, said that there are three things in human life that are important kindness, kindness, and kindness. But according to Augustine, the most famous of all the church fathers, there are three requirements to be Christian. They are, first, humility; second, humility; and third, humility.
Particularly in the presence of Jesus would we humble ourselves. There is an incident from the mission field from which we proud Westerners could learn much. Some native converts were translating I John. When they came upon the statement, "We shall be like Him," the scribe laid down his pen and exclaimed, "No! it is too much; let us write, `We shall kiss His feet.’"
Somehow this remarkable centurion had that kind of humility. He was not worthy for this itinerant teacher and healer to even enter his house! What a remarkable self-effacement. He was a kind man. He was a humble man. But it was not his kindness or his humility that Jesus praised. IT WAS HIS FAITH. Henry James was wrong. The most important element in human nature is not kindness. Augustine was wrong. The most important characteristic of the Christian is not humility. The most important quality is FAITH-for it is faith that is the spring that feeds the fountains of kindness and humility.
The centurion said that Jesus did not need to come under his roof. He only needed to say the word and his servant would be healed. He used his own authority as an officer as an example. "When I say to a soldier, `Go!’ he goes; and when I say to another, `Come,’ he comes. And when I say to my servant, `Do this,’ he does it." Luke tells us that when Jesus heard this remarkable exposition by the centurion, Jesus "marvelled," and said, "I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith."
THE CENTURION WAS A MAN OF EXTRAORDINARY FAITH. There is an old fable from Holland about three tulip bulbs. They were named NO, MAYBE, AND YES. Someone had placed them in the bottom of a tin to save them until planting time. One day they were discussing their future as tulip bulbs.
NO said, "As far as I am concerned, this is it. We have come as far as we are going to come as bulbs. That’s all right. I’m content. I don’t need anything else."
MAYBE said, "Well, maybe there is something more. Perhaps if we try real hard good things will happen to us." And MAYBE tried hard to be all that he could be, but little changed and soon he gave up in frustration.
YES, on the other hand said, "I believe there is something more, but I don’t believe that it is up to us. I have heard that there is One who can help us be more than we are if we simply trust him."
One day a hand reached down into the tin to select bulbs for planting. NO and MAYBE shrank back but YES gladly gave himself into the hand of the gardener. He could scarcely believe what was happening when he was buried underneath a mound of dirt. But when the Springtime came, YES burst forth in radiant color. He was now a beautiful flower. (3)
The centurion was a "Yes" kind of person. He was not only a kind man and a humble man, he was a man who was open to the miraculous in life. If Jesus would simply say the word, his servant would be healed. Jesus exclaimed, "I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith."
It is amazing in modern Israel, the church, how little we expect out of God.
Our lack of confidence in God reminds me of an incident early in the playing career of Baltimore Orioles coach Jimmy Williams.
Williams was invited to attend a Brooklyn Dodger tryout camp in 1948. After working out for more than a week, he was one of nine players told to report to the team office, which had been set up in the rear of a sporting goods store. Before Williams went into the office, one of the other players advised, "I'm telling you, whatever they offer you, ask for more money. You've had a great camp. They really want to sign you."
Finally the great Dodger scout John Carey, who was a tough negotiator, invited Williams into the office and told him they wanted to send him to the minor league team in Kingston, New York, and offered him a contract for the grand sum of $150.00 a month. Williams remembered the other player’s advice and told Carey, "I’d like to sign with you, but I need more money than that. I’d like to buy a car, and I'd like to send some money home to help my parents, and a hundred-fifty a month just isn't enough to do that."
Cary asked with a sigh, "How much do you want?"
Williams didn't hesitate. "A hundred sixty-five," he said. (4)
Maybe that is why players have agents now. Jimmy Williams could certainly have gotten much more than $165.00 per month, but he did not expect more.
The centurion believed that Jesus could heal his servant with just a word. He believed that Jesus did not even have to enter the house. Just a word from the Master would do it.
How our faith pales in comparison. There are some of us who are carrying heavy burdens this morning. We really do not believe that God can help us shoulder those burdens. We do not really believe that He will grant us strength equal to every need. We do not really believe that underneath are the everlasting arms. If we did we would be able to relax.
A young woman named Janyck trusted that an acrobat named Henri Rechatin could carry her over Niagara Falls on a tightrope on his shoulders. What extraordinary faith. No wonder he married her.
Do you believe that the God of all creation has the ability to carry you on his shoulders across the abyss that you feel is about to swallow you? "All you have to do is say the word!" exclaimed the centurion. And it was true. His servant was healed. God is able. All we need is the ability to trust His word.
1. Dr. Donald Strobe
2. Joe Franklin, A GIFT FOR PEOPLE, (New York: M. Evans and Company, Inc., 1971).
3. Source Unknown.
4. Ron Luciano and David Fisher, REMEMBRANCE OF SWINGS PAST, (Toronto: Bantam Books).