Miracles

LENTEN ADVENTURE 2011
ASSIGNMENT #2
Part 1—Three Miracles

[Note:] These accounts are told from religious, political, and inter-actionary aspects as seen from the viewpoint of Amos (my adventure character), incorporating the 3 modes of persuasion (ethos-pathos-logos).

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I, Amos, journeying with fellow travelers on an investigative adventure to learn the truth about Jesus, have received reports from eye witnesses of several miracles being performed throughout Galilee and Judea. I would like to share details of three such events from the perspective of their accounts and my vast knowledge of the historical and political aspects of the time. Being an opinionated sort of Gentile, I included some personal comments within the following report.

***

The first is a story of a good and just centurion and the unexplained healing of his faithful servant.

Marcus the Centurion

Marcus’ father, Octavius, had commanded a legion of the Populares (Caesar’s political supporters) along side General Julius Caesar at the Rubicon River during the initiation of the Great Roman Civil War. After a four-year-long (49–45 BC) politico-military struggle, fought in Italy, Greece, Egypt, Africa, and Hispania, Caesar defeated the last of the Optimates (the politically conservative, socially traditionalist faction of the Roman Senate), who were supported by Pompey in the Battle of Munda and became Dictator perpetuus of Rome. Shortly thereafter, on the Ides of March, Julius Caesar was assassinated. Herod the Great had been appointed governor, and later, tetratch of Galilee. Herod, along with his five wives and ten offspring, were practicing Jews, for the Edomites and many Nabateans had been converted to Judaism by the Hasmoneans. He enjoyed the backing of Rome but his excessive brutality was condemned by the Sanhedrin.

For his valiant courage in battle, Octavius was awarded fertile land of rich volcanic soil in Capernaum along the northern coast of Lake Galilee. It was here, during a peaceful time of the Roman Empire, where he raised his family in the traditional beliefs of the Roman gods, among the Sons of Abraham who lived and worked in this Roman-occupied region of Galilee. Octavius, though still under the command of the Roman Empire, did not agree with the brutal tyranny imposed by Herod the Great, or his hypocritical claim to the Jewish religion. Octavius silently cheered when news of Herod’s death in his homeland of Jericho reached Capernaum, only to have his joy squelched by the announcement that the madman’s son, Herod Antipas had inherited the position of tetrarch of Galilee and Perea. Though not as ruthless as his father, Herod Antipas was greatly lacking in moral and spiritual character.

Marcus, Octavius’ only son, followed in his father’s footsteps and joined the service of the Roman Empire, quickly moving up in the ranks to soon be promoted as a Centurion. Roman Soldiers were only promoted to Centurion if they were clever, brave, good fighters, and obeyed orders. Marcus was strict, yet kind to his men. His century of soldiers regularly patrolled the northern banks of Lake Galilee. This was his home as well as his area of official duty, and the people of Capernaum, Gentile and Jew alike, hailed Marcus as a friend. He even constructed a synagogue in the town center, with the help of his servants and soldiers.

There was much unrest in this region of Galilee, especially since word of a man named John, who was baptizing Jews in the south at the Jordan River, spread throughout Israel. This John was proclaiming the coming of the prophesized Messiah—a savior promised to redeem the Jews from oppression and Roman rule. Even more alarming was the report from eye-witnesses that John had indeed encountered this Messiah, and his name was Jesus, and now this Jesus was making his way through Galilee, preaching to large crowds about a new law, a law of love for all men, Jew and Gentile. Some say there were even miracles performed by Jesus. The blind were able to see and the lame were walking. Many dying of disease and injury were being healed, made whole again.

This made Herod, a self-proclaimed Jewish leader himself, very nervous. Herod had an encounter with this John the Baptizer and was publically rebuked by John for his adulterous marriage to his brother’s wife. As a result, Marcus and his men were ordered to increase patrols in the area and disperse any unofficial gatherings to dispel insurgency against the Roman Empire.

Marcus was curious about these stories of miracles as told by his neighbors. He was intrigued and began secretly inquiring more and more about this Messiah, this healer. His dearest and most faithful servant, Antonius, had spent long hours with Marcus on the roof of the family villa, explaining to his master all that he had seen and heard about Jesus and his claim of being the son of the god of the Jews. Something stirred in Marcus’ soul as he listened to the miracles and kindness displayed by this Jesus.

One day, word was sent to Marcus who was with his men, patrolling the roads along the northwestern coast of Lake Galilee between his home of Capernaum and Tabgha where Jesus was preaching to large crowds. Antonius had collapsed and was unable to walk and in great pain. Marcus knew, deep in his heart, that only one man could help his cherished steward. He left his post and quickly journeyed to the mount where Jesus and his disciples were ministering to the multitude and ran right into Jesus who was on his way to Capernaum. Marcus knew this must be the man everyone was talking about, for he was accompanied by several who were referring to him as ‘master’ and ‘rabbi’.

“Sir,” he said, “my servant is lying at home paralyzed and in great pain.” Jesus said to him, “I will come myself and cure him.” Marcus replied, “Sir, I am not worthy to have you under my roof; just give the word and my servant will be cured. For I am under authority myself and have soldiers under me; and I say to one man, ‘Go,’ and he goes; to another, ‘Come here,’ and he comes; to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” When Jesus heard this, he was astonished and said to those following him, “In truth I tell you, in no one in Israel have I found faith as great as this. And I tell you that many will come from east and west and sit down with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob at the feast in the kingdom of Heaven; but the children of the kingdom will be thrown out into the darkness outside, where there will be weeping and grinding of teeth.” And to the centurion, Jesus said, “Marcus, go back, then; let this be done for you, as your faith demands.”

Marcus stared at Jesus for a long time, then turned and ran down the road. He passed his soldiers who were still patrolling the area where Marcus had left them. Marcus commanded his men to disperse and go to their homes. He did not want them harassing Jesus when he came this way. He continued to his villa and found Antonius well, relieved of pain, and quite mobile as he jumped and danced in front of his master with great joy. “Master, I am not sure what happened. I was overcome with a strange ailment which left me unable to move. I truly felt as though I was on my way to the underworld. Then, by the gods, with no explanation from your medical staff, the ailment left me and the pain was gone. I began to dance, as you see me now, Master.”

“The Roman gods had no hand in this, Antonius. If you can contain your excitement for a moment, I will explain a most remarkable gift that has just been presented to you.”

***

The second miracle of my report concerns a woman of Tyre which is about 35 miles northwest of Capernaum on the coast of The Great Sea. Jesus was in the area when suddenly, out came a Canaanite woman from that district and started shouting, “Lord, Son of David, take pity on me. My daughter is tormented by a devil.” Now this woman was a Gentile by birth, like me. She apparently was familiar with Jewish religion, for she referred to Jesus as “Son of David.” But Jesus didn’t say a word to her. I wasn’t surprised that he wouldn’t talk to her since Gentiles are considered unclean by the Jews. Why, even Jesus’ disciples told him to send her away. They figured she was some superstitious, mad woman and they were tired of her shouting after them. Finally, Jesus said to her, “I was only sent to take care of the lost sheep of the House of Israel.” Boy, I thought that was kind of rude. He was basically telling this Gentile woman that he only worked for the Jews. But that didn’t seem to bother the woman. She even bowed before Jesus and begged him to help her.

Then Jesus said something really harsh. He said, “It is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to little dogs.” Well, I couldn’t believe it. This son of their god just called the poor old woman a ‘dog’. He was saying that his blessing were for his children, the Jews, not for Gentile dogs. Now right then and there, I would have crawled away, angry and hurt. First, she had been ignored, then rejected by the disciples, then told she was not the kind of person he came to help, and on top of all of that, she was called a dog.

But she didn’t go away. She didn’t even get mad. She said something I thought was pretty clever. She said, “Even little dogs eat the scraps that fall from their masters' table.” She admitted that she was unworthy and asked only for crumbs, leftovers. She completely believed just a few crumbs from Jesus would save her daughter.

I think Jesus was testing her, making sure that she truly believed in who he was and what he was, because he said, “Woman, you have great faith. Let your desire be granted.” And from that moment, her daughter was well again.

***

The third miracle which was described to me by these eyewitnesses was the strangest of all, and the most dear to me, being a Gentile. He made the Jews in the synagogue mad enough to kill him, but before they could throw him over a cliff and stone him, Jesus simply passes through the midst of the Jewish crowd and gets away. He just kind of vanished. Why were they angry? Well, I’ll tell you the way it was told to me.

Jesus went into his hometown of Nazareth, and being the Sabbath, he went into the local synagogue. He stood up to read, and they handed him the scroll of the prophet Isaiah. Unrolling the scroll he found the place where it is written: ‘The spirit of the Lord is on me, for he has anointed me to bring the good news to the afflicted. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives, sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim a year of favor from the Lord….’
Then he stopped, rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the assistant and sat down. And all eyes in the synagogue were fixed on him. You see, he didn’t finish the verse. He stopped before the ‘good part’, the one that says: ‘…and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn.’ Such exclusion was unthinkable for most Jews. Deliverance from captivity was not complete without some sort of destructive judgment upon the enemies of God who enslaved them. In the case of the Nazarene Jews, the enemy was Rome, the Gentiles.

Then he began to speak to them, “This text is being fulfilled today even while you are listening.”
What he is saying here is that this prophesy that Isaiah speaks of has begun. Christ’s ministry has started. Well, the Jews didn’t get it. But they were impressed with his words so far, even if he was just a carpenter’s son. However, they still didn’t understand why he left out some of Isaiah’s words in the reading.

Then Jesus says, “No doubt you will quote me the saying, ‘Physician, heal yourself,’ and tell me, ‘We have heard all that happened in Capernaum, do the same here in your own country.’” Jesus had performed many signs and miracles in Capernaum and all around Galilee, but not in his hometown (or at least none that the Jews had heard about). Jesus knew what the Jews in the synagogue were thinking, ‘Why doesn’t he perform signs and miracles right here, in Nazareth?’ But Jesus said that prophets aren’t usually accepted in their own neighborhoods.

The Jews became even more angry when Jesus spoke of how the prophet Elijah was sent to help a starving Gentile widow, and to cure a leper, Naaman the Syrian General who captured and enslaved many Israelites. I think Jesus was showing them that He, as the Messiah, has come to be a blessing to Jew and Gentile alike.
When the Jews in the synagogue heard what Jesus was saying about God’s concern for Gentiles, they were filled with wrath. They sprang to their feet and hustled him out of the town; and they took him up to the brow of the hill their town was built on, intending to throw him off the cliff and throw stones at him from above, but he passed straight through the crowd and walked away. I don’t think Jesus was ready to die right then and there. He still had too much to do.

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From my own perspective, I have learned much from these 3 miracles. My research has taken me from Capernaum, to Tyre, and to Nazareth. I have seen the cure of a servant owned by a kind Gentile Centurion who turned to Jesus with great faith in his power. The Gentile and his servant were rewarded.

I have seen a desperate Gentile woman pleading for help for her demon-possessed daughter with persistence and humility, and a faith stronger than any seen in all of Tyre. The Gentile and her daughter were rewarded.

I have seen a synagogue full of Jews dedicated to the observance of the Law of God as it suits their wants and needs, but blinded to the love of God for all men. Jesus is the New Law, and it is a law of eternal life for Jew and Gentile. If we but believe that Jesus is the Messiah, we will ALL be rewarded.

Winnie



(2421 words)

Footnotes:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caesar%27s_Civil_War
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herod_the_Great
http://www.hadrians.com/rome/romans/daily_life/roman_soldiers.html
http://www.gracecommentary.com/luke-4_20-30/
Matthew 8:5-13
Luke 7:1-10
Matthew 15:21-28
Mark 7:24-30
Luke 4:16-30