Centurion Detail

Grizzled commanders of the Roman legion, these men were carved from wood.  Centurions led, as their name suggests, 100 armored troops into the thick of battle.  Furthermore, these troops were not born leaders, but made.  Only through battle after battle were they tempered hard enough to not only control themselves when death was right in front of them, but also instill confidence and valor in the troops under them. In most Roman armies throughout the Empire centurions were made up of soldiers from the provinces. They were mostly Greek, Gallic, German, or Iberian, for by the time of Christ fewer and fewer were from the seven hills of Rome.  
           

           Unlike the legates and tribunes, who mostly commanded campaigns on horseback and were removed from the life and death struggle between Romans and "barbarians", centurions were right in the middle of the maelstrom.  
          As such, centurions demanded that orders be given and obeyed with promptness and courage. The centurion that Jesus spoke too while in Capernaum was just such a man, he expected orders he gave to be obeyed with diligence and speed. For as he confidently exclaimed to Jesus,

Lord, don't trouble yourself, for I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. That is why I did not even consider myself worthy to come to you. But say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, "Go" and he goes; and to that one "Come", and he comes. I say to my servant, "Do this", and he does it.     Luke 7:6-8

Such words of faith amazed Jesus. Because the centurion knew the power of Jesus. 

--The centurion, even though he was a commander of men, was humble. For he said, "Lord, don't trouble yourself, for I do not deserve to have you come under my roof".

--The centurion knew that Christ could heal immediately, powerfully, and completely. "But say the word, and my servant will be healed".

--The centurion's faith was strong. He did not have to see to believe. He knew his faith was not misplaced.

I hope this post helps to elucidate the background of this centurion who's faith was looked favorably upon by our great Defender.