Faith of the Centurion

Faith of the Centurion

Cast:  2 people—teen to adult.

Set:  Any stage.  No props.  Script is entirely fast moving conversation.

What do you want for your birthday?

I’ve been thinking about that.

X-Box, Y-Box, a Galaxy 242ZX, or maybe a summer pass to Waterworld?

Those would be cool.

Yeah, like really cool.

I guess so, but…

But what!

I was thinking that I wanted the faith of the centurion. 

Is that the new video game?

No, it’s…

Man, I heard that was way cool and the graphics are unbelievable.

It’s not a game but does come close to unbelievable.

What do you mean?

In the Bible, there is a story of Jesus walking in the area called Capernaum.

Jesus did a lot of walking.

Yes he did, land and sea.

What?

Never mind, I’ll get back on topic.  Jesus was walking and this Roman officer, something like a captain, came to Jesus and asked him to heal his servant.

Jesus didn’t want to have anything to do with a Roman, did he?

On the contrary.  Jesus said, “Let’s do this.”

Wow.

But the Roman officer—the centurion—told Jesus that he was not worthy to have Jesus come into his house.

That sounds strange for a Roman to say that.  They were like the conquerors of the world.

True, but this one was different.

How so?

Instead of accepting the invitation, he told Jesus that all he had to do was say the word and it would be done.

You mean that he believed that Jesus didn’t even have to travel to where his servant was to heal him?

Exactly.

That is different.

The centurion said that he had men under his own authority and when he gave an order, he was confident that it would be carried out.

So if the centurion was confident of his own orders, he was even more confident that when Jesus said something, it was as good as done.

Correct!

Wow!  I am impressed.

Jesus gave the centurion some credit too.  He told those who were following him that this Roman officer had more faith than anyone he had seen in all of Israel. 

Ouch!

The Roman—who you would not expect to have faith—had more faith than even God’s Chosen People and their leaders.

That’s better than an X-Box or I-Phone or  a Summer Pass. 

That’s some big-time faith.

And that’s what you want?

It is.

Something tells me that you already have it.

Really?

If you are seeking after God’s kingdom and his righteousness instead of X-Boxes and Video games, I am thinking that you are going to discover that God has already put all the faith inside of you that you need.

I am sure it is in here somewhere.

And I am sure that you will put it to use and do great things in the name of Jesus.

Sounds like you have a little faith of your own.

Yeah.  I want some of what you want.

What?

To have Jesus use me as an example of faith one day.

Yeah.  That would be something.

To put a smile on his face…

And amaze all of those folks who thought we were just a couple of knuckleheads.

Both exit and speak together:     BUT WHO HAD THE FAITH OF THE CENTURION, A FAITH GREATER THAN ANY JESUS HAD SEEN IN THE ENTIRE REGION.

[Both begin to exit together but the first stops abruptly.]

Wait!  What happened?  What happened with the servant?

The centurion’s servant was healed that very hour.

[Both resume walking out.]

I want me some of that faith.

Now we’re talking…

The end.