Centurion Faith: A Christian Novel

By James McCurry

Centurion Faith is about a growing faith, hope and love in and for God. The story expands on the Gospel of Luke 7:1-10, The Faith of the Centurion. The quotations of Jesus and His scripture are the key points throughout the story. This is what Jesus says about the centurion, “I tell you, I have not found such great faith even in Israel.” Eternally speaking, what does Jesus want us to learn from His words?

However, these ten verses in Luke leave some open questions of interest. Questions such as, how did a Gentile enemy of the nation of Israel come to have such great faith in Jesus? Why did he love the nation of Israel? Why did he build a synagogue for the people of Capernaum? Why was his sick servant so precious to him? In that regard, remember that Centurion Faith is an imagined plausible story that will fade away while the words of Jesus will never fade. Seize His words for your eternity while you enjoy this moving storybook.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Mar 11, 2021
• ISBN: 9781664224520

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Copyright © 2021 James McCurry.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means,

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except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, names, incidents,

organizations, and dialogue in this novel are either the products

of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

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models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

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Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.

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ISBN: 978-1-6642-2450-6 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-6642-2451-3 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-6642-2452-0 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2021903337

WestBow Press rev. date: 01/11/2022

For the Kingdom of God

Centurion Faith was written for the glory of God with all my heart and with all my soul and with all my mind and with all my strength. This is the first and greatest purpose. And second is like it: To love others by sharing my personal testimony of God’s love.

James McCurry

McCurry: Gaelic meaning Son of God’s peace

CONTENTS

Acknowledgments

Introduction

In The Beginning

Athens

Storms Of Life

The Rescue

The Promise

The Recruit

The Centurion

As A Thief In The Night

Capernaum

The Mission

Reborn

Adoption

Crossroads

It Is All About Jesus

Why?

The Commander

The General

Pirate’s Cove

The Emperor

The Unknown God

Bibliography

About The Author

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Thank you to the following: God, Creator of all things, for giving this story to me; Jeffery Gagliardi, theological editor; Red Horse, painting artist; and Westbow Press for making it possible to share my story of faith, hope, and love. Review editors, Marlene Shorland, and Monte’ Thomas.

INTRODUCTION

Centurion Faith is about the growing faith, hope, and love for God in a man’s lifelong journey of sanctification. The novel expands on the Gospel of Luke 7:1–10 (NIV), "The Faith of the Centurion". These ten captivating verses leave many unanswered questions and deliver one eternal message that God is the God of everyone. This is what Jesus said of the centurion: I tell you, I have not found such great faith even in Israel.¹ Jesus is speaking about an enemy soldier of the Israel nation who had more faith in Jesus than anyone else in all of Israel. Research, inspiration, reflection, tears, and spiritual joy encouraged the author of Centurion Faith forward to answer this question: How is it possible for a Gentile Roman soldier to have the greatest faith in Jesus Christ?

The central theme of faith in Christ goes beyond simply making Christian decisions. When I hear my Master’s words read—or especially when they are sung—something rises within me, which I know to be the Way, the Truth, and the Life. It is from that wellspring of faith that this book is presented in an imagined scenario of a Roman centurion’s life which led him to great faith in our Creator.

An important thing to keep in mind is that this book is just a plausible story created in the author’s mind and from the life events that God gave him when he chose to listen and obey the will of God. Hopefully, this imagined story will encourage you to embrace the quotations of Jesus Christ within the story. Listen to His words, for He alone is the Way, the Truth and the Life. Trust your Creator and have the faith to allow Him to guide your life decisions. Otherwise, this is just a meaningless story.

IN THE BEGINNING

A thens was the nearest location of note to the small fishing village that Marcus and his family called home where he embraces the world around him as a child. He has been given the gifts of sight, hearing, touch, smell, taste, and thought to contemplate the marvels of creation. He uses these God-given gifts to begin experiencing the majesty of God through natural revelation.

Marcus’s mother, Minerva, was a housekeeper, a fishmonger, and a lover of life and nature. She said, Marcus, tomorrow we are going to climb a tall mountain. You will see how grand the sea is and the land bright with color from there. Later, we will spend the dark of night there close to the stars, and in the morning, we will watch the sunrise in the east as the full moon sets in the west!

When they retired to the security of their tiny home, Minerva asked, Well, my son, did you enjoy our overnight adventure?

Momma, I feel so small when I look up at the stars, look out over the sea, or even go to Athens. Everything is so big and scary.

Minerva said, Sometimes, it frightens me too. I feel the same way, but isn’t it all wonderful? I have an idea. We will look for the wonder in small things.

And again, they found great and marvelous divine revelations in the smallest of things.

Marcus, touch this soft fur. Oh, did you feel that gentle breeze on your cheek just now?

They often went walking through the woods together just to smell the fragrance of spring flowers and listen to the birds singing along with the babblings of a brook or to taste wild honey.

Their five senses gave them staggering amounts of evidence of great unimaginable genius behind all creation for them to use their brains to think about. Hey look! This fish is full of eggs: the promise of new life. Marcus, do you want to taste some? Marcus cautiously tasted a pinch of the caviar. Son, what do you think about that?

Yuck! It is slimy, and it stinks is what I think. No thank you, Momma.

Be a man like your father and eat it. It is the very essence of life. Learning to eat it could save your life someday.

Minerva found beauty in everything and good in everybody. Above all, she had one very special memory of giving birth to her son. She would look at him in wonderment and think, I cannot believe this beautiful boy came out of me. She was constantly amazed about how intelligent he was and how fast he was growing.

Oh, did you hear that? Come, Marcus, we must hurry. Can you hear the rolling thunder? It is warning us of a coming storm.

I am scared, Momma. What is it all about? Father says it means the gods are angry. What and who are the gods?

Son of mine, I don’t understand most of it, but isn’t it all wonderful? Yeah, it is all a wonder for us to wonder about. Let me know when and if you ever figure it all out. There is one thing I do know, and that is the gods are not angry with you.

Of course, his father, Pisces, was another significant influence on his son’s development and awareness. What sort of man was Marcus’s father? He was a large man who only appeared to be unafraid to dive into rough seas or a fray to protect and save his family and friends. He could be quick-tempered, yet kind and thoughtful, standing head and shoulders above others, yet he could lower himself to be gentle and dependable. His work was never easy. Each night out on the sea had its challenges with an occasional catch as a reward for himself and his family. It was his belief that Neptune put the life-sustaining fish in the sea and allowed Pisces an occasional catch.

Pisces would sail or row out onto the Great Sea each night in the hope that his nets would fill with fish. He always appeared to be fearless when leading others into the night. Most often, the night sky dazzled with countless stars set against a pitch-black universe on cloudless nights. Even the Great Sea became small in comparison to the endless enormity of the universal umbrella above. The moon and sun were like grains of sand set in the heavens above. It was in this setting that he dared to lower his nets into the sea from a speck of a boat, and where the heavenly night spectacle above always humbled him into a prayer of thanks and protection.

Sitting there in his tiny boat far from shore, the awesome dark of night often hid his fears. Only Pisces and the gods knew that he was a fearful man. Sometimes he would become anxious even in the calm. And then there were those terrifying nights when the stars disappeared—and a raging tempest would rise up to engulf everything in its path. During those times, his inner fears would surface. The storms of life always brought out the best and worst in him. In the silence of his heart, he would cry out to the lord and god of his life: Please, please, dear merciful Neptune, silence the storm and calm my fearful heart.

Pisces was afraid of the sea, yet he still went out each night in search of fish for his family. He put his fear aside and did his job because the love for his family was far greater than the sum of his hidden fears. Pisces was a simple man who repeatedly chose love over fear. Without him knowing it, his love for family and friends came from one true and loving God through the embodiment of natural, specific, and experiential divine revelations.

ATHENS

M arcus and many of his childhood friends grew and matured quickly. They wanted to explore the great city of Athens, the cradle of democracy and Western civilization. His mother could often be found in the bazaar early in the day, selling and trading Pisces’s latest catch with her son at her side. Then one morning, his mother reluctantly gave in to the ten-year-old and finally gave him permission to explore Athens with his city friends. All right, you may go, but meet me back here well before it is time to go home. Well before midday. Do you understand me, young man?

Yes, I understand, Momma. I promise to come back to you before midday.

By eleven years of age, he was helping his mother carry the fish to the bazaar. Be home before dinner. Do you understand me?

Yes, I will be home before dinner. He always kept his promise to return home alone well before dinner. It was a promise that was not always easy to keep because there was so much to see and learn in Athens and so little time for it all.

One day, Marcus asked his city friends, Where are we? And what are these great statues?

His friends did not know much about the great monuments, with little interest in them. They were more interested in becoming thieves—even if it resulted in physical harm to others.

He chose a different path in life because the very thought of violence against others was repugnant to young Marcus. He chose to go his own way and search for the divinity behind the marvels of nature. His search began by questioning the adult men who sat by the great statues.

Most of the men just motioned the child away, but a willing voice said, Shalom, Marcus.

Shalom?

"It is a Hebrew greeting wishing someone peace. You are in the earthly home of the Roman gods."

Marcus faced the stranger and asked with excitement in his voice, Well, what do these gods do?

Abram answered in a sad tone, I have never seen them do anything because they cannot do anything. They are made from stone by human hands, but I must admit they are impressive to see. The people here in Athens are very proud of their idols created by human hands.

"You say their idols. Are they not also your gods and the gods of all men?"

No, I despise them so much that I want to take a club and break them all into dust. These images are a distraction from seeing what is plainly revealed all around us. I have only one god, and He is not made of stone by human hands. Evidence of my God can be seen and felt throughout the world we live in. He is here with us right now and all around us.

What else can you tell me about Him and these other gods?

Yes, there is much that I can tell you about my one true God and about these false deities, but first my name is Abram. I heard your friends call you Marcus. Now about these false gods—do you see that red statue over there? His name is Mars, the god of war. His name was Ares before the Romans came to rule here. Oh, and that statue of a beautiful woman was Athena. This city is named for her. She is said to be the virgin goddess of wisdom, fertility, the arts, and prudent warfare. Now, she has been renamed and is known as Minerva.

Minerva is my mother’s name, and yes, she is very wise. But, sir, what is prudent warfare?

Minerva, you say? That tells me a lot about your family. I have no idea of the meaning of prudent warfare. Maybe Minerva wants her soldiers to be careful and fight only when it is necessary.

Yes, that would be right. My mother is always telling me to be careful.

Oh, Marcus, do you see the statue holding the trident? He is called Neptune. He is said to rule over the sea. His name was Poseidon before the Romans came to rule this land.

Yes, I have often heard my father praying to Neptune. My father is a fisherman.

Yes, I did know that. It was my first impression. The young seeker had no idea how badly he and his parents stank of fish.

Abram, sir, what is the name of your god?

His name is too sacred to be spoken. We never speak His name. Instead, we refer to Him indirectly as The One, The Almighty One, or The Name, but we never actually say His name aloud. His name never changes as these other gods and their names have changed. Once, a man named Moses asked The Almighty what His name is, and our Lord said to Moses, I Am Who I Am.²

I Am Who I Am? Abram, you have given me a lot to think about. Thank you, sir. I must go now to be home before dinner.

Perhaps we will talk again someday. Goodbye for now, Marcus.

On one such day, some Athenian men drew the interest of the young seeker. They were arguing over the latest philosophy or the beliefs people held of these Athenian gods—or as they would say, they were debating. Some of the men were Epicureans who sought pleasure in everything and avoided pain. The Stoic philosophy opposed the Epicurean thought by not showing emotions such as joy, but these men and many others spent endless hours discussing old and new esoteric thoughts and ideas.

A faithful Jew was listening to their endless empty words and was noticed shaking his head in astonishment. An Epicurean challenged the Jew in a scoffing voice by asking, So, Jew, what is your philosophy of life?

"I am not sure if you can call it a philosophy: the love of