No Greater Faith

by Daniel Miller

NO GREATER FAITH

Sword drill instructor: “Hold your weapon like a good woman. Firmly, but gently. Don’t let her control you, you control her. Without control, you will loose your grip, your sword, and your life. Your enemy will run you through. Now try that move again. This time try to hold on to your sword.”

Narrator: Captain Cornelius walks up to his troops followed by his long time servant, Timotheus, carrying his shield and sword.

Captain Cornelius: “Time to rally boys. We have had too many problems with robbers on the high road.”

Cadet: “You got a plan captain?”

Captain Cornelius: “Just listen and do like you are ordered. You will all know your part when you need to. Get ready for battle and be ready to move in an hour.”

Narrator: The cart rolled down the road pulled by a pair of oxen. It is laden with linens from Rome. The two merchants look ragged from the long trek.

Thief leader: (appearing out of nowhere) “Hold there gentlemen. This is a private road that requires a fee to pass.” A man said

Merchant one: “Who are you? This is a public road for the use of citizens of Rome. Herod would not like what you are saying. He will have your head for this.”

Thief leader: “Shut up and get out of here. Take this man with you and you can have your lives.”

Narrator: “The robber said as ten men surrounded the cart.”

Merchant one: “This is cloth set to go to Herod himself. He will not let you get away with this.”

Thief leader: (to the henchmen) “You asked for it. Kill ‘em both!”

Narrator: “The merchants throw off their robes revealing the military garb underneath. The thief leader attacks with his sword slicing the Captain’s arm. Just as quickly, the unit comes from around the bend. The trap worked perfectly. This will make his superiors happy. After ten years of training in the army, he is finally going to get the respect he deserves.”

Narrator: “Back at the camp, the commander had good news for Captain Cornelius.”

The Commander: “The news of your trap has reached Herod who was well pleased with the way that you handled the bandits. Herod has ordered that you be promoted to the rank of Centurion. Now you are in charge of a whole company of new recruits. You are to report to your new post in Tiberius. There you will be taken care of while you wait for your new assignment. You will be in charge of security for the gatherings in the regions. Some holy man is drawing crowds everywhere he goes.”

At the new post, the centurion calls in a man that has supposedly been healed.

Captain Cornelius: “What can you tell me about this rabbi that heals people? I understand that you claim that he has healed you. Tell me what he is doing here. Does he want to take over or make war?”

Man one: “I don’t know what he plans to do. All that I know is that I was lame from birth and now I walk. He is a man sent from God to heal the world.”

Captain Cornelius: “He is a charlatan with the same parlor tricks that everyone else uses and nothing more. Get out of here you liar before I have you put to death.”

Narrator: “A few days later, the centurion receives a dispatch from headquarters. ‘You are to provide security for the throngs that surround this man Jesus of Nazareth. He has a following that is growing and threatens the safety and authority of Rome. Herod desires you to look into this matter to see if the rumors are true of him trying to set up a kingdom over the Palestinian Jews. Find out what he is planning. Come to the palace when you have uncovered his plans.’ The orders were clear. Find out what the rabbi was doing and be discrete about it. Security for the masses would be cover enough.”

“Upon reaching the area, Cornelius follows the masses to see a man surrounded by the sick and hurt. Many are being helped by friends and family to get close to the rabbi. Cornelius stands back and takes note of the gathering. During this time, Cornelius sees how many Jews are hanging on every word of this man. The Pharisees are asking him questions about Jewish law. He confounds them with his understanding. The Pharisees are disturbed at the way this man was gaining support. This man Jesus discredits them with their own words seeming to know even their thoughts. His doctrine must be well engrained in him.”

“Looking around, Cornelius sees a familiar face. His servant, Timotheus, the one that he has taken as his sword bearer and armoror, is there listening to this man. Timotheus will be a good source of how the Jews were reacting to this man. When he returns to the camp, Cornelius will have to see what Timotheus can tell him about the Rabbi.

“Back at the camp, Cornelius calls for his servant. As Timotheus enters the room, Cornelius sits waiting.

Captain Cornelius: “Timotheus, you have been my servant for ten years. As my servant, you have seen many things that have been done to keep the peace and follow the will of Caesar. You know of my devotion to his will. You know what has been done to rebels and their followers.

“Recently you have been seen in the crowds that form when one of these rebels speaks. As my servant, I cannot let you continue seeing this man as long as he is considered a threat to Caesar. I want you to give me a full report of this man as you know him.”

Timotheus: “I know of the man of whom you speak my noble commander. His name is Jesus, the carpenter’s son. I saw you there as well guarding against trouble. This man is the Messiah spoken of by the prophets saying ‘The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified.’ He is the Messiah.”

Captain Cornelius: “So this Rabbi is here to free the captives in the prisons and build an army. Herod will here of this and order me to destroy this rabbi. Is that what he doing?”

Timotheus: “No, he is a great healer. I have seen many blind and sick come to full health. He is the one that the Baptist spoke of when he proclaimed that there was one ‘coming after me that is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire’. He is the one that God spoke from heaven saying ‘this is my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased.’ He is the Son of the living God.”

Captain Cornelius: “He makes me worry. He is gathering an army of the mobs. I will look into this further. Report to me when you learn more about him. I need to keep an eye on him to be ready to crush him when the time comes.”

Captain Cornelius: (thinking out loud) ‘This man can do wonders for sure.’ The centurion reasoned in his own mind. ‘This man has cast out demons and confounded the wise men of the Jews. My servant says that he was written about of the old prophets. The people are flocking to him. He must have some agenda in all of this. I saw him heal many that I knew were lame. I saw them begging in the streets. This man must have some power from some God. No one could heal with a word or touch like he could. No one.’”

Narrator: “It has been a week since his last call to provide security for this Rabbi. During the week, Cornelius has talked to some of the followers of this man who claim that he is God come down from Heaven. It seems that everywhere this man goes the people throng him wanting to be healed from some disease or injury. This has to be some sort of holy man from the gods. He had the power to heal people that were dying and cast out the demons.

“Now he is to guard this man again. It seems that he has started lecturing to a huge crowd gathered on a mountainside. He talks of Heaven and how people are supposed to live. If one will listen to this man and follow his teachings, he will have a nice life with the promise of going to Heaven when he dies. That sure is a wonderful thought. The Rabbi also warns of false prophets that will come and say things that are not right. This Rabbi knows what he was talking about. He speaks with authority from a higher power that must be from the gods.

Returning to his Quarters, Cornelius sees a mob around the front of his home.

Captain Cornelius: “What has happened here?”

Cadet: “Timotheus has been injured by a runaway cart. A serpent startled the horses. He is hurt bad and is calling for you.”

Captain Cornelius: (The hardened soldier kneels beside his lifelong friend) “Get out of the way! Let me through! Hold on, the doctors will be here soon.”

Timotheus: (begging between gasps of air) “I won’t live from this my lord. I cannot feel my arms. Please release me from your service so that I can die a free man.” Timotheus

Captain Cornelius “I will not let you go. You are a friend that I don’t want to lose. There must be someone that can do something. Get my personal physician.”

Timotheus: “There is only one that can help. He is coming to Capernaum.”

Captain Cornelius “I know of whom you speak. I will send for him straight away.” (To a couple of runners he orders) “Run to this Rabbi Jesus and compel him to come to heal Timotheus. Go now!”

The runners dropped what they were doing and started running off to fetch the Rabbi.

“And when they came to Jesus, they besought him instantly, saying, that he was worthy for whom he had done this: For he loveth our nation, and he hath built us a synagogue.

“Then Jesus went with them. And when he was now not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to him, saying unto him, Lord, trouble not thyself: for I am not worthy that thou shouldest enter under my roof: Wherefore neither thought I myself worthy to come unto thee: but say in a word, and my servant shall be healed. For I also am a man set under authority, having under me soldiers, and I say unto one, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.

“When Jesus heard these things, he marveled at him, and turned him about and said unto the people that followed him, I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.”

During this time, Cornelius sits at the side of Timotheus comforting him.

Timotheus: (Suddenly standing up shouts) “Glory to God. Hosanna in the highest. Praise be to God. He has healed me.”

Narrator: “Doctors can help heal the sick and injured. We go to them when we need help. They are one of the many tools that God uses to heal us. God also uses our own faith to heal our souls, minds, hearts, and bodies. Without faith, we are dead.

“Jesus can heal all of our health and other problems if we only accept what he has done for us. The first part of this is to accept Christ as your Savior and Lord. Without His mercy, we are sick and dead and headed to Hell where there will be ‘weeping and gnashing of teeth’. Only by accepting Christ will you enter into heaven. Simply ask Christ to forgive you of your sins and turn your life over to him.”

Actor list

Sword drill instructor: drill instructor for roman soldiers

Captain Cornelius: a captain in the roman army that is promoted to centurion

Cadet: a cadet in the roman army

Thief leader: the leader of a band of thieves that are causing trouble in Herod’s realm

Merchant one: Cornelius in disguise

The Commander: Cornelius’ commander

Man one: a servant that claims that he has been healed by Christ

Timotheus: Cornelius’ servant and sword bearer