Unlimited: The Centurion’s Testimony | Good News Unlimited
Unlimited: The Centurion’s Testimony
Sep 3, 2024 1678
And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, saw how he died, he said, “Surely this man was the Son of God” (Mark 15:39, NIV)!
We know that the squad of soldiers assigned the task of actually crucifying Jesus consisted of four soldiers, because the gospel of John tells us that they divided his clothes between them.
However, there was also a centurion there at the cross. A centurion usually commanded between 60–100 soldiers.
And he had been watching and listening, all along.
We need to understand who centurions were in the Roman army. They were expected to lead from the front and inspire their men with courage. They were also expected to keep their soldiers in line, and they were renowned for their brutality. They were the toughest of the tough.
But being in the presence of the Lamb of God transforms the heart.
The story about the Centurion
This centurion had probably overseen the work of hundreds of crucifixion squads. He’d seen it all. But he’d never seen anyone like Jesus.
The key issue in dispute during Jesus’ final week in Jerusalem was, “Who is he?”
Jesus had clearly claimed to be the Son of God, and the religious leaders had mocked him for it, even during the crucifixion.
But now, this man recognized that Jesus had been right all along
The title “The Son of God” points to Christ’s divinity, meaning that he is God.
There are religions and even some streams which call themselves Christian which either deny Christ’s divinity altogether or say that he was in some way “created”, and a subordinate being to God.
But the centurion looked at the Cross and saw God.
– Eliezer Gonzalez
Eli’s Reflection: When you see Jesus, what do you see? Read and think about Hebrews 1:3.
