by By Benson Njung’e
Luke 23:47, Mark 15:39, Matthew 27:54
The centurion, Christ’s executor, was at the cross, not because he was a protesting Jew or one of Christ’s followers who believed Jesus’s claims he was the Messiah, but he was there on the basis of a work assignment — to execute the murder of Jesus on the account of treason. The Jews accusedJesus of saying he is king yet only Herod was king.
The centurion was in charge of at least 80 to 100 soldiers. We can assume he rose to that rank by deserving it rather than to reap personal gain from Herod. For a man of that calibre must be in a position to command a battalion in war and win. Herod must have had faith that this centurion had his best interest at heart.
Today we marvel that he could utter the most profound truth about the person of Jesus Christ. He was a neutral party who serves as a historical record, together with the accounts of those who were with him. As Matthew records, “When the centurion and those who were with him, keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe and said, “Truly this was the Son of God!” It is intriguing to see one whose allegiance must and ought to have been to the one and only Herod convicted enough by who Jesus is that he is willing to put on the line what’s at stake — his life. He confesses that Jesus was innocent and was the Son of God. He then was graced to savor the truth of Jesus’s deity and perfect sacrifice.
Jesus as both Lord and Christ
Believe today that Jesus is the Son of God. He is both Lord and Christ. Though He was innocent, he died on the cross for our sins. On the cross he bore our sins and those who believe in him are clothed his righteousness – 2 Cor 5:21.
For you who is born again, might you have possibly lost your awe for God? Might it be that you no longer worship Him in reverence and awe for you have interacted with the divine things (Scripture, Prayer) that this familiarity has birthed contempt for the awesome relationship you share with Christ? Repent and ask the Holy Spirit to rekindle your first love that was filled with awe and adoration and obedience.
