THE MAN WHO CRUCIFIED CHRIST!
He was a Roman soldier, a centurion. One of the men who actually crucified Christ. Beyond that he is a stranger to us. As commander of a hundred, he most certainly yields a considerable degree of influence, power and authority. We have no idea at all of how old he was. What does he look like? Possibly a sturdy muscular man at the prime of his youth. A trusted military officer in charge of carrying out the execution of an innocent man in the land of his birth, Jerusalem. Where did he came from? His nationality, his personality, his career, his families - of these we know nothing about him.
In the face of an overwhelming mountain of evidence, he personally witnessed and heard about the man and the signs displayed from heaven as He lay there hanging on the stake that day. The centurion could not help but proclaim his dawning faith, his voice ringing down through the ages when he declared to the world, “ ¼.. Truly this was the son of God” (Matt. 27:54 ).
“When the morning was come, all the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put Him to death: And when they had bound Him, they led Him away, and delivered Him to Pontius Pilate the governor”(Matt.27:1-2). “And Jesus stood before the governor: and the governor asked Him, saying,`Art thou the King of the Jews' ? And Jesus said unto him, `Thou sayest'. And when He was accused of the chief priests and elders, He answered nothing. Then said Pilate unto Him, `Hearest thou not how many things they witness against Thee?' And He answered him to never a word insomuch that the governor marveled greatly” (Matthew 27:11-14). The centurion was there during the entire proceedings. All the while he could see Christ in silence seemingly resigned to His fate while His accusers have their field day so to speak.
The centurion was there also when “¼.. Pilate took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, `I am innocent of the blood of this just person, see ye to it'”(Matt. 27: 24 ). “For he knew that for envy they have delivered Him”(Matt. 27:18). Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall, and gathered unto Him the whole band of soldiers. And they stripped Him, and put on Him the scarlet robe. And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon His head, and a reed in His right hand; and they bowed the knee before Him, and mocked Him saying, `Hail, King of the Jews.' And they spit upon Him, and took the reed, and smote Him on the head. And after that they had mocked Him, they took the robe off from Him and put His own raiment on Him, and led Him away to crucify Him” (Matt. 27: 27-31).
“Despised and rejected of men, a man of sorrow and acquainted with grief. He was wounded for our transgressions and bruised for our iniquities and with His stripes we are healed” (Isaiah 53:3,5). As they traverse the old familiar streets of the city on their way to calvary, the centurion could not help but wonder on the unusual strength and endurance displayed by Christ far beyond ordinary mortals. The extraordinary reserved coolness and willingness of Christ to offer His life as a lamb brought to the slaughter settled firmly in His mind.
Christ was born in Bethlehem, but grew up in Nazareth. When He began His ministry, He went all about Capernaum, the lake country and about Galilee, from north to south, from east to the west of Judea. Christ was all over the countryside. His fame grew and His name became a byword among the people who run the affairs of state as well as on the lips of the common man. While on his tour of duty, the Centurion must have heard stories told and retold of the miracles performed by Christ before peoples of all walks of life.
The centurion must have heard of the miracles performed by Christ as He “went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom and healing all manner of sickness and diseases among the people. And His fame went throughout all Syria. They brought unto Him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those that were possessed with devils, and those that were lunatic, and those that had the palsy; and He healed them. And there followed with Him great multitudes of people from Galilee, and from Decapolis, and from Jerusalem, and from Judea, and from beyond Jordan.” All these miracles must not have escaped the attention of the centurion, and if his recollection served him right, he will remember them especially so on that particular day (Matt. 4:23- 25).
Surely he must have heard what happened to Christ and His disciples while they were out there rowing a boat across the sea of Galilee, when an unexpected storm whipped up high winds and treacherous waves. The vessel was at the point of sinking. Frightened, the disciples peered out across the turbulent sea. And lo! There was Jesus who had earlier left Himself behind walking on the water. He strode toward the boat, climbed in and stilled the fury of a raging storm”(Matt.14: 22-32). The account tells us how frightened the disciples were as they declared, “What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?” (Mark 4:41). Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped Him, saying, “Truly You are the Son of God.”
How could anyone fail to take notice of such incredible stories told of a man who claimed to be God? A man who can bring back the dead to life, make limbs to walk and the blind to see? A man who could perform other such supernatural feats far beyond the realm of human reason?
“And when they come unto a place called Golgotha, that is to say a place of skull, they gave Him vinegar to drink mingled with gall; and when He had tasted thereof, He would not drink. And they crucified Him, and parted His garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, `They parted My garments among them and upon My vesture did they cast lots.' And sitting down they watched Him there. And set up over His head His accusation written. THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS” (Matt.27:33-37). He felt alone as He hung there on the cross, friendless and forsaken. It was a death of ignominy and shame. A cruel and violent death reserved for rebels, slaves and criminals.
The calvary miracles were impressive. “Give us a sign from heaven,” Christ's enemies had demanded. “ He saved others, Himself He can not save. If He be the king of Israel, let Him now come down from the cross and we will believe Him” (Matt. 27:42). He did gave them a sign. When He was born, He put a star shining in the sky to guide the kings coming from the east and for the lowly shepherds watching their flock by night to see. When He died, He put out the sun and there was darkness over all the land. “ And behold, the Vail of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake and the rocks were rent. And the graves were opened and many bodies of the saints which slept arose and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many”(Matt. 27:45,51-53). “Now when the centurion and they that were with him, watching Jesus saw the earthquakes and those things that were done, they feared greatly.” The centurion, a soldier and a commander, was awed by those signs and shook with fear. Unable to hold back his peace he finally declared unto all the world saying, “TRULY THIS WAS THE SON OF GOD” (Matt. 27:54).
Romeo Samudio