Tag Archives: centurion

The Final Chronicle

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Can you imagine what the disciples might be feeling right now? It is late Saturday night. Jesus, the teacher, mentor and friend, was crucified yesterday.

What a mixture of emotions! Fear…disappointment…failure? What about anger and loneliness?

These men and women would have thought or even expected Jesus to overthrow the Roman rule and set up His kingdom. They were supposed to be on the winning side!

But now, huddled together, in the shadows, hiding from the authorities, they wait.

Scared and confused.

What would they be waiting for? They probably didn’t know themselves.

Welcome to the Final Chronicle in this Easter series; Chronicles of Calvary.

I have written about some people and even a lamb but tonight’s post will not feature a person. Nor an animal.

It focuses on something different. Something unexpected.

A hill.

A hill called Calvary.

Calvary, also called Golgotha, is located just outside the city of Jerusalem.

Maps - New Testament Bible Maps by Generation Word

This hill, not much more than an outcropping of rock, is the turning point.

On the surface, this hill represents torture, blood, and death. In human eyes, justice is served.

But underneath all of that lies a much different story.

The script is flipped.

Yes, there is still death. Jesus dies. He had to. That was the only way.

Sin is powerful and even victorious – if left unchecked.

But God was never planning on letting it go unchecked.

He had a plan. He always has a plan.

  • Simon was part of God’s plan
  • The Centurion played his part in God’s plan
  • Both criminals were in the plan as well
  • The little lamb that represents the sacrifice for sin is central to the plan

Calvary is part of His plan.

Life is not about you or me.

It is about what God is doing and whether or not we will join Him.

And it all happened on a single hill. God won.

Thank you for taking the time to read this post. I hope it was worth your time.

Chronicles, the 2nd

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If you recall, the first post in Chronicles of Calvary, is about Simon.

Simon was ordered to carry the cross of Jesus. You can read about him here.

Surveying the Cross” Simon of Cyrene – Daily Encouragement

Let’s move on to the second person in these Chronicles.

The centurion at the cross would have been the soldier in charge of the executions. It was his duty to make sure that all was in order and finally, that the prisoners would perish.

In Mark 15, the centurion at the crucifixion plays a prominent roll. Here are a few verses:

37With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last.

38The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.

39And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, saw how he died, c he said, “Surely this man was the Son of God!”

40Some women were watching from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joseph, d and Salome. 

41In Galilee these women had followed him and cared for his needs. Many other women who had come up with him to Jerusalem were also there.

42It was Preparation Day (that is, the day before the Sabbath). So as evening approached, 

43Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent member of the Council, who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God, went boldly to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. 

44Pilate was surprised to hear that he was already dead. Summoning the centurion, he asked him if Jesus had already died. 

45When he learned from the centurion that it was so, he gave the body to Joseph. 

The Long Good Friday: The Story of Longinus the Centurion | The Inglorius Padre Steve's World

I bolded (is that the right word?) the verses that reference the centurion.

In 39, he made a proclamation. He was fortunate enough to be present at the most important moment in the history of the world. I think that he knew who that man was, hanging there on the cross.

Verse 45 tells us that he made a pronouncement. Pilate, the Roman ruler, wanted to know for sure, that Jesus had died. The centurion was responsible for that knowledge.

Isn’t it cool that we can learn from the centurion?

We can proclaim that Jesus is God’s son. He was divine and human while he lived on earth. That is information that we can confidently shout from the tallest mountain. Proclaim it today!

We can also pronounce that Jesus died…and is risen! Our faith is for nothing if Jesus never died. Because only in death, can he be risen. And that, is what Easter is all about.

Tomorrow’s post will compare the two thieves that were crucified with Jesus. God bless!

Truly This Man…the end.

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Welcome to my blog. This post contains the second half of a short story. Please click here, Truly This Man…the beginning, to read the first half. Thank you!

“And now we have come to the crux of the matter. The source of your unbelief. You don’t believe that I am God. Yer we are speaking face to face and you are blind. What do you make of all this?”

“I don’t know. In the last two minutes, my mind has been doing backflips. You say that I have a purpose?! That you have given me a second chance?! What do I do now?”

“I love you. My world is broken and dark without you. You mean everything to me. This is my message. It is only and specifically, a message of love. Do you believe this?”

“Jesus, I do believe you. Ever since I saw you with the crowds, I sensed that something was different. I just didn’t know how different. I just don’t know if I can commit to you being the Son of God.”

“For God (my father) so loved the world, (that includes you) that he gave his one and only Son, (that would be me) that whoever (you, right now, at this moment) believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. Now, do you understand and believe?”

“YES! Jesus, my lord, I believe in you and commit my life to you. It all is clear now! Although my eyes are dark, the eyes of my heart have seen the light! I do believe!”

“And now you see your purpose, the reason I brought you here, don’t you?”

“Sir, sir! He is already dead. His legs need not be broken.”

Jesus, I see you hanging there on death’s doorstep. You have changed my life. I understand my purpose. And now, as you breathe your last breath, I will praise and glorify you. You are my all in all.

“Truly, this man was the Son of God!”

Thanks again for joining me here. I hope this little story has boosted your faith.

After all, God has given us all second chances.

See you next week.

Truly This Man…the beginning.

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Happy New Year!!!

That phrase can pack a lot of meaning after finishing up 2020.

Hope these first few days of 2021 have been good. I know for me, the last few months have been tumultuous.

But my God is still Lord and in control of the universe. I got this because He got this.

I want to share a story with you. Thanks for reading today!

The pounding of the hammer. Obscenities from the condemned. It is all so familiar to me. Everyone screams. Having crucified hundreds before, I understand the pain that I inflict. This man was no different. Well, no different in that he felt that pain. No, he seemed to embrace the pain. In fact, it almost is as if he wants to know the pain.

I remember when he would speak or preach, there was that same intensity. He always would strive to connect with people. Often times, after the crowd would dissipate, there would be a few stragglers wanting to talk to him. Making direct eye contact, he spoke. And the people listened. They walked away changed. Sometimes he even performed miracles. Intriguing.

What was it about Jesus that had changed them? As I stand here overseeing his crucifixion, I see an ordinary man being tortured to near death. Maybe something in his eyes. It was the eyes, I am sure of it.

Right now, all I see is a bloody mass for a face. His own mother would not even recognize him. Now my curiosity is piqued.

“Soldier, hand me a rag.”
“Yes sir!”

Alright, Jesus, let’s see what is so special about those eyes.

“AHH!!! The light! I can’t see! Help!”

“Peace, do not be afraid.”

“Who are you? What is going on?! Wait, my eyes, I CAN”T SEE!”

“Peace. I am here. Are you ready to see into my eyes?”

“Hold on. Are you Jesus? Wait. Why can’t I see? Where am I? Am I even awake? Just a second ago I was watching you get nailed to a cross. I wiped the blood from your face so I could see into your eyes and then I went blind.”

“What you speak of is correct. But your true request, to find out who I really am, has been granted.”

“All I wanted was to see what was in those eyes. I have seen people transformed. Some physically and others, well, in a different way. Now I stand here blind talking with you. Are we not at Golgotha anymore?”

“We are but I have chosen you. You have a special purpose yet you know not of yet.”

“So I am still doing my duty in commanding your crucifixion? Are there others here? Please explain. And please let me see again!”

“Patience my son. I have given you a second chance. In just a moment, we will return to our respective places outside of Jerusalem. I, on the cross, and you, watching it all.”

“Okay. But how is all of this possible? How can we be there and then here, in the blink of an eye? I mean, it’s not like you are god or something.”

“And now we have come to the crux of the matter. The source of your unbelief. You don’t believe that I am God. Yer we are speaking face to face and you are blind. What do you make of all this?”

To Be Continued…