They were big, bad, bold, and brave, and bonafide experts in the craft of Crucifixion! The Roman soldiers were highly trained and well disciplined and hardened to the cruelty involved in killing.
Some were in attendance at one or more of the unlawful trials of Jesus before His Crucifixion. Many were present at the trial before Pontius Pilate. Did those soldiers hear Pilate ask Jesus, “Are You King of the Jews?” “It is as you say,” replied Jesus. Did they hear “ My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, then My servants would be fighting, that I might not be delivered up to the Jews; as it is My kingdom is not of this realm” Pilate therefore said to Him, “So You are a King?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a King. For this I have been born and for this I have come into the world, to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice”.
How many of Pilate’s soldiers were summoned to take Jesus to Herod where He was questioned, mocked and sent back in an elaborate robe?
Who was the soldier that performed the violent act of scourging Jesus? And after the scourging and the cohort of soldiers (480-600) gathered in the palace (praetorium), how many participated in dressing Jesus in a purple robe, weaving and placing a crown of thorns on His head, mocking Him, spitting on Him, beating Him on the head, and kneeling before Him tauntingly calling Him King of the Jews! Did the Centurions turn their heads and allow them their fun?
One unnamed Centurion who had jurisdiction over one hundred men, must have had the authority over this particular event, and thereby chose twelve soldiers from this group, four to guard each of the three crosses. He would decide which of the “criminals” would be too weak from the scourging to carry the crossbeam. Many died from that alone. He was the one who would order Simon of Cyrene to carry Jesus’ crossbar. He would oversee the nailing of hands and feet to the cross. He would supervise the dividing up of the clothes and he would not understand the fulfillment of Scripture in all of this.
He and his soldiers would be familiar with the usual reactions of those crucified. They would be used to the screams of agony, the cursing and berating those who had nailed them to the cross along with the blasphemies, profanities, and obscenities.
What ever did they think when instead they heard Jesus say, “Father forgive them for they know not what they are doing.” ( Luke 23:34)
Did the Centurion order his soldiers to maintain control of a troublesome crowd of onlookers? Here they would have heard the insults hurled at Christ by those passing by and the mocking by the chief priests, the teachers of the law, and the elders saying, “He saved others but He can’t save Himself! He’s the King of Israel! Let Him come down from the cross and we will believe Him. Let God rescue Him if He wants Him for He said, ‘I am the Son of God’” (Mt. 27:42-43) The two robbers joined in as well heaping insults on Him. (Read “Three, Two, One” in my blog)
And then they heard Jesus offer mercy to the criminal who had a change of heart. “Today you will be with Me in Paradise.” (Luke23:43)
They would probably view His tenderness as a strength as He made provision for His mother assigning the apostle John to her care. (John 19:26-27)
They would witness the supernatural darkness over the whole land from noon until three pm. And they would hear His cry of feeling forsaken. (Mark 15:33-34)
I wonder which one of the soldiers responded to Jesus’ thirst and provided wine vinegar on a hyssop stalk so that He could complete His last words loudly? (John 19:28-30)
They all heard the loud cry, “It is finished, Father into Your hands I commit My Spirit.” (Luke 23:46)
And here’s where things got extremely interesting!
And behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth shook (earthquake) and the rocks were split. The tombs were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; and coming out of the tombs after His resurrection they entered the holy city and appeared to many. (Matthew 27:51-52)
Matthew reports, “When the Centurion and those who were with Him saw the earthquake and all that had happened they were terrified and exclaimed, “Surely this was the Son of God!” (Matthew. 27:54)
Mark reports, “When the Centurion who stood there in front of Jesus heard His cry and saw how He died he said, ‘Surely this man was the Son of God’” (Mark 15:38)
You never know when God may entirely change the circumstances of a life. You never know when hard hearts may melt before our Savior. You never know when a life will be changed. And you never know where God may take you next with your new heart and life.
John, who was there, wrote, “The Centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus seeing what had happened praised God and said, ‘Surely this was a righteous man.’” (John.19:47)
It makes me wonder about the twelve soldiers who witnessed grace beyond measure in the midst of the horror of that day. Were their lives changed forever?
It makes me wonder about the Centurion. It seems he was greatly impacted and came to an accurate conclusion. Could he possibly be the strong Christian Centurion, the Cornelius of Acts 10?
You never know!!
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