So when the centurion, who stood opposite Him, saw that He cried out like this and breathed His last, he said, “Truly this Man was the Son of God!” (Mark 15:39)

The Centurion At The Cross

The Roman Army made its presence known throughout the Empire by placing soldiers at every strategic location to maintain order, discipline, and security. Palestine was a back-water duty station as the Romans watched over the rebellious Jews. Roman soldiers filled the streets of Jerusalem. Crucifixion was common at Golgotha, directed by an elite group of soldiers who had perfected the art of human suffering. A centurion oversaw the details of crucifixions. As an officer of the Roman guard, the centurion had one hundred men at his command.

When Jesus and the two prisoners were taken to Golgotha, only four soldiers and the centurion led the procession. The four soldiers could make quick work of the crucifixion as they had done this many times. While the process was being done, the centurion observed to ensure the nails were properly placed and the mode of crucifixion was carried out correctly. If any of the condemned escaped death, the centurion and his soldiers would be accountable for their own deaths. It was not unusual when a man expired on the cross for one of the soldiers to drive his lance through the heart to make certain death took place. He precisely knew the place to thrust his spear to full effect. Jesus was dead.

The suffering on the cross was extreme for Jesus. For six long agonizing hours, the Son of God writhed with intense pain. Incredibly, Jesus was able to voice seven things while on the cross. At the beginning of His suffering, the two men crucified with Him cursed, swore, and screamed at Jesus. The Lord did not revile in return. One of the thieves had a change of heart and begged Jesus for mercy. A gentle and loving Savior granted it. Jesus never screamed at the soldiers or the crowd and acted as most men would dying such a horrible death. The disposition of Jesus on the cross was something the centurion had never seen. There was something different about this man from Nazareth.

For the long hours of Jesus’ suffering, the centurion kept watch on Him. He saw the demeanor of Jesus, His compassion for others, a voice of forgiveness, and a spirit of godliness. When Jesus died, the world fell apart. The veil in the Temple tore in two from top to bottom, the earth quaked, and the rocks were split. Golgotha was rocked to its core, and the centurion witnessed it all. The darkness lasted for three hours, ending when Jesus died. Everything sent shock waves through the mind of the centurion. He had never witnessed such things.

When Jesus died, the centurion reacted the only way he knew how. He acknowledged that the man in the middle of those crucified was not ordinary. Watching Jesus die, he exclaimed, “This man was the Son of God.” Luke says that when Jesus died, the centurion glorified God and said, “Certainly this was a righteous Man!” The centurion most likely took charge of Jesus when the Jews brought Him to Pilate. Jesus was mocked by the garrison of soldiers, spit upon, beaten with a rod, humiliated, and led away for crucifixion. During all these sufferings, Jesus never reviled in return. Jesus’ calm demeanor moved the centurion.

It is difficult to say whether the centurion acknowledged a firm belief in Jesus as being the Son of God from a divine perspective. Nothing is known about the centurion after the death of Jesus. What is known is the powerful example of God’s Son upon a Gentile accustomed to watching men die without dignity and honor. Sadly, the man charged with killing Jesus may have realized for the first time the man he was crucifying was innocent – and he knew that without a doubt. Did the centurion become a Christian? The Holy Spirit is silent, and one can only pray the story of Jesus impacted his heart. But – it may not have. Many people saw Jesus die and never believed Him to be the Son of God.

Jesus left an example of faith and love for the Father in His greatest suffering. He knew he was accomplishing the Father’s will, and Jesus gave glory to God in death. As a result of His powerful example, Jesus caused the heart of a Roman military officer callused from many crucifixions to exclaim the glory of God in the death of the man in the middle. Walking in the footsteps of Jesus just got more intense. My life must be lived in such a way as to glorify God and to leave an impression on others of that divine glory. Let it be that when others see my life, they will say, “There goes a righteous man or a godly woman.” Praise God.