Please remember to send cards to the girl who was burned.  I wrote about her in last week's blog. Thank you for bringing her joy when she receives your card.

    Rosetta Lengacher

    9036 W 800 S

    South Whitley, IN 46787

    USA

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THE CENTURION

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

                  Mark 15:39

 Just another man.  Just another crucifixion.  Just a few nails and a hammer.  Just … another day.

The centurion had watched as Jesus was beaten.  He heard the remarks.  He heard the sarcasm when someone called him ‘King of the Jews.’  The centurion was confused.  When the crowd yelled, “Give us Barabbas.”, Jesus was silent.  Why had he not proclaimed his innocence?  He did not yell at those beating him.  One time he did talk to the crowd, as he was going toward the place called the Skull.  He did not try to remove the crown of thorns.  Jesus was entirely different than any man he had seen crucified.  The centurion began to realize this day was not a normal day.

The centurion continued with his duties.  Others cast lots for his clothes.  People walking by made fun of Jesus.  He heard Jesus talking with the thieves.  He heard Jesus talk to his mother.  He heard Jesus cry out and then cry out again.  It was as if he were calling on God.  He called him Father.  And then …

And then Jesus died.  The centurion felt the earthquake.  He saw Jesus die.

With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last.  The temple curtain was torn in two from top to bottom.  And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, saw how he died, he said, “Surely this man was the Son of God!”

This was not an ordinary day.  The darkness and the earthquake had never happened during a crucifixion.  The temple curtain had never torn from top to bottom.  No one, on a cross, had ever called out “Father, forgive them” and “Father, into thy hands”.

Jesus died on a cross.  Even a centurion realized Jesus was the Son of God.  Even a centurion realized this was no ordinary man.

Jesus was not an ordinary man, but he was dead.

(To be continued.)