What caused the Roman centurion, a hardened killer who took pleasure in inflicting pain, to stand in awe of Jesus on the cross and declare: ‘Truly this man was was the Son of God.’ (Matthew Chapter 27 verse 54)?

Earlier in the day this pagan soldier had been present in the common hall when they had dragged Jesus, who had just been whipped, in front of the whole band of soldiers. They stripped Jesus naked and they mocked and ridiculed Him. Then they jammed a crown of thorns on His head and beat Him about the head with a staff. Then they all lined up and spit in His face. (Matthew Chapter 27 verses 27-30)

Then the soldier had stood at the foot of the cross and mocked and jeered Jesus as He was crucified. That was about 9:00 in the morning. By noon things began to change. The sun was darkened and there was darkness on the face of the Earth. God caused the sun to stop shining because He didn’t want to see what would happen to His Son. Jesus took all sin and disease on Him at the cross. He took all sickness on Him at once. You name it- elephantiasis, mouth cancer, kidney failure, everything in a medical textbook and some things which aren’t- Jesus took it all on the cross. That’s why in Isaiah 52 verse 14 it describes Him as- ‘His appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any man and his form beyond human likeness.’ He didn’t even look human! That’s why Isaiah says- ‘He hath no form or comeliness: and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.’ (Isaiah Chapter 53 verse 2). Isaiah was referring to Jesus on the cross. Jesus was really the ‘fairest of ten thousand’ and ‘altogether lovely’. (Song of Solomon)

The centurion is standing there watching all this. Then around 3:00 in the afternoon, Jesus cried out: ‘It is finished.’ (John 19:30). Then there was a huge earthquake. Graves were opened and the dead came back to life. The veil in the temple which separated God and man- the veil which blocked off the Holy of Holies, the room in the temple where God dwelt- God tore the veil from top to bottom and never lived in that room again. (Matthew Chapter 27 verses 51-52) No wonder the centurion stood in awe.

I wonder if the centurion was with the garrison of soldiers who arrested Jesus at Gethsemane. Jesus steps forward and asks the soldiers who they are looking for. They say Jesus of Nazareth. Then Jesus says the name of God- ‘I AM.’ When Jesus says the name of God, the whole band of soldiers are blasted off their feet. And the fact that Jesus stood there and waited for the soldiers to get up is proof that He wasn’t murdered but that He lay His life down. The Jews didn’t kill Jesus. The Romans didn’t kill Jesus. Jesus laid down His life as a ransom for many.