Steven A. Bush - May 24, 2015
Four Centurions
Centurions were officers in the Roman army who were in charge of 100 men. Many believe the Roman legions were among the best trained armies that ever marched on the face of the earth. Centurions were leaders who had distinguished themselves, earned their ranks, and commanded respect. But could you be a centurion and still have a heart towards God? Julius the centurion befriended his prisoner Paul and they were shipwrecked together on the island of Malta. Julius heard Paul preach and witnessed countless miracles. Cornelius, at the behest of an angel, was the centurion who sought out Peter. When Peter preached at Cornelius' home, the Gentiles received the Holy Spirit as they discovered Jesus was their Messiah too. Jesus marveled at the faith of a centurion in Capernaum who asked Him to heal his beloved servant. He famously declared to Jesus, "Just say the word and my servant will be healed." Jesus encountered another centurion, this one His executioner at Golgotha. This hardened centurion stood below our Lord's bloody cross, experienced the eerie darkness, felt the ground quake, heard Jesus' words of forgiveness as He suffered, and witnessed Him breathe His last. This centurion's words reverberate still: "Truly this Man was the Son of God!”