Encounters with Jesus Series: The Centurion
Matthew 27: 45 – 54
Ice Breaker
Have you ever witnessed or experienced an event which has made an impact on you, such that it changed your mind about something, or made you realise something?
Discuss some examples in the group.
Read Matthew 27: 45 – 54
Introduction
This passage records the crucifixion of Jesus, and the impact this had on the Roman commander responsible for carrying out the sentence and guarding against interference.
Events moved quickly. Not long before Jesus was crucified, he was found guilty of blasphemy by Caiaphas, the Jewish high priest, for daring to confirm he was the Son of God. He was bound and sent before the Roman governor of Judea, Pontius Pilate. Pilate recognised Jesus was only sent before him out of envy (Matthew 27: v18) but Caiaphas and his chief priests had done a good job of whipping up an angry mob that wanted to see Jesus dead. To avoid a riot (not something Pilate would have wanted on his record as a provincial Roman governor) he “washes his hands” of responsibility for any miscarriage of justice and orders Jesus’ execution.
The Easter story of Jesus’ death on a cross is familiar to many, but often we avoid dwelling on the uncomfortable detail. Crucifixion was an intentionally barbaric form of capital punishment intended to keep order.[1] Death was slow, painful, intentionally humiliating, and public (effectively victims were tortured to death). The procedure would be carried out by specialised teams consisting of a commanding centurion and his soldiers. It is the reaction of the centurion assigned to execute Jesus we are exploring today.
It is likely the centurion and many in his team would have had prior experience in executing prisoners. They knew the routine. The prisoner would be stripped and scourged (they would lose a substantial amount of blood in the process). They would be led through the streets carrying a “titulus”, a sign proclaiming the prisoner’s name and crime. The prisoner would be bound to a cross with ropes, and hands and feet pierced with large nails. The titulus would be fastened in place to notify onlookers of the crime, further maximising public impact. The prisoner could sometimes take several days to die, although sometimes the process could be accelerated by human action (for example, breaking the prisoner’s legs). Guards forming part of the execution team were not allowed to leave the site until the prisoner had died.
Questions
Prior to Jesus’ crucifixion, what kind of person do we imagine the Centurion to be? Imagine a week in his life and discuss with the group.
V46: Near to death, Jesus cries out “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Why did he do that? What does this mean?
V48-49: A bystander offers wine-vinegar to Jesus to drink. Why do you imagine they do this?
V50-53: Imagine being present near the cross, perhaps near to the Centurion and his soldiers. An inexplicable darkness has overshadowed the site for the last three hours, you hear Jesus cry out and breathe his last. You feel the earth shake and rocks split! How might you feel? What might you do?
V54: What is the reaction of the Centurion and those in his execution squad? How might they now be thinking about their actions?
See Acts 13 v38-39: What did Jesus accomplish by submitting to this vile form of execution?
How do we feel about what Jesus did? What is our response?
Prayer
Spend a few moments in silence, meditating on the terrible price Jesus willingly paid for our sins: the torture, the mockery, the humiliation. Think also of the astounding and frightening demonstration of power unleashed at the moment of his death.
Now, spend a further moment in silence where we individually consider our wrongdoing and for the occasions where we have willfully avoided doing what is right.
Lord, it is uncomfortable and sobering to think of the truly horrific death you submitted to, so that in your great love, each one of us who asks for your forgiveness and is willing to follow you, can stand with you. This is not because we deserve it, but because of your grace we are accepted, loved, and forgiven. And so we ask, Lord, please forgive us.
How wonderful is your love. How marvellous is your grace. We thank you and we worship you our Lord, our Saviour, and our friend.
Amen
[1] Crucifixion is theoretically still part of the penal code in some countries.