Faithfulness

Title: The Face of Faith: The Centurion

Text: “Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God” (Matt. 27:54).

Scripture Reading: Matthew 27:45–56

Introduction

Centurions represented the best of Roman men.

They rose through the ranks to become commanders over one hundred men.

Those who appear in the New Testament are presented as strong and good men.

This unnamed centurion witnessed the climactic events connected with Jesus’ death.

He was probably at the arrest and the trial; we know he was at the cross.

What he saw and heard had a profound effect on him.

Just after the earthquake at Jesus’ death, the centurion confessed, “Truly this was the Son of God.”

He had become a man of faith in Jesus Christ.

This is the confession that God wants to hear from each of us.

If we look closely at this “face of faith” beneath the cross, perhaps we, too, can join him in his confession.

I. The evidence for faith.

This noble man changed his mind about Jesus in a relatively short time. He set out to help the Jews rid themselves of a nuisance but soon confessed the nuisance to be none less than the Son of God. What is the evidence that changed his mind?

A. The manner of Christ’s suffering. Never had the centurion seen one human being undergo so much abuse.

He had been harassed, beaten, mocked, whipped, spat on, and now crucified. But not once did the victim ever lose his poise or react in anger.

Even as the soldiers nailed him to the cross, he was meek and submissive.

The only words he spoke were a prayer: “Father, forgive them; for they know not what “they do.”

Observing Jesus’ behavior gave the centurion a strange feeling.

What kind of man was this?

Surely he must be more than human!

B. Christ’s love for his enemies. The crowd’s hatred for Jesus was obvious.

They were chanting shortly before the crucifiction “crucify Him”

The people relentlessly hurled insults and accusations at Jesus even as he died.

But he responded to their ridicule with love, gasping, “Father, forgive them.”

He was concerned about the welfare of the crowd who was crucifying him.

What love! Jesus’ attitude impressed the centurion and made him wonder about the judgment of the crowd and Pilate.

How could someone with such love deserve to die?

C. The natural phenomena. It was a strange day.

After Jesus had hung on the cross about three hours, darkness came over the land.

Even though it was high noon, there was no sun to be seen.

As the centurion stood near the cross during the darkness, he heard Jesus exclaim, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?

About three o’clock Jesus died.

At that time the whole countryside began to shake with an earthquake.

The centurion sensed that there was a connection between Jesus’ death and the earthquake.

Surely he was not a criminal!

D. The manner of Christ’s death.

The centurion had seen many deaths in the course of his duty.

He knew that death by crucifixion followed a certain pattern.

But Jesus’ death was different. In his last moments, Jesus cried out, “It is finished.” It was like a shout of triumph.

Then quietly he prayed again, “Father, into thy hands I commit my spirit.”

He died as though he were the one in charge.

He died with a quiet trust in God.

In John 10:18 Jesus says:

18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.” John 10:18 (NIV)

The evidence was just too much for the Roman.

He knew in his heart that this man was more than a man.

So he exclaimed, “Truly this was the Son of God.”

John MacArthur’s commentary says about vs. 54 “The centurion and those with him, these were probably men under his charge. Mark 15:39 says the centurion was the one who uttered the words of confession, but he evidently spoke for his men as well.Their fear speaks of an awareness of their sins, and the word “truly” suggests a certainty and conviction that bespeaks genuine faith. These men represent an answer to Jesus’ prayer in Luke 23:34. Their response contrasts sharply with the mocking taunts of vv. 39-44.”

We have more evidence than the centurion, because we know of the glorious resurrection and continued work of Jesus.

Look at the evidence carefully, and it will lead to faith.

II. The evidence of faith.

We have two separate accounts of the centurion’s confession. According to Luke, the centurion declared, “Certainly this was a righteous man.” And Matthew reported that he confessed Jesus to be the Son of God. No doubt both accounts are accurate.

A. The act of confession. Paul said in Romans 10:9

9 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.Romans 10:9 (NIV)

The centurion’s confession itself reveals faith.

His voice is the only voice we hear at the cross commending Jesus.

It is one thing to have some impressions in your heart but another thing to verbalize those impressions.

True faith leads to confession.

If you have never confessed, your faith is in question.

B. The substance of the confession.

What the centurion confessed is the real evidence.

He confessed the righteous character of Jesus, contradicting the judgment of the world.

What a strong confession!

The centurion also confessed the uniqueness of Christ: “Truly this was the Son of God.”

Scholars still debate how much the centurion actually understood, and whether or not he meant to acknowledge the deity of Christ.

Surely Matthew included this account because he saw it as being the logical end of Jesus’ life and death.

Both Matthew and Luke put it at the climax of the gospel story. Without trying to make a theologian out of the centurion, let’s accept his confession for what it says.

Matthew 27:54 (NIV)

54 When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, “Surely he was the Son of God!”

He had come to believe in the uniqueness of Christ.

He had come to believe that Christ was the Son of God.

Will you join the centurion in his confession, “Truly this man is the Son of God”?”

Conclusion

Dr. Russell Bradley Jones tells about an old English farmer who went to London and visited one of the great art galleries in the city. There he was attracted by a painting of the crucifixion. He sat before it, studying each detail with intense interest. At last, forgetful of his surroundings, he cried out, “Bless him! I love him!” Others nearby, startled by his words, came to see what was wrong with the old man. From different parts of the gallery they gathered around him. They saw the tears flowing down his bronzed cheeks. They, too, looked at the painting of the crucifixion. After a while, one man in the group, with tearful eyes, reached for the farmer’s hand and said, “And I love him too!” Then another and another and still another took the old man’s hand until there was a sizable group of sobbing believers rejoicing in front of the painting of Christ’s crucifixion and declaring, “We love him too!”

This is how we should react when we think of the crucifixion.

“Truley He is the Son of God.”

Excerpt From

The Zondervan 2023 Pastor's Annual

T. T. Crabtree

https://books.apple.com/us/book/the-zondervan-2023-pastors-annual/id1596035497

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