2025-04-13 When Christ Is Confessed

When Christ Is Confessed

The Confession of the Centurion

Introduction

Ernest Gordon, former dean of the chapel at Princeton University, wrote in his book coauthored with Peter Funk, A Guidebook for New Christians, that for six years he saw active service as a soldier in the Highland Regiment. That service included tragic battles, wounds, and imprisonment. He became accustomed to fear, hate, brutality, torture, and despair. He lost his fear of pain and death and of what other men could do to him. He was hardened by the laws of nations and the experience of survival. Death and hell could not scare him. What changed his life was the “love profound” he saw in the lives of converted men. They showed him the way to Jesus and to the activity of the Father.

Gordon was not the first hardened soldier affected by “love profound” as seen in the cross of Jesus Christ. Probably the first was the centurion who presided over Jesus’ death. Although calloused by death, he was sensitive to the difference between Jesus and other men he had seen die. This difference caused him to confess, “Truly this was the Son of God.”

How much the centurion knew about Jesus previously, we don’t know. How much of the trial he attended and the impressions he had from the trial, we don’t know. What we do know is his confession of Christ.

LINK:

At the cross, the centurion who presided over Jesus’ crucifixion confessed the Christ. Our confession of Christ is much the same. And it comes at the cross.

I. In the confession of Christ there is the observation of events.

Matthew 27:45–56 NKJV

45 Now from the sixth hour until the ninth hour there was darkness over all the land. The sixth hour until the ninth hour would have been from Noon till 3pm. 46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” that is, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” Jesus for the first time ever was abandoned, left alone by the triune Godhead. Jesus asked why Father are you forsaking me? Jesus is actually quoting Psalm 22:1 “1 My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me? Why are You so far from helping Me, And from the words of My groaning?”

The word Forsake here is edkataleip (eng-kat-al-i-po) meaning: “To leave behind in some place, to desert.”

Jesus is saying Father God, why are you deserting me?

God deserted Jesus so He wouldn't have to desert you.

Jesus felt keenly His abandonment by the Father, resulting from God’s wrath being poured out on Him as the substitute for sinners

John F. MacArthur Jr., The MacArthur Bible Commentary (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2005),

47 Some of those who stood there, when they heard that, said, “This Man is calling for Elijah!”

In rabbinic tradition Elijah was thought to act like an angel and help rabbis in need. - NIV Cultural Bible 48 Immediately one of them ran and took a sponge, filled it with sour wine and put it on a reed, and offered it to Him to drink. 49 The rest said, “Let Him alone; let us see if Elijah will come to save Him.” They mocked Jesus. No different then they do today. 50 And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit. 51 Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split,

1. The Veil was torn from top to bottom.

According to the Talmud, which is a central text of Rabbinic Judaism that is made up of

The Mishnah (Completed around 200 AD) - it is a written collection of Jewish oral laws.

The Gemara (Completed around 500 AD) - this is a Rabbinical commentary on the Mishnah and broader topics, including traditions, legal rulings, and interpretations of Scripture.

The Veil was 90’ high, 45’ wide, & 4” thick.

The Veil weighed approximately around 1 Ton. (Needles to say this was not your ordinary window curtain that you find in your living room.)

So if anyone thinks that it could have been easily grabbed and torn, think again, this was a miracle by none other then God himself.

The MacArthur Bible Commentary 2. The Crucifixion: Golgotha (15:16–41)

Its tearing signified that the way into God’s presence was opened by the death of His Son.

52 and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; 53 and coming out of the graves after His resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many. Vs. 52-53 actually happen after Jesus come back to life. Possibly Matthew put them here to show what all took place as a result of Christ Death. 54 So when the centurion and those with him, who were guarding Jesus, saw the earthquake and the things that had happened, they feared greatly, saying, “Truly this was the Son of God!”

The MacArthur Bible Commentary 2. The Crucifixion: Golgotha (15:16–41)

Centurions, considered the backbone of the Roman army, commanded one hundred soldiers. saw that He cried out like this. The centurion had seen many crucified victims die, but none like Jesus. The strength He possessed at His death, as evidenced by His loud cry (v. 37), was unheard of for a victim of crucifixion. That, coupled with the earthquake that coincided with Christ’s death (

The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter Twelve: The Servant Finishes His Work (Mark 15:21–16:20)

It is thrilling to read the witness of the Roman centurion, especially when you consider that his words could have gotten him into trouble with both the Jews and the Romans.

55 And many women who followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering to Him, were there looking on from afar, 56 among whom were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee’s sons.

These women show’d more courage then the men. They were there, the men wern’t.

Notice with me if you would:

What the Centurion/Roman Soldiers said at the foot of the cross

Matthew 27:54 “So when the centurion and those with him, who were guarding Jesus, saw the earthquake and the things that had happened, they feared greatly, saying, “Truly this was the Son of God!””

Mark 15:39 “So when the centurion, who stood opposite Him, saw that He cried out like this and breathed His last, he said, “Truly this Man was the Son of God!””

Luke 23:47 “So when the centurion saw what had happened, he glorified God, saying, “Certainly this was a righteous Man!””

Did you notice all the strange things that took place here when Christ died? There were FOUR Prophecies here that were just fulfilled in this section alone.

🔢 Numbered Prophecy Fulfillment Outline

1.

NT Reference: Matthew 27:45 OT Prophecy: Amos 8:9 “And it shall come to pass in that day,” says the Lord God, “That I will make the sun go down at noon, And I will darken the earth in broad daylight;” Prophecy: “I will make the sun go down at noon, and I will darken the earth in broad daylight.” Fulfillment: Darkness over the land from noon to 3 p.m. during the crucifixion.

2.

NT Reference: Matthew 27:46 OT Prophecy: Psalm 22:1 My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me? Why are You so far from helping Me, And from the words of My groaning?” Prophecy: “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” Fulfillment: Jesus cries out these exact words on the cross.

3.

NT Reference: Matthew 27:51 OT Prophecy: Exodus 26:33 “And you shall hang the veil from the clasps. Then you shall bring the ark of the Testimony in there, behind the veil. The veil shall be a divider for you between the holy place and the Most Holy.” Prophecy: A veil separates sinful man from the Holy of Holies. Fulfillment: The veil is torn in two at Jesus’ death—symbolizing open access to God.

4.

NT Reference: Matthew 27:52 OT Prophecy: Isaiah 26:19 “Your dead shall live; Together with my dead body they shall arise. Awake and sing, you who dwell in dust; For your dew is like the dew of herbs, And the earth shall cast out the dead.” Prophecy: “Your dead shall live; together with my dead body they shall arise.” Fulfillment: Saints are raised from the dead and appear to many after Jesus' resurrection.

A. The Roman centurion as a keen observer

This Roman leader would be a keen observer of events.

He could not have reached such a place of leadership without the ability to observe the events taking place around him.

As the centurion in charge of the crucifixion detail, he would have been aware of at least the things that happened on the way to the cross and at the cross.

These events must have made a profound impression on him.

The MacArthur Bible Commentary 2. The Crucifixion: Golgotha (15:16–41)

Centurions, considered the backbone of the Roman army, commanded one hundred soldiers. saw that He cried out like this. The centurion had seen many crucified victims die, but none like Jesus. The strength He possessed at His death, as evidenced by His loud cry (v. 37), was unheard of for a victim of crucifixion. That, coupled with the earthquake that coincided with Christ’s death (Matt. 27:51–54), convinced the centurion that Jesus “truly … was the Son of God.” According to tradition, this man became a believer

The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter Twelve: The Servant Finishes His Work (Mark 15:21–16:20)

It is thrilling to read the witness of the Roman centurion, especially when you consider that his words could have gotten him into trouble with both the Jews and the Romans.

Impressive moments:

Jesus’ behavior at the trial also would have impressed him.

Jesus stood at the trial with regal bearing.

One gets the impression that Pilate was on trial before Jesus rather than Jesus before Pilate.

The acceptance of the sentence and the cross by Jesus was impressive.

Whereas many others had likely protested, cursed, and sought to escape the sentence, Jesus never said a mumbling word.

Jesus’ actions on the way to Golgotha were impressive.

There was no bitterness, no protestation of innocence, no shrieking or crying out.

The words from the cross that we have collected and called the “seven last words of Christ” must have had some impact on the observers.

And one certainly cannot overlook the supernatural occurrences that took place at the time of the crucifixion.

B. Any sensitive person becomes aware of these same events

As we transport ourselves from the time of the crucifixion to the present, we perceive that any sensitive person becomes aware of these same events.

We know something out of the ordinary was happening as Jesus was crucified.

Biblical connection:

This is the application of Jesus’ statement in John 12:32 “And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself.”

As He was lifted up from the earth in crucifixion, He drew people to Himself in confession and faith.

One of those drawn to Him was the centurion in charge of the execution squad that killed Him.

Likewise, sensitive people of all time have been drawn to Him by His death.

II. In the confession of Christ there is the reversal of opinion.

A. An initial opinion

Whatever opinion the centurion originally had of Jesus, it was not that He was the Son of God.

We cannot, of course, know his initial opinion of Jesus, but we can surmise what it was.

From what we know of Roman military officers, we can imagine that he did not initially consider Jesus to be the Son of God.

Nevertheless, he had a complete reversal of opinion.

And it can happen to you.

How do you view Jesus?

Some would look at Jesus only as a great teacher.

A teacher He was.

“No one ever taught like this man” was a current opinion of Jesus.

He was called “Teacher” more than any other title in the Gospels.

Jesus was a great Teacher. But He was more.

2. Others would look on Jesus as an inspired and inspiring religious leader.

That He was too.

He inspired others to follow Him and to rise above themselves.

He was obviously inspired by God in His teaching and His activities.

He was an inspired religious leader. But He was more.

3. Still others would see Jesus as a significant historical figure.

When one looks at the historical figures of the ages, Jesus stands out among them.

To grant His historicity and to acknowledge His place in history is one thing, but it is not to accept Him as Savior.

He was a significant historical figure. But He was more.

4. He was the Christ, the Son of God.

That is what the centurion confessed when he witnessed the crucifixion of Jesus.

B. A reversed opinion

It is not until a person makes that reversal of opinion and begins to look on Jesus as the Son of God and his or her personal Savior that salvation occurs.

Until you are ready to confess Him as the Son of God, He is not your Savior.

III. In the confession of Christ there is the realization of redemption.

A. An objective element in the atonement

Jesus died to redeem humankind from their sins.

The atonement was real.

The crucifixion really happened.

When we look at all the events at the cross, we realize that they actually happened.

The crucifixion was not a charade or a staged event.

Objectively, Jesus died on the cross.

And His death on the cross was for the redemption of humankind from sin.

B. A subjective element in the atonement

The acceptance of Jesus Christ as one’s personal Savior.

The subjective element is the confession that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and the acceptance of Him as one’s own personal Savior.

This is how redemption is realized.

Spiritual impact:

There is no way that one can view the death of Christ for humankind and come away unaffected.

People see this act of suffering love, and it makes them ashamed of their sins.

It awakens their gratitude and releases within them new springs of love that make them new creatures reconciled to God.

John 12:32 connection: “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.”

Hymn application: This truth is the theological basis of many of our great hymns—for example, Isaac Watts’s When I Survey the Wondrous Cross:

When I survey the wondrous cross, On which the Prince of glory died, My richest gain I count but loss, And pour contempt on all my pride..

Conclusion

No theology is big enough to contain the whole truth about the cross of Jesus Christ. We could study this our whole life and still never fully understand and grasp its depth!

The objective fact is that Jesus died on the cross and that He died for me.

The subjective fact is that I must confess Him as the Christ and receive Him as my Savior.

When Christ is confessed, salvation is received and sin is forgiven. We must confess Christ to receive the forgiveness of our sins. This we can do. Why not make your own personal confession of Christ as Savior today?