The Centurion At The Feet Of Jesus Series

When Jesus heard this, he marveled and said to those who followed him, “Truly, I tell you, with no one in Israel have I found such faith. I tell you, many will come from east and west and recline at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven, while the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

And to the centurion Jesus said, “Go; let it be done for you as you have believed.” And the servant was healed at that very moment. Matthew 8:6-13

• Last Sunday, we talked about a Centurion named Cornelius who God sent Peter to preach to. Cornelius lived in Caesarea. Acts describes Cornelius as “an upright and God-fearing man, who is well spoken of by the whole Jewish nation, was directed by a holy angel to send for you to come to his house and to hear what you have to say.” Acts 10:22

• Then in Acts 27, we’re told of a Centurion who had Paul as his prisoner… but in that passage we’re told that “Julius (the Centurion) treated Paul kindly and gave him leave to go to his friends and be cared for.” Acts 27:3

So, obviously these centurions were highly regarded by the early church. But why? Why were these men viewed so favorably in Scripture? Well, because, Centurions were not your common soldiers. They were chosen because of their levelheadedness and their ability to be good leaders. They were chosen because they were dependable and because they understood their men.

A Greek historian said that “In choosing their centurions the Romans look not so much for the daring or fire-eating type, but rather for men who are natural leaders and possess a stable and imperturbable temperament, not men who will open the battle and launch attacks, but those who will stand their ground even when worsted or hard-pressed, and will die in defense of their posts.” Polybius (c.200-118 BC)

So these Centurions were dependable and level-headed leaders… but they could be cruel when need be. And that was why this centurion was at the base of the cross. He was carrying out a common task for Roman soldiers: the crucifixion of guilty men.

In that day Rome was the only nation that crucified anyone. And they did it often. One scholar noted: “Romans practiced both random and intentional violence against populations they had conquered, killing tens of thousands by crucifixion” (New Testament scholar Hal Taussig, who is with the Union Theological Seminary in New York.)

Crucifixions were not jobs for the squeamish. Centurions had to stand watch while men died slowly and painfully on their crosses.

ILLUS: When they crucified a man – Romans flogged them 1st. And they beat the prisoner until bones were broken and blood covered the ground. Then the prisoner’s arms were tied to a crossbar and he was paraded through the streets with a soldier (walking out in front) carrying a sign that indicated their crimes.

At the place of execution, the prisoner's wrists were nailed to the crossbar. The bar was then lifted and placed on the stake (which was already driven into the ground) and the condemned man's ankles were then nailed to the stake.