THE CENTURION LONGINUS

This is a story of one man’s redemption, for by the grace of Christ he,
according to archival stories, was the first gentile recipient of salvation.

He
took part in the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and the fulfillment of the
prophecies concerning Him.

Emmanuel’s
executioner, was given the gift of both Spiritual and physical sight, that he
might see and believe in the glory that is the Son of God.



Clasping his spear, he thrust it deep within Jesus side, physically blind in one
eye and spiritually blind he was startled to be drenched in water and wine.

Empowered by the Spiritual grace that flowed from Jesus side, his sight was
healed as was his blind soul and in terrified anguish he exclaimed; “Truly this
was the Son of God!”

Nothing in his past could have prepared him for this startling moment of supreme
revelation and the unsought gift of salvation.

The
soldier was a Roman Centurion not a subject Jew, his own beliefs were based in
a pantheon of man made gods, many not a few.

Under orders, he conveyed the prisoner to the hill and watched as his troops
nailed Him to the patibulim and hauled it in place to form the cross from which
He hung.

Roman soldier, his only loyalty was to Rome and his division, battle scarred
from many campaigns, sight in one eye long lost, he stood in stoic guard.

Indifferent to the plight of those he held as less than he, these men were
judged as menace to Roman society.

Orders were all he knew or even had a care for, his indifference to what most
events were about was rooted in the supremacy of his Roman power.

Now
the events of this day were about to unfold in such a manner as to shake his
beliefs to the core, a change of life forever more.

 

Longinus Gaius was a seasoned soldier, a leader of men in battle, with a true warrior’s
heart and courage like other men I knew.

Our
Lord was a man of peace, and as God – the source of all creation, yet He
allowed this day’s events to come to full fruition.

Now, as usual Longinus was stoically indifferent to the goings on of men, this
was just another execution of a man who would be king.

Grasping his spear, he looked upon the One hanging on the cross, if half the
stories told about this man were true, He should have been able to save
himself.

In
keeping with prophecy, of which Longinus was unaware, he forbade his men to
break Christ’s legs, as He was already dead.

Now
look at Him, blood drenched, from crown to foot a mass of bloody welts, the
Centurion  mused.

Under the darkening sky, he pierced the side of Jesus and released from within
the Grace that cured his spiritual and physical blindness.

Salvation came to this Roman soldier in a rush of loving grace as as in horrific
revelation he exclaimed in fear and chagrin; “Truly this was the Son of God!”