Roman Soldiers

Good Morning,

Matthew 27:27-54 (NIV)
The Soldiers Mock Jesus
Some of the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into their headquarters and called out the entire regiment. They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him. They wove thorn branches into a crown and put it on his head, and they placed a reed stick in his right hand as a scepter. Then they knelt before him in mockery and taunted, “Hail! King of the Jews!” And they spit on him and grabbed the stick and struck him on the head with it. When they were finally tired of mocking him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him again. Then they led him away to be crucified.
The Crucifixion
Along the way, they came across a man named Simon, who was from Cyrene, and the soldiers forced him to carry Jesus’ cross. And they went out to a place called Golgotha (which means “Place of the Skull”). The soldiers gave him wine mixed with bitter gall, but when he had tasted it, he refused to drink it.
After they had nailed him to the cross, the soldiers gambled for his clothes by throwing dice. Then they sat around and kept guard as he hung there. A sign was fastened to the cross above Jesus’ head, announcing the charge against him. It read: “This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.” Two revolutionaries were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left.
The people passing by shouted abuse, shaking their heads in mockery. “Look at you now!” they yelled at him. “You said you were going to destroy the Temple and rebuild it in three days. Well then, if you are the Son of God, save yourself and come down from the cross!”
The leading priests, the teachers of religious law, and the elders also mocked Jesus. “He saved others,” they scoffed, “but he can't save himself! So he is the King of Israel, is he? Let him come down from the cross right now, and we will believe in him!He trusted God, so let God rescue him now if he wants him! For he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” Even the revolutionaries who were crucified with him ridiculed him in the same way.
The Death of Jesus
At noon, darkness fell across the whole land until three o'clock. At about three o'clock, Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” which means “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?”
Some of the bystanders misunderstood and thought he was calling for the prophet Elijah. One of them ran and filled a sponge with sour wine, holding it up to him on a reed stick so he could drink. But the rest said, “Wait! Let’s see whether Elijah comes to save him.”
Then Jesus shouted out again, and he released his spirit. At that moment the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. The earth shook, rocks split apart, and tombs opened. The bodies of many godly men and women who had died were raised from the dead. They left the cemetery after Jesus’ resurrection, went into the holy city of Jerusalem, and appeared to many people.
The Roman officer and the other soldiers at the crucifixion were terrified by the earthquake and all that had happened. They said, “This man truly was the Son of God!” (Emphasis mine, DRB)

I know that these verses are normally read and/or sent along on Good Friday, but when I read them today something spoke loudly to me that I really hadn't paid much attention to in the past (see the bold, italic last line above).

Now, we know that the Romans attending the crucifixions on that day were definitely NOT Jews, nor were they followers of Jesus. They were just ordinary soldiers doing what they thought was a pretty normal job...at least normal for what they were used to. So, knowing that...Roman soldiers who were anything but religious in any way...what they had to say after the death of Jesus' body is, to me, most significant.

Even they recognized that Jesus was exactly who He said He was. They are quoted as saying, "This man truly was the Son of God!"

What is so exceptional and meaningful about this is the fact that these heathens clearly discerned that Jesus was the Lord! And what sort of boggles my mind is that so many people who are considered educated, smart, and with bright minds, well, they not only fail to realize who Jesus is but refuse to even discuss the possibility of Him being the Lord and Savior of all mankind...at least those who WILL accept the fact of Him being Lord and Savior.

As we go about our activities this week in remembrance of the sacrifice, suffering, and death of the Lord, let's think about these Roman soldiers...probably uneducated and illiterate...who realized who Jesus was. I think that it's important for us as we make our attempts at evangelizing and speaking about the Lord to those who don't know Him.

Remember, our job is to present the facts, not to convince people. I believe that the Holy Spirit convinced these Romans of the reality of what they saw and then came to know. I also believe that it is the Holy Spirit who will convince those to whom we present the evidence of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

Love, peace, and blessings,

David