Getting Job-ed
And when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that in this way he breathed his last, he said, “Truly this man was the Son of God!” Mark 15:39 ESV
A huge hope we can have is that some of the most unlikely candidates for knowing and loving God are the ones that end up seeing Him for who He is. This was a theme in both the Gospels of Mark and Luke. The question I have for you is, have you ever been an unlikely candidate to love Jesus?
His Friends
Jesus’ friends (disciples) would have been some of the most likely people to know Jesus on the deepest level and to believe in Him wholeheartedly. Yet, time and time again in the Gospel of Mark we see their failures to fully trust Him. In Mark 14:50, we see them scatter when He is being arrested— at a time where He needed them the most. This would have been devastating for Jesus, especially when one of them just said that he would die with Jesus if provoked (Peter, Luke 22:31-34). Of course, eleven of the disciples turn back and most are eventually martyred for Jesus’ movement. Yet, in Mark and Luke, the Gospels show that this group of people should have been able to see Jesus for who He was while He was on earth, yet they failed in those moments.
His Family
In Matthew 12:46-50, we are confronted with another scenario. Jesus is speaking to the people and his family shows up and tries to interrupt him. Some commentators note that this is more than likely to stop Him from being so bold in His claims and speech. Yet, Jesus responds with, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?… For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother” (Matthew 12:48, 50 ESV). Jesus redefines what true family is: whoever does the will of my Father is my family. Yet once again, we see the candidates that should be able to see Jesus for who He is as missing the mark.
The Centurion Guard
This brings us to the Centurion Guard. This would have been one of the guards responsible for nailing Jesus to the cross. More than likely a pretty calloused, hard person. A person that grew up in Roman culture, believing that the emperor is god and believing in all these other deities. Yet the guard is the one, while Jesus is crucified and his friends have deserted him and family stand at a distance watching, that calls out, “Truly this man was the Son of God!” (Mark 15:39 ESV).
Hope
There is hope in the guard’s ability to see Jesus for who He is. This should give hope to us, the unlikely candidates, to be able to love Jesus and one day see Him face to face. Have you ever felt like you don’t deserve Jesus? Or that you are too awful to follow Him? Paul was a Christian murderer that became the first Christian missionary (Acts 9:1-22). There is hope, even if you’re an unlikely candidate.
-Austin
