Matthew 27:54
“So when the centurion and those with him, who were guarding Jesus, saw the earth quake and the things that had happened, they feared greatly, saying, 'Truly this was the Son of God!'
In order to see things the way the centurion and the soldiers did, we need to step back a little, and take a look at what led up to the supernatural signs that opened their eyes. There were taunts by the people in verse 40 saying, “If You are the Son of God, save Yourself”, and by the chief priests in verse 42 saying, “He saved others, He Himself He cannot save,” and in verse 44 where even the robbers that were on the crosses next to Him mocked Him. So as a centurion in Pilate's army, it would only seem appropriate to see this “King of the Jews” as the same type of person. Now, I, being prior military, was trained to take specific orders, and was expected to follow them to the very end, without question. If I came against those orders, I knew there would be some kind of reprimand handed down; did I want to be reprimanded—no, of course not. I followed orders—no matter how I felt personally. The centurion and his men are doing the same thing by guarding Jesus. They knew that to come against specific orders could possibly mean death; and who would want to risk that? They were trained that Pilate was their “king” and there was no other. So to look at Jesus as King was not in their vision.
The supernatural signs—the earth quaked and the things that happened at the crucifixion were the things that took place to open the eyes of the centurion and those with him. What miraculous signs! What will it take to open our eyes to be able to say Jesus is the Son of God? Will we need signs and wonders? We have His living word in the Holy Bible. He is the King—He will give each one of us eternal life when we turn to Him, and give our lives to Him to do with according to His will. What more could any of us possibly want? Seek Him out this day and each day following. Let Him be your King, and the orders each of us follow from Him will be the greatest gift we could give in return. Have a blessed Christmas, and seek Him in all things.
~ Melody Krauser
