WEEK FOUR: When You Finally See (The Centurion)

There is a saying that goes, “familiarity breeds contempt.” In other words, we can become so accustomed or used to something happening that we become jaded or oblivious to what is happening around us (and thereby, we basically become unaffected by it). We buy into the “been there, done that” mentality which leads us to complacency.

The centurion in Jesus’ crucifixion story had likely seen many executions.  He had probably participated in the brutality that was part of the crucifixion ritual and probably had become numb to everything that surrounded the process. But this time, something was different. Something changed how he viewed the person hanging on that cross. Here was a man who didn’t resist, didn’t curse, and didn’t fight back.

When it comes to faith, many in our world feel like they’ve seen it all. Hypocrisy, disappointment, abuse by church leaders, and the list goes on… All of this has made people resistant to the Gospel message. Even in the church, we can become so accustomed to the customs that we can be around the cross, sing about it, even preach and teach about it, and still fail to see it for what it truly is.  We can become spiritually blind to it. Oh, we love the story of Easter and the traditions it brings with it, but we become “numb” to what it really means. We admire Jesus, but we aren’t willing to surrender. We like the idea of salvation, but we don’t want to live like we really believe it.

However, the cross compels a response. Once you have truly seen Jesus, you cannot remain neutral. That day, coming face to face with Jesus, the centurion was left with a decision. It is the same one that you and I must face when we have seen Jesus clearly: what confession will we make? I hope that in this season of Easter that we will be able to say, like the centurion, “Surely this man was the Son of God!”