For some months, I have been haphazardly working through Mark’s Gospel. I attempted to read as I would a 5,000-word magazine article with no sub-headings. I wanted to see what it might mean to me without the aid of chapter and section headings that scripture scholars have added.
On arriving at the section on Jesus’ death, I read it carefully but, being a familiar territory, nothing, in particular, struck me until verse Mark 15:39, When the centurion who stood facing him saw how he breathed his last, he said, “Truly this man was the Son of God!”. According to previous verses, Jesus had been hanging on the cross for about 6 hours when he lamented his Father had forsaken him, cried out in a loud voice and died.
I wondered about the centurion’s statement, which might be interpreted as an act of faith in Jesus. However, we know nothing about how that moment shaped the rest of his life. It has provoked me to ponder, stop, and consider what the centurion’s reaction has meant for me.
The Roman centurion had a role similar to that of a sergeant in today’s armies. The sergeant was in charge of making things happen or getting the job done. This particular centurion supervised the Roman execution squad, ensuring that the three prisoners with their respective crosses walked to the designated place of execution, namely Calvary hilltop, where they were then nailed to their crosses and left hanging until dead.
The centurion in charge had little to do other than observe the lengthy and excruciating process of dying of the crucified men. Jesus of Nazareth was not the ‘run of the mill’ criminal. In fact, those who had plotted his death were afraid that Jesus, if not eliminated, would strongly prejudice their social, political and economic interests. The Roman governor who gave them the green light to crucify him was a weak man whom the Jewish leaders had successfully manipulated.
The centurion closely observed all three crucified men, particularly Jesus. He recognized Jesus as innocent and framed but noticed his silence and lack of bitterness towards his enemies. Jesus ignored insults and reassured another crucified man. He entrusted his mother to one of his apostles and the apostle to his mother.
The centurion, probably approaching the end of his service, had experienced it all in the Roman army. Jesus stood out from typical criminals he encountered. He had the duty to observe Jesus until his death and witnessed remarkable goodness, anguish, and serenity. This unnamed centurion viewed Jesus not as a criminal but as the son of God.
Did the centurion join the followers of Jesus following his resurrection? Maybe, but we don’t know. However, he is a powerful example of the Christian faith. Maybe we could refer to him as the first anonymous Christian and, perhaps, also a saint! What do you think?
Columban Fr Peter Woodruff lives and works in Australia.
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Andrew Cheevers:
Jul 12, 2023 at 05:01 PM
Did his recognition of Jesus as the Son of God lead to a change in his heart? If so, he's not an anonymous Christian, but the first of us.
Sadly, or perhaps happily, we will never know. Happily because if we knew everything about Christ, there would be no room for faith.
Frank Regan:
Jul 13, 2023 at 12:31 AM
I presume the centurion was Roman and a polytheist, careful to recognise the deity of the Emperor. His testimony is difficult to figure except that maybe he was attentive to and sensitive to the situation of Jesus. It is impossible to plumb the depth of his conviction. Something clicked in him. I hope it remained.