As Jesus stated in the Gospel of Matthew 28:20…He will never leave us, and He hasn’t. Jesus keeps all of His promises, as does His Father, God. Jesus is with us today in the person of the Holy Spirit.
Again, this is a story based on an account of what happened and what the Centurion may have been thinking as he took part in the crucifixion of Christ.
The Task –
“Out of my way…I want to see them pay.” One voice declared with abject and fiendish delight.
“Hey- Where have you been?” One of his peers yelled out.
“Just getting everything prepared.” He answered with a quiet yet shaken demeanor.
“Why are you acting so strange? You knew about this appointment for a while, what is going on with you?” His good friend asked.
“I know. It’s just…” He stared at his sack he managed to get before his mount fled.
“What?” His friend insisted.
Before he could answer he observed “them” ascending the hill. “What am I going to do?” There was no answer for him, he had an appointment and orders to follow. His hands began to shake as he opened the sack by his sandaled feet.
“Hey, what is going on with you?” His friend pulled his arm and glared into his eyes with a fierce determination to understand his reticent behavior.
He yanked his arm away from his friend’s paralyzing grip, “Go about your business-nothing is wrong.”
They locked eyes for a moment, until his friend backed away, “Okay.”
He took a deep breath. He watched the men approaching. It was unusually hot. The sun was searing his skin. He felt like he was on fire…or in the gates of hell. “What was going on?”
An acrid stench was in the still air. He was perspiring copiously. He didn’t want to accept this appointment. To disobey was not an option. He tossed and turned all night, not realizing why he was experiencing torment, and pain. He was in pure anguish!
“Okay, here you go. This is the one you are supposed to handle. I will take care of this one on the left, and your friend will take care of the one on the right.” The handler said systematically.
He turned his head and saw him. He was unrecognizable! His face bloodied and bruised. His body had open wounds from being whipped and scourged. A crown of thorns atop his matted hair intermingled with blood and dirt. He was placed upon the cross and roped with his arms spread wide…stretched to unbearable lengths. He heard his shoulders pop and felt vomit fill his mouth, as he gazed at him through tears.
He took the “items” out of the sack. Three huge tent nails. He brought the first one to his feet. His hands shaking, he looked at the man they called Jesus.
Jesus looked at him with love and compassion, “You are fulfilling the scriptures, but I feel your compassion…I have taken note of this and so has my Father.”
He wailed, “Forgive me!” as he hammered the first of three nails into Jesus. “My Lord, forgive me.” When he completed the abominable task- the wooden cross was hoisted high on Golgotha.
He glanced up sickened to witness his “handiwork” on Jesus’ feet and hands…then collapsed in a wretched heap on the ground.
He declared in sincerity, his voice quivering, “This is truly the Son of God, this is the Christ.”