Black clouds cast shadows over a clearing where a lone Centurion sat hunched on a rock. His gaze seemed to be intent on the scene in front of him, an empty gibbet. He had been this way for hours, as if troubled, contemplating. Eventually, he walked over and stood at the front of the cross.
Touching it, he then lent his head upon its structure, an odd stance for a proud Roman. It was nearly as if he wanted to absorb the feel of the wood or take something away from it. He stood this way for a long time and then lightly stroked the rough surface of the cross. When he touched the bottom of the structure, his stance changed. Standing back, he gazed at his hands, now stained in blood as tears flowed down. He then lay convulsed in grief at the foot of the cross as loud sobs came from him. He lay that way, in the dust a long time, his status and dignity were forgotten. A man who was worldly, a worshiper of many gods whose wealth and notoriety were envied, was distraught at the foot of a rough wooden cross!
After sometime a voice spoke out from the shadows....... “ He was the Saviour of the world..... The Son of God.”
The officer looked up, hearing the voice he answered back.....“Yes... but I killed him, I put him on the cross.....how could I?” The voice spoke again, “He died for all, and through Him.... all can live.....”
John 3 v16
I wrote this as an unfinished story........ although, at the time of the death of the Lord Jesus Christ, many extraordinary things did occur. I wanted us to reflect on how the person of the Lord can change us. Here we have a Roman soldier, but it could have been so easily you or me. When you encounter the lovely person of Jesus, it changes you. How long ago was it, that you reflected on this? His amazing sacrifice given for mankind, and wept over the blood that trailed down the cross?
My point in writing today is to not only bring to our attention the amazing gift of new life the Lord brings but to also consider the things that are hidden!
We are all experiencing a depth of sadness at this time, through the insidious grasp of Covid 19. Death is displayed daily, as we hear of so many who are succumbing to this unseen sickness. In fact, in my writing, I must pause..... as to a degree the outcome is so awful we must meditate on the cost.
In the Savior's gift there was also a cost that is insurmountable. The Son of God who transferred my sin to himself and paid the ultimate price...this is a cost worth meditating upon. Although many may intersperse here....' That there is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus....which is true. May I also gently remind all of us, that the Lamb of God is coming back, for a church without spot or blemish. That just as the virus is attacking the world at this time, sin and evil are attacking society and the church. It might we wise for us all to reflect more deeply at the things we are sowing in our lives, that we will have to explain. There is no grey, we cannot use the word compromise. We cannot also point the finger elsewhere. I alone must answer to God for my life, and so must you. There is no umbrella that can hide us, especially the one we call church. My brother and sister, it is you and I that must learn to weep at the cross. As we must also weep for the broken world we live in, and the way we have lived.
1 Samuel 16.... The Lord does not look at the things man looks at, man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart......
Written by Hazel Pinder, author of The Promise of Heaven
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