Pastor's Perspective - Surely This Man

And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, heard his cry and saw how he died, he said, "Surely this man was the Son of God!" - Mark 15:39

He had seen countless others agonize. He was well accustomed to the groans and cries; criminals in their last moments cursing angrily or groveling for sympathy with none to be found. To him this man was like all the others; a criminal, a thief, an insurgent, a threat against Roman colonized peace. To the centurion, the man on the middle cross just represented work, duty, nothing more. Yet, as the hours outside the tall Jerusalem wall passed, he observed something quite unusual from the stipes above him as he 'stood there in front of Jesus'. No cursing, instead forgiveness. No self, instead others. No faltering, instead focus. No helplessness, instead hope. No victimization, instead victory. No pointless, instead purpose; leaving the perplexed Roman with no other feasible conclusion other than - this man he just crucified was exactly who he said he was - the Son of God.

Have you intentionally stood in front of Jesus lately?

Observed through Scripture how He died?
What He said?
What He suffered?
How He responded?
What He offered?

I'm confident that if you will, you'll echo the same conclusion of this changed and quoted soldier from antiquity.