Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God.       (Matthew 27:54)
 
As of 2020 there were between 800 million and 1 billion Protestants worldwide, among approximately 2.5 billion Christians. It seems we are safe in saying there are at least nearly 200 major Protestant denominations or denominational categories in the United States. It most likely is higher but this number covers all of the major denominations.  That is still a scandal for Christians whom Christ desired would be one, as a reflection of the Triune unity of God (see John 17).  If you read the histories of the various denominations, which call themselves Christian, you will see that there has not always been harmony among them.  We then have to ask ourselves how has Christianity survived coming from so much discord for centuries.  The only answer is that it possesses in its heart a power that humans do not have and this power is Christ, Son of Man and Son of God. 
 
The power that is spoken of in the Bible is that intimate force in events and in the lives of men that assures the triumph of great ideals above and in the face of obstacles that seem to be insurmountable.  Christianity, as detailed in the Bible, was not just a fad nor was it just the latest trend.  People watched Jesus’ followers very closely.  If you are a Christian reading this today, know that people really are watching you, no I am not paranoid, just like they did in scripture.  People are looking to see if this Christianity is real and if it works in this life.  If it can work in your life perhaps it can work in theirs.
 
When we look at the life of Jesus we see that HIS words were simple and HE had a power that made one marvel.  Christianity has handed down a sacred deposit that has always found a group of heroes ready to give their lives as a testimony.  The  main focus of the Bible throughout its entirety, tells us that the Message of the Cross, the Death, and Resurrection of JESUS CHRIST are the important core themes of the Word..  Each and every chapter refers to Jesus in some way.
 
You see, during the death of Jesus on that Cross there were many peoples represented around that Cross.   There were those who stood closest to the Cross-the centurion, the soldiers, the thieves on either side of Jesus. There were the women who loved Jesus and there also was the man who hurried up to offer Christ the drugged vinegar.  And of course, there were the hate mongers who yelled: “If you really are the Christ come down off the Cross.  (As a child in church I often thought what would they have done had Jesus had really come down from the Cross- but then as I got older I realized that He had to remain on that Cross so that I could receive salvation from my lost and sinful state). 
 
Think about it, those people around the Cross represent each of us and our attitude about the Lord, Jesus Christ. 

• Have we become hardened and insulated against feelings by a protective shell just like the tough Roman soldiers in that crowd.  They had been at many crucifixions so it was not new to them.  We become calloused in our souls and spirits when we see certain things over and over again.
  
• Are we trained, educated, competent like the Roman centurion?   
  
• Are we burdened with knowledge of our guilt and the lives we have lead like the one thief on the cross or are we bitter and angry like the other thief who most likely blamed everyone else for his place on the cross.  
  
• Perhaps, we are just curious, laying back and watching and then hurrying up to bring a sponge of vinegar to the dying One on the Cross. 
  
• Do our hearts break ,as did that of Mary, His mother and the other women? 
  
• Do we hide our faith like the Disciples?   JESUS poured HIMSELF into His disciples for 3 ½ years and with the exception of  John,  we do not read that any of the other disciples were there at the Cross.  
  
• Or have we become cynical, jaded elitists like the priests and scribes who believed that they were perfect and had no sin.

Oh, we don’t want to identify with “those people” at the foot of the Cross, but that group at the cross is a microcosm, a community, place, or situation regarded as encapsulating in miniature the characteristic qualities or features of something much larger. Humankind is regarded as the epitome of the universe.  So we are all represented in that group at the foot of the Cross.  Yes, there were those who jeered, mocked and most likely yelled out profanities, just as there are today.  Yes, the Lord Jesus Christ hears your screaming at Him your blasphemies.  However, remember each of us has to stand before the Cross and decide what we will do with Jesus.  We all were in that group at the foot of the Cross.  We can watch Jesus die for each of us and we can accept or reject what He did for us.  That is our choice.

The Centurion heard everything that went on that day at the foot of the cross.  It is believed that the centurion was so near that the splatter of blood may have come upon him.  He heard Jesus say: “Father, forgive them…”  I am quite sure these were new words to the ears of the pagan Centurion.  Then he hears Jesus recommend His mother to His disciple, John.  He watched and listened as Jesus does not answer when insulted by one of thieves.  But to the other thief who believed in Christ Jesus saying:  “Today, you will be with Me in paradise.”   I am quite sure those words were even stranger to the Centurion because he knew that other thief was in a miserable condition. 

You have to remember that while dying on that Cross, Jesus was suffering  painful spasms and convulsions, however He showed an attitude in which there was no bitterness and only dignity.  That Centurion heard Jesus say: “It is finished.” I am quire sure he thought what could be finished?  Then Jesus said His last words;   “Father, into Your hands I commend my spirit.”  And He bowed His head and died.

The Centurion who had a front view seat at the crucifixion of Jesus cried out forcefully saying, “Truly this man was the Son of God.”  Truly!   Such was the power of Christ precisely in the moment that Jesus appeared to be the least powerful it was evident that there was such a power. 

I pray that we all can be suddenly filled with awe and reverence as we stand at the Cross of Jesus and realize that whoever we are, or whatever condition we are in and the many ‘things we are going through-Jesus hangs on the Cross for each of us.  And by His stripes and His suffering we can be healed!
 
The old hymn written by Isaac Watts in 1707 is still true today and it reminds us:
          At the cross, at the cross where I first saw the light,
          And the burden of my heart rolled away,
          It was there by faith I received my sight,
          And now I am happy all the day!
 

For the Christian, Easter is an exciting time!  It is not about the bunnies and eggs; it is
a time of rejoicing because JESUS our SAVIOR died on the Cross for our sins.   He not
only died but was resurrected on the 3rd day after the crucifixion as the bible tells us in John 19 and 20.

​Why do you think there is so much hatred of Jesus today?  The answer is simple, it's because HE lives! 
No one argues or protests over someone who is dead.  Muhammed is dead, Buddha is dead,
Joseph Smith is dead.   But JESUS IS ALIVE!!!!    HE went to the cross for all of our sins!
 
Now sin isn't something a lot of people like to talk about.  Sin is something that in our
society we have pretty well avoided or talked away or rationalized out of existence;
 but it has not been eradicated in God's Word. 
 
Every human that has ever been born has been born as a slave to their own desires,
as a slave to sin. We want to have what we want to have, and we want it now. The
only problem is that we care about our own desires more than we do about anything
or anyone else. We make our own desires out to be more important than what God
desires for us. Because God's desires do not fit with our desires, we forsake God
 and we rebel against him.
 
But GOD's glorious solution to man's greatest problem happened on Easter!

We received GD’s supreme blessing when we really deserved GOD’s wrath.  GOD
became man in Jesus Christ and He did so not to be served, but to serve HIS creation!
The King of eternity, the King of kings and the Lord of lords, who reigns in power over all creation
 from eternity past to eternity future, who crushes nations before Him as a rod
 of iron smashes pots of clay, this very King humbled Himself and "took the form
 of a servant, being born in the likeness of men" and lived among us as our servant!
Doesn’t that take your breath away?
 
And if that does not amazing enough,  there is a passage in Micah 7:19 that
 states that not only have our sins been forgiven but they are cast into the depths
 of the sea.  This is sometimes referred to as God’s waste removal system.  The
complete removal of sin, complete forgiveness.  When JESUS cleansed us, HE took
care of all our sins – past, present and future.  They were all forever washed away!
 
I know some of you are going to say "I am unworthy of God’s forgiveness because
I have done so many bad things".   That is actually a true statement.   We are all unworthy.
That’s why forgiveness is so amazing! God delights to show mercy.  HE has compassion on us
and if we ask, HE will hurl all our sin into the depths of the sea.   Experience God’s
mercy and pardon today.
 
The Cross of Jesus Christ is the ultimate sign of the incredible Good News of God’s
 love for us.  The Cross is the ultimate sign of God’s faithfulness and our assurance
 that He will never leave us or forsake us. 

Because of the ONE who died for us on that Cross we have the ability to be at peace with GOD,
the Father.   Yes, we lost that peace in the Garden as recorded in Genesis 3, but we regained
that peace once again through Jesus Christ.   As if that was not amazing enough, know that if
we chose Jesus as our Lord and Savior we will spend all eternity with HIM in heaven.
 
Then why do so many of us Christians live like we’re the boss and Jesus is the one
 who’s supposed to live for our convenience?  It’s not supposed to be that way. He is
 the King. He is owed our allegiance and obedience.  Not because He’s some weird
supernatural dictator, but because HIS love drove HIM to come to earth and die for us on an
old-rugged cross!  JESUS took the punishment that we deserved when HE died on the cross.  But it didn't end on the cross and it didn't end in the tomb because JESUS didn't stay dead, HE ROSE FROM THE GRAVE ON THE THIRD DAY!   HE IS RISEN!    THAT is what Easter is all about and why it is soooo exciting!! 

Accept HIM today as your LORD and Savior....HE IS THE RISEN LORD!