What Changed His Mind?
There is no harm in changing your mind, we all do from time to time. However, when you not only change your mind, but you change your position -well, this could be another story:
When the Roman officer who stood facing him saw how he had died, he exclaimed, “This man truly was the Son of God!”Mark 15:39 (NLT)
In the days when Jesus walked the earth, it was a common belief that the ruling emperor of Rome was Lord and God. With Jesus’ claim to be the Son of God, it is easy to understand why He was considered a rebel and an enemy of Rome. The Pharisees and other religious leaders kept appealing to the Roman government to do away with Him, because they knew that popular opinion put Jesus as a threat to their sovereignty.
Every soldier had to pledge their loyalty to Ceasor, even unto their death. They had to acknowledge him in all of his triumph. Yet, at the crucifixion, the jeering, mocking crowd that wanted to crucify Jesus, took him through a Triumph, much as the Roman emperor went through. While they did it to make mockery of Jesus, it is amazing how accurate they were in acknowledging Him as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
The events of that infamous day stand out to us today, for we have 20/20 vision. Yet, on that day, those events changed the mind of a Roman centurion, as he cried out that Jesus was truly “the Son of God”. What made him change his mind. The same thing that happens when we come face to face with the truth of the gospel. We feel a pull on our heart, a witness in our spirit, we feel the very presence of God’s love overshadow us – and that which seems foolish to mankind, becomes crystal clear to a hungry heart. When God reveals Himself to us, we can make no other claim – than Hail, Lord God! It is an honor that can be given to no other than God.
Won’t you join me in praying that this next couple of weeks as we prepare to acknowledge the greatest event in human history, the crucifixion and resurrection of our Lord, that there will many others who will change their mind.
Maria