(Editor’s note: This is the third in a series leading to Easter.)
Pastor of Peabody Bible Church
The soldier heard the cursing that spewed from the mouth of the first victim to appear. Each outburst of verbalized hatred was followed by the distinct sound of a whip delivering sharp blows to his already torn and bleeding body.
But it was neither him nor his fellow thief and insurrectionist who followed him that this soldier wanted to see most. It was the third man who had captured his curiosity in ways that he could not understand nor disregard. There was something about that man that made this day seem strange.
It wasn’t the thought of driving nails through the wrists and feet of the condemned that bothered him. He had been a part of more than enough killings to have long since developed a hard callous on his conscience that not even screams, pleas, or insults could penetrate.
But something felt out of place.
An uncomfortable yet scorn-filled grin surfaced on the soldier’s face as soon as he saw the sign carried by the centurion’s assistant who stood closest to the man named Jesus. He read it out loud in mocking style.
“This is Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.”
Someone yelled, “All hail the King. Welcome your majesty.”
“We have no king but Caesar,” snarled one of the chief priests.
To be continued …