Transcript 032716_The_Battle_Part6_930

Conviction
Roman Centurian
Matthew 27:50-54 NIV
50 And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he
gave up his spirit.
51 At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in
two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks
split 52 and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many
holy people who had died were raised to life.53 They came
out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and went into
the holy city and appeared to many people.
54 When the centurion and those with him who were
guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had
happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, “Surely he
was the Son of God!”
Mark 15:33-3NIV
33 At noon, darkness came over the whole land until three
in the afternoon. 34 And at three in the afternoon Jesus
cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema
sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have
you forsaken me?”).
35 When some of those standing near heard this, they
said, “Listen, he’s calling Elijah.”
36 Someone ran, filled a sponge with wine vinegar, put it
on a staff, and offered it to Jesus to drink. “Now leave him
alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to take him down,” he said.
Mark 15:33-39 NIV
37 With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last.
38 The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to
bottom. 39 And when the centurion, who stood there in
front of Jesus, saw how he died, he said, “Surely this man
was the Son of God!”
Observations
• The Roman Centurion was a professional
executioner.
• Real natural events, earthquake and storm,
convinced the Centurion.
• Unnatural events, like tombs opening and
dead bodies walking, convinced the
Centurion.
• The Roman Centurion experienced
conviction concerning the person of Jesus.
Observations
• The Roman Centurion was convinced that
Jesus was the Son of God because of the way
that He died.
• This same Centurion pronounced Jesus
dead.
Questions
• At the beginning of the day, what do you
think the Centurion thought about Jesus?
• What about the way Jesus died do you think
made the Centurion believe that Jesus was
the Son of God?
• What is the difference between the
conviction of the Centurion and the
conviction of Thomas?
Questions
• Why do you think both Matthew and Mark
included this in their Gospel accounts?
• How do you see the Battle for Jesus and the
Battle for You in this part of the narrative?
• Are there other things about the Centurion
and his reaction that we should learn from?