The centurion’s statement in Matthew 27:54 holds great significance in the Gospel account of Jesus’ crucifixion. To understand why, it is important to examine the context, the centurion’s position, and the theological implications of his words.
The Context of the Centurion’s Statement
Matthew 27 recounts the events leading up to and including Jesus’ crucifixion. After being betrayed by Judas and put on trial by the Jewish leaders, Jesus was brought before Pontius Pilate. Though Pilate found no fault in Jesus, he bowed to the pressure of the crowd and authorized his crucifixion (Matthew 27:11-26).
Jesus was mocked and beaten before being led away to be crucified at Golgotha (Matthew 27:27-33). After hours of agony on the cross, Jesus cried out loudly and died (Matthew 27:45-50). At the moment of his death, the temple curtain was torn, the earth shook, rocks were split, and tombs were opened (Matthew 27:51-53). The supernatural events surrounding Christ’s death led the centurion to make his now famous statement in verse 54: “When the centurion and those who were with him, keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe and said, ‘Truly this was the Son of God!'”
The Position of the Centurion
To comprehend the significance of the centurion’s words, it is important to understand who he was. As a Roman centurion, this man was a commander over 80-100 soldiers in a Roman legion. Centurions were military professionals, rigorously trained and highly respected. They were men of authority, known for their expertise and capabilities.
As a centurion, this man likely would have overseen countless executions. Yet, in the midst of the supernatural events surrounding Jesus’ death, he declared, “Truly this was the Son of God.” Coming from a hardened military professional, this statement carries enormous weight.
Theological Significance
The centurion’s declaration is theologically significant for several reasons:
- It validates Jesus’ identity as the Son of God. Coming at the climactic moment of Christ’s death, it serves as a divine testimony to who Jesus claimed to be.
- It emphasizes Jesus’ innocence. This innocent man’s death was accompanied by miraculous signs, signaling divine displeasure.
- It highlights Jesus’ authority over creation. The tearing temple curtain, earthquake, and opened tombs all point to Christ’s cosmic authority.
- It fulfills Old Testament prophecy. Psalms 2:7 prophesied God declaring “You are my Son.” The centurion’s statement echoes this.
- It contrasts with those mocking Jesus. Unlike the Jewish leaders and soldiers ridiculing Christ as he suffered, the centurion recognizes his true identity.
Furthermore, the centurion’s confession directly juxtaposes the blasphemous statement of the chief priests and scribes who mocked Jesus in Matthew 27:43, saying, “He trusts in God; let God deliver him now, if he desires him.” Yet, God’s deliverance came not through sparing Jesus from death, but by raising him from the dead through the power of the Spirit (Romans 1:4). The centurion got a glimpse of this coming deliverance in the miraculous events surrounding the crucifixion.
Additional Insights
Here are some additional insights on the significance of the centurion’s statement:
- It illustrates God’s ability to speak through unexpected people. As a Roman soldier, the centurion was an unlikely person to recognize Jesus’ true identity.
- It serves as an example of how Christ’s sacrifice is for all people – both Jews and Gentiles. The centurion acknowledged Christ’s Sonship.
- It shows that Jesus’ death had an impact on those who witnessed the event up close. The torn curtain and natural disasters left the centurion in awe of Christ.
- It fulfills the theme of irony and reversal present in Matthew’s crucifixion account. The centurion understands who Jesus is while the religious leaders reject him.
- It provides additional, independent testimony to Christ’s identity, underscoring the truth of his Sonship.
In summary, the Roman centurion’s simple yet profound statement – “Truly this was the Son of God” – resounds with theological and historical significance. Spoken by an unlikely witness, it affirms Jesus’ innocence, authority, and divine identity at the climactic moment of the crucifixion. The centurion’s words remind readers that Christ’s sacrifice was indeed the death of the Son of God for the sins of the world.
Key Details in the Passage
There are several key details in Matthew 27:54 and the surrounding context worth highlighting:
- Darkness over the land – When Jesus was on the cross, darkness came over the whole land from the 6th to the 9th hour (Matthew 27:45). This mirrors Old Testament prophecies of darkness in the day of God’s judgment (Amos 8:9).
- The torn temple curtain – The massive curtain separating the Holy of Holies temple room was torn from top to bottom as Jesus died (Matthew 27:51). This symbolized God opening access to his presence through Christ’s sacrifice.
- Earthquake and opened tombs – Matthew 27:51-53 records dramatic natural disasters including an earthquake and opened tombs accompanying Jesus’ death.
- The centurion’s fear – The centurion and those with him were filled with awe and fear at the events surrounding the crucifixion (Matthew 27:54). The Greek for “filled with awe” implies terror.
- Other witnesses – The centurion was not alone. Matthew 27:54 indicates there were other soldiers keeping watch with him who witnessed the events and agreed with his conclusion about Jesus.
These details emphasize Jesus’ divine identity and enhance the meaning behind the centurion’s climactic confession in Matthew 27:54. The passage paints a vivid, dramatic scene of the cosmic significance of Christ’s sacrificial death on the cross.
Old Testament Parallels and Foreshadowing
The centurion’s declaration about Jesus also connects significantly to the Old Testament. Here are some of the key parallels and foreshadowing:
- As mentioned, the darkness at noon reminds of Amos 8:9’s prophecy about darkness in the day of God’s judgment.
- Psalm 22, a prophetic crucifixion psalm, speaks of bones being “out of joint” (Psalm 22:14), parallel to the legs of the criminals being broken (John 19:31-33).
- Isaiah 53, the crucifixion prophecy, says the servant was “numbered with transgressors” (Isaiah 53:12), foreshadowing Jesus being crucified between criminals (Mark 15:27-28).
- Zechariah 12:10 prophetically says “they will look on me, the one they have pierced.” The centurion literally looked on the pierced Christ.
- Jesus references his own death symbolically as the destruction of “this temple” (John 2:19). The torn temple curtain at his death fulfilled this.
- The darkness and earthquake mirror Old Testament theophanies signaling God’s presence, like at Mount Sinai (Exodus 19:16-18).
So the centurion’s interaction with the crucified Christ fulfilled numerous Old Testament prophecies, reinforcing Jesus’ identity as the promised Messiah who came to fulfill Scripture.
Reactions from Jewish Leaders vs. the Centurion
The contrast between the reactions of the Jewish leaders and the Roman centurion at the crucifixion is instructive:
- The religious leaders mocked and rejected Jesus, calling for his crucifixion (Matthew 27:41-43).
- They challenged Jesus to prove his divinity by coming down from the cross, while the centurion recognized his Sonship in his suffering.
- They criticized Jesus for claiming he could destroy and rebuild the temple (Matthew 27:40). When the temple curtain tore at his death, the centurion realized Jesus’ authority.
- They scoffed at the idea that Jesus was King of Israel (Matthew 27:42). But the centurion’s exclamation acknowledges Jesus’ regal identity.
- As God’s chosen people, they should have recognized their Messiah. Yet a Roman soldier proclaimed Jesus as the Son of God instead.
Ironically, while the religious authorities rejected Jesus, the centurion – a military man and a Gentile – acknowledged him as the Christ. This foreshadowed how Israel largely rejected Jesus while many Gentiles accepted him. The centurion’s reaction models perceptive, humble faith in Christ.
Significance for Readers of Matthew’s Gospel
For the original readers of Matthew’s Gospel, the account of the centurion at the cross provided key significance:
- It confirmed Jesus’ identity as the divine Son prophesied in Scripture – an important theme in Matthew.
- It reinforced Jesus’ fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies through typological connections.
- It underscored the ironic contrast between Jewish unbelief and a Roman soldier’s belief referenced elsewhere in Matthew (Matthew 8:10).
- It emphasized Jesus’ innocent suffering, providing meaning for the early church undergoing persecution.
- It depicted the temple’s destruction and access to God now opened through Christ’s death.
- It served as a powerful apologetic for Jesus’ Sonship as eyewitnesses like the centurion were still living.
- It hinted at the later Gentile mission as a Roman was the first to recognize Jesus as God’s Son at the cross.
For these early Jewish and Gentile Christian readers, the centurion’s confession powerfully validated their belief that Jesus was the divine Messianic Son foretold by Scripture.
Link to Other Gospel Accounts
The Synoptic Gospels of Mark and Luke also record the centurion’s statement about Jesus:
- Mark 15:39 – “And when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that in this way he breathed his last, he said, ‘Truly this man was the Son of God!’”
- Luke 23:47 – “Now when the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God, saying, ‘Certainly this man was innocent!’”
There are some minor differences between the accounts:
- In Matthew, the centurion says “Truly this was the Son of God” while Mark has “Truly this man was the Son of God.”
- Luke does not have the centurion explicitly identify Jesus as the “Son of God.” He instead praises God and highlights Jesus’ innocence.
- Only Matthew mentions the earthquake and other geological phenomena impressing the centurion.
Yet the core confession remains consistent – the centurion recognized Jesus’ divine identity and righteousness. The differences can be seen as complementary perspectives on the same event that together provide a complete picture.
Extrabiblical Records
There are a few potential extrabiblical references to the centurion’s declaration at Jesus’ crucifixion:
- The apocryphal Gospel of Nicodemus from the 4th century quotes the centurion acknowledging that Jesus “was the Son of God.”
- A purported letter from Pontius Pilate recounts the centurion reporting the events surrounding the crucifixion to the governor.
- Justin Martyr’s “Dialogue with Trypho” from the 2nd century alludes to the centurion’s confession.
- The ancient historian Phlegon allegedly described the darkness and earthquake at the crucifixion, events that impacted the centurion.
While these extrabiblical sources must be evaluated critically, they provide potential ancient supports for the historicity of Matthew’s account of the awestruck centurion at Christ’s death.
The Centurion’s Confession in Christian History
The centurion’s powerful confession of Jesus’ identity has been frequently referenced throughout Christian history:
- Early church fathers like Origen, Chrysostom, and Augustine used the centurion’s story to teach about Christ’s divine Sonship.
- The painting “Christ on the Cross” (1620) by Diego Velázquez depicts the centurion at the foot of the cross gazing up at Jesus.
- Klaus Stur’s “Centurion at the Cross” (1973) imagines the centurion’s emotional turmoil at beholding the crucified Christ.
- Numerous composers like C.P.E. Bach and Sir John Stainer created musical works titled “The Centurion” based on this account.
- Many preachers through the centuries (e.g. John Piper, Tim Keller) have used the centurion as an example of humble, perceptive faith in Christ.
Given the story’s biblical significance, it has rightfully remained a central image in Christian thought, literature, and art as a potent symbol of encountering Jesus’ identity at the cross.
Application for Readers Today
This passage continues to have valuable applications for modern readers:
- It encourages us to grasp who Jesus is – the divine Son of God – especially through reflecting on his sacrificial death and resurrection.
- It models moving from a place of doubt to belief based on assessing the evidence, as the centurion did.
- It challenges us to humbly recognize our need before God, as this powerful soldier did.
- It gives us hope that people from all walks of life can come to faith in Christ.
- It reminds us that God can speak through unexpected people even today.
- It urges us to proclaim the gospel to all nations, following the centurion’s example as a Gentile confessing Christ.
As we seek to grow in our faith and share the good news of Jesus, the centurion’s candid confession invites us to evaluate the evidence for Christ’s Lordship and respond in genuine belief.
