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I’ve often wondered which of the things in today’s reading actually caused the Centurion to utter the now immortal line ‘truly this man was the Son of God’, as Matthew records it. Ultimately though I’m not sure it really matters. The point is, a combination of circumstances caused Jesus to be recognised for who he was, by the very last person who should have been doing so, a member of the occupying force who had just put him to death.
As with all the readings I look at here, there’s lots we could delve into, and should, if we were trying to teach or preach on this passage, either individually or as a part of Matthew as a whole. Do take the time to look into it deeply, there’s lots to find. The challenge here is, I’m deliberately trying to see what particularly pricks my mind as I read rather than providing a grand exposition. On this occasion it is this thought:
In the excitement of being invited to live with and know Jesus, to follow his way, take on board his teachings, even move in power because of his name, am I, are we, in danger of losing sight of just how wonderful, powerful, victorious our God was on the Cross and is today? He is the Son of God, more than an impossibly good man full of good intentions who delivered on his promises. He is God. What difference will that make to how we live our days today?