Regardless, his greed for wealth was eventually upended in his attempts to save lives. His factory became a sanctuary for Jews. He took people into his operation who were completely unqualified for the work they were to do. And when he was questioned concerning this, Oskar asserted that they were highly qualified; absolutely essential for the war effort. He fed them, clothed them, provided medical care and a place in which to live. He spent vast sums of money on bribes to SS officers of the Nazis and in the black market for supplies and other necessary commodities for his Jews.

      The hard and fast talking skills of persuasion Oskar Schindler had used to close deals that reaped him millions upon millions of dollars were soon being used to rescue people. His abilities were pressed to the limit when 300 of his women workers were inadvertently sent to the infamous Auschwitz death camp nearby. He became responsible for the only known shipment of prisoners coming out of that place alive.

      I have seen the Steven Spielberg movie, Schindler’s List and read Thomas Kaneally’s book, Schindler’s Ark shortly thereafter. My fascination concerning this man and the amazing things he did, led me to learn more. Following the war, Oskar and his wife, Emilie immigrated to Argentina and lived there for a time, before he abandoned both her and his mistress to return to Germany. Throughout the remaining years of his life, Oskar wandered between Germany and Israel, living primarily off the kindness and generosity of the grateful Jews he had saved, eventually dying a penniless broken man.

      In the course of my limited research, I came across a brief but candid interview with Emilie. Since she had lived with him for years and worked by his side during the war, nursing and caring for his Jews, she knew him as well as anyone. Emilie’s remark during that exchange should not have surprised or shocked me when she said Oskar Schindler was "just an ordinary man". But it did and still  does .

      Ordinary?–Hardly, and yet I am reminded of another ‘ordinary’ man who did some pretty amazing things–a man just as flawed, and broken as Schindler. David was just an ordinary shepherd boy–so ordinary in fact, that his father Jesse didn’t even think twice about inviting him to a special sacred assembly with Samuel who had come to anoint the new king of Israel. It wasn’t until Samuel had gone through all of Jesses’ seven sons without finding the Lord’s king that David, his youngest was finally called from the fields to be anointed as king.

      As a sheep herder, David was probably like other shepherds of his day, who protected their flocks from common predators including lions and bears. When the Philistine army had threatened the nation of Israel, David successfully defeated Goliath, their champion with a smooth stone and a simple sling. At one point before his ascendency to the throne, David provided leadership and sanctuary for 600 men who, like himself were fugitives from King Saul’s rage and corrupt government. During this ‘cat and mouse game’ of constantly eluding Saul and his army in the hills, mountains and deserted places of Judea, David was twice given the perfect opportunity to put an end to Saul’s insane determination to have him dead. Despite encouragement from his men, he refused to shed the blood of the ‘Lord’s anointed one’. Throughout David’s illustrious career as Israel’s king, the nation of Israel thrived and enjoyed its largest dimensions as an independent kingdom.

      Though there was much to commend the forty year rule of David, his kingship is not once marked by miraculous signs (unless the instant death of Uzzah before the ark of God should be counted). The defining moment for David was when ". . . Samuel took his flask of oil and anointed him, with his brothers standing around watching. The Spirit of God entered David like a rush of wind, God vitally empowering him for the rest of his life" (I Samuel 16:13 [MSG]).

      I find it interesting however, that in some regards, David was just as ordinary as Oskar Schindler ever was. By no stretch of the imagination could it be said that Schindler was a godly man—far from it. However, when David’s life is closely examined, it becomes pretty obvious that David also had his issues and some of them seem to be extremely serious. And yet, both these men accomplished some absolutely astounding things. We know that in large measure, David lived his life in the power of God and in all he did he was certainly a "man after God’s own heart". I dare not venture a guess, however as to how Oskar Schindler did what he did. Nevertheless the conclusion is almost irresistible that God somehow worked what we might be tempted to call miraculous actions through a very imperfect vessel-a vessel approaching the stature of a very human David.

      I suspect that there are no extraordinary men and women; only ordinary people with the inclination to fail in their struggle to serve an extraordinary God.  They are people, who in spite of their deep humanity as flawed beings, are still able to accomplish amazing deeds of redemption, deliverance, compassion and mercy because of the God working powerfully within them.

 
This vignette from Lois Cheney reminds me of the extreme difficulty we human beings have in understanding the Holy God of our universe. The Apostle John stated one of the most basic realities about us; "The world lieth in wickedness" (I John 5:19 [KJV]). We are stuck in the muck of sinfulness along with the rest of this world. With this understanding, how is it possible for us to wrap our heads around the truth that despite His profound holiness, our God is not only at work in our world, but is intimately involved in a significant and meaningful way in our lives? And in this whole process, He is actually able to do some pretty amazing, in fact, astoundingly wonderful things! Could it be this is one of the reasons we call Him, God?!

Samson, one of the deliverers (called judges) of the people of Israel, didn’t seem to be one of the ‘sharpest crayons in the box’. To say he had serious problems in his choice of women friends, is a gross understatement. He allowed his eyes and his glands, instead of his head or his heart to guide his selection of women. This strong man had a weakness for Philistine women and he pursued them energetically. It was what we might call a fatal attraction, in that one of them whose name was Delilah eventually did him in. A review of Samson’s life [read Judges 13:-16:] must lead to the irresistible conclusion that this man allowed much of his life to be driven by passion, hatred and revenge. He not only was a ‘ladies man’, but his escapades led him to slaughter thousands of Philistines during his twenty year career as a judge. If anyone had feet of clay, Samson did!

Looking at Samson’s life, is it a ‘stretch’ to call him a ‘godly’ man? In all honesty, our perception of what it means to be ‘godly’ makes it extremely difficult, if not impossible to include this man among God’s ‘faithful’. And yet.....the writer of Hebrews assigned Samson a place with other people who were just as human as he----people like Gideon, Barak, Jephthah and David [read their stories].
                   
These were seriously flawed people very much like ourselves---lives knowing sin well. And God, in His heart of hearts, called them people full of faith and righteousness unlike other sinners that He considered wicked, evil and worthy of condemnation. I do not understand this at all—do you? What, in God’s mind, made the difference?

David, a very ‘earthy man’ was to become the second king of the Israelites. Even before Samuel came to anoint him as their king, God made an amazing statement regarding David. He was "a man after [God’s] own heart" (I Samuel 13:14). Was God totally unaware that as king, David would later have sex with Uriah’s wife, have him murdered and then make Bathsheba his wife?–not to mention a career filled with violence and bloodshed?

How is it God made such a seemingly brash assertion? Was God compelled to take back what He had said about this man? Nathan the prophet came to David and confronted him with his sin in the Bathsheba affair. Unlike Saul before him, he made no excuses, no arguments, no equivocations and--there was no hesitation. Pure and simply David said; "I have sinned" (II Samuel 12:1-13). Though he was a king, there was no stubbornness, no contrived indignation and no arrogance. Instead, in humility he allowed his heart to be broken, crushed and devastated by Nathan’s pointed accusation.

We have neglected this essential truth in favor of such important items as belief, faith, devotion, obedience, prayer and self control. As a result, we have failed to understand that these very noble and good qualities along with the many others essential to the believer’s walk, must spring from a heart like David’s. The writer of Proverbs understood this;
                                     
Neither Samson nor David ever lived ‘squeaky clean’ lives—and they never claimed to. Despite their extreme sinfulness, God accomplished some outright astounding things through their mottled and imperfect lives. Don’t ask me how He did it; I haven’t a clue. Just be thankful-thankful that He did so then, and still does today. Through very sinful and imperfect people, the most Holy God still works wonders, which is His will to perform. Is He happy with our sin? Not at all! And yet, like David before us, He is pleased and in fact, blesses us when we emerge from our sinfulness with a heart that is crushed, broken–even devastated.

I have seen a bumper sticker that has probably become trite, but it expresses a profound truth; "Christians are not perfect–just forgiven." People like Samson and David would heartily agree. There is a profoundly deep longing in all of us for perfection (some work at it incessantly), and someday, if we cultivate a heart like David’s, the writer of Hebrews affirms we will all be made perfect--together. Eagerly long for that glorious day!

                                                                                                                                                          -LAW-

 
        The term heresy is not commonly used in our culture, but appears in the New Testament three or four times in various forms (modern translations may use the word factions). It literally means; "An opinion". The Apostle Peter spoke of "damnable heresies" (II Peter 2:1), but a heresy that condemns, may not be a false doctrine so much as a false emphasis upon a very Biblical teaching. A particular instruction may have most, if not all of the elements of truth, but still be a heresy because a person has chosen to emphasize one element of truth over another.  He or she has chosen their opinion over and above God’s.

        An example of what a heresy might look like, is the truth of the transcendent God (don’t let my use of a big word impress or intimidate you). Is God a transcendent God,- a God who is above and separate from humanity? Or is He an indwelling personal God? The answer is ‘yes’ on both counts. But there have been abuses on both sides of this question. In order to rescue Yahweh’s holiness as a transcendently separate God, some people have chosen to deny His personal indwelling–It is said that God dwells within believers, but only through His word–the Scriptures, as people trust what that message says about Him.

        Others who are just as anxious to protect the clear teaching of the personal indwelling of Yahweh God, have tended to ignore His transcendence. As a result, for them God becomes little more than a glorified super buddy–our heavenly ‘Pal’. But the God of heaven is both a transcendent holy God whose uniqueness and separateness must be recognized and honored by us (See Revelation 4:6) and also the God Friend who dwells within us by faith and to whom we are able to cry "Abba, Father" (Ephesians 3:17 & Romans 8:15).

        Almost all truth is paradoxical–in that various elements of truth (reality) seem to be at odds with others. The very natural tendency is for us take one component of truth that fits what we want to believe and teach, while rejecting another part of that same truth which doesn’t seem to match both our perceptions and preferences. It becomes all too easy to embrace the one while ignoring the other. Is it possible to willingly step back to see if these seemingly opposing elements may be married together so that our understanding of that truth may be enhanced and not hindered? A refusal to seek a balanced understanding of reality may very well result in a heresy. Instead of an accurate portrayal of a valuable truth (like the one image above), we may find ourselves guilty of promoting a treasured opinion which gives a distorted and twisted picture of who God is.

        The complaint is often heard; "You can make the Bible say and teach anything you want it to!" This may be both valid and true. The question must be asked; "What is it I want more than anything else in my life?-An accurate understanding and portrayal of God’s truth, or my own version of what I want it to be?" What Jesus said speaks volumes to this very issue; "If anyone chooses to do God’s will, he will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own. He who speaks on his own does so to gain honor for himself, but he who works for the honor of the one who sent him is a man of truth; there is nothing false about him" (John 7:17-18). Whether the above complaint is valid or not is decided by whether we are determined to be people of truth (reality) or promoters of distorted/exaggerated reality.

        It is a daunting challenge to paint for others, a vividly clear and accurate picture of our great God in all of His glory and majesty. But there is a great sense of joy, satisfaction and exhilaration when we do it well and in the process, honor the One who is "the way, the truth and the life".

                                                                                                                                               LAW

"Consider it pure joy [emphasis mine], my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds..." (James 1:2). For literally years and years I’ve been in a quandary (even with the explanatory information immediately following), as to how James’ request here could realistically be lived out in somebody’s life. I mean, how could anyone face suffering or difficulties or hardship with a sense of joyful anticipation? Was James calling upon Christians everywhere to adopt with glee, a masochistic lifestyle? Were they to come to the place where they learned to enjoy and embrace a healthy dose of pain from time to time? I suppose in passing, one might be able to get such an impression from this reading. But I’ve never been able to bring myself to adopt such an understanding (like I said, I’ve been in a quandary over this). Such a thought just doesn’t ‘ring true’ to me.

As Jesus approached the end of His life, first in the garden of Gethsemane and then upon the cross, there was neither a sense of giddiness nor eagerness. He took Peter, James and John into a secluded area in the garden and explained his deep sorrow to them; "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death". He asked them to keep watch with Him as He moved about a stone’s throw away, falling with His face to the ground and praying to His Father. "...If it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will." (Matthew 26:36-39). It seems to me that the circumstances that would soon snuff out His life were greeted with a genuine sense of foreboding and dread.

This fits well the description in Hebrews 12:2-3; "Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame,[italics mine] and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider...[what He] endured, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart." Before everything came down, Jesus clearly envisioned all that was involved. He saw the whole picture and was keenly aware of the extreme suffering that would ultimately lead to His death. Though He loathed and despised everything about it, His attention was riveted on the goal of His suffering and death. The redemption of all humanity rested upon His shoulders along with the resulting glory that awaited Him at the Father’s right hand. And so the anticipated joy and exhilaration of it all–everything, propelled Him down the path of His Father’s will. The great joy set before Him is what made it possible for Him to successfully withstand everything that Satan threw at Him. Jesus was no masochist and He has no intention that we be either!

If we are to follow Jesus, it must not catch us by surprise that we receive no better treatment from the world than what our Master experienced. Paul made it clear what Jesus’ goal for us is; "I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us" (Romans 8:18 [NIV]). He directed similar instruction to the Corinthian believers;

                                               
Jesus focused on what was to come after His suffering and it brought Him great joy so that He was able to endure the great ordeal of the cross.  It is extremely critical, therefore, that our focus be upon Him and all that awaits us with Him even in the midst of our suffering no matter what we face.  May we walk with Him in the precious strength and faith He gives.
                                                                                                                                              

that were essential elements of his message and the very essence of who he seemed to be. Consequently, Jesus had won the admiration and hearts of the common people wherever he went.

      It was not unusual for large numbers of people to witness Roman executions. The specter of such exquisite agony always attracted the lowlifes. What was it that drew them so?- Was it a grotesque obsession toward violent death, or did they somehow derive, in the dying victims’ extreme suffering, a bit of comfort for their own contemptible and wretched existence? Indeed, as usual, they were present with their noisy, coarse and abusive patter. However, the Legionnaire and his men were taken aback. For although convicted outlaws, rabble-rousers and enemies of the state all had their friendsand family, they rarely, if ever would risk such exposure at a public execution. And yet,they were obviously here for this one: the friends, family and followers of the condemned rabbi. The soldiers had never seen so many. Pockets of them were scattered here and there across the entire landscape of Jesus’ bitter suffering and death.

      The enemies of Jesus were there as well. Typically an officer or two from the templemight bedispatched by the Sanhedrin as formal witnesses to such an execution. But today, numerous Jewish officials- not only temple police, but scribes, law experts, chief priests and several rulers from the Sanhedrin itself, arrived with great fanfare. Longinus wondered: "It is their High Holiday; Why are they here? What is it about this man that stirs such interest that they put aside other more pressing matters and responsibilities to be at this place?" He then understood as he saw-and heard the pure undiluted hatred and animosity cascade from their lips: "It has been told; ‘He walked on water–he saved his men from drowning by calming a storm in the midst of the sea.’ Save yourself and come down from the cross if you be the master of the forces of nature, God’s very own Son. At least, call upon God, your Father that he might rescue you!-if He will."

      To Longinus, it was a baffling-and ironic sight. Who could ever have imagined these elite high brow Jews who were so very careful and prudent in their greetings on the streets should be so completely at ease in this setting? And yet here they were, intermingling freely with the dregs of society, casting their insults and derisive slurs toward the dying Jesus. It seemed their combined animosity had brought them all together in solidarity for the first time-and last(?) against their despised common enemy-Not Rome, but their king, the king of the Jews.

      As crucifixions went, it was not uncommon for gathered crowds to be completely subdued in awed silence at the noisy spectacle before them. Indeed, two of the malefactors, the men dying by Jesus’ side, for the most part, were playing out this customary role. Alternately they ranted and raved, raining down curses of unspeakably vile things one moment, and the next, filling the air with shrieks of despair in their utterly bleak appeals for mercy-even mercy for a lethal but abrupt end to their suffering.

      On the other hand, the Nazarene and his demeanor throughout this whole ordeal, was an enigma tothe officer and his men. It was true; Jesus had suffered intensely. The marks ofmerciless beatings upon his body were obvious. In the judgment hall he had often cried out while his backwas being slicedto ribbons during the scourging. At the place of the skull, they beheld the shudder of his body and the gasp escaping from his mouth as the spikes were driven through his flesh into the wood of the cross. The sudden thud of the post finding its place in the earth that held the cross in its upright position, elicited a sudden rush of air from Jesus’ lungs and a muted groan that emerged from his lips.

      Yet throughout the nightmare of his agony and pain, Jesus never uttered a word of invective: there was no wailing, no cursing, no whimpering or complaining. Like the thieves beside him, he verbalized his despair, but it did not seem to be so much an anguish at the prospect of his death or physical suffering. Rather it was more the deep lament or agony of a heart grieving the momentary loss of some treasured and close relationship.

      No one would ever associate the scene of a Roman crucifixion with expressions of comfort, selflessness, compassion, pardon, forgiveness or blessing.  However, throughout the day, that is precisely what the Centurion and the soldiers with him heard and saw-repeatedly. As they had lifted up the cross in its place, Longinus would never-could never forget to his dying day, the gentle words falling from the lips of Jesus: "I forgive you, and I will pray the Father that he too will grant you pardon."

      Execution by a Roman cross was an efficient process of prolonged painful death. Being solely dependent on one’s measure of stamina and energy,some people had survived for as long as three days. The principle at work here was the ebbingof strength-each person became weaker and weaker until life was simply extinguished by the combined loss of blood and eventual suffocation.

      To the soldiers’ surprise, Jesus had lasted in his extreme suffering for only about five hours. However, his abbreviated torment on the cross was not due to a lack of strength. Rather, in spite of the repeated beatings the Galilean had received, to Longinus’ total amazement, hislevel of energy seemed to surge moment by moment. It soon became obvious that this man was not dying as a victim at all. He alone dictated his destiny. Hisvoice became more and more robust until at last, his shout reverberated through the surroundinghills: "It is completed!I have finished the task! Father, receive me to Yourself!"

      He then bowed his head andbreathed his last. In that instant the earth shuddered beneath the Centurion’s feet, as if seized by vast spasms of sorrow and grief. After three hours of a thick darkness that had enshrouded them at noontide, they were again bathed in brilliant warmth as if theextinguished sun had suddenly been reignited.

      For a long moment Longinus was utterly speechless as his mind raced in a vain attempt to explain away and process all that he had witnessed that wondrous day. Yes, it was true: the full measure of a man is not determined only by how he lives, but more significantly in how he dies. And at that moment, the Centurion heard his voice speak the treason that had already taken root in his heart: "This man may have lived well, but he has died even better!  There can be no doubt–He is indeed the master of nature, the very Son of God!"
                                                                                                                                         

       Anticipating trouble from the Jews during the Passover Feast, Pontius Pilate who was Palestine’s governor, almost always traveled up to Jerusalem from regional headquarters in Ceasarea, escorted by a cohort consisting of 480 soldiers. Longinus, with four or five other Centurions and their men, comprised this contingent of troops charged with reinforcing the cohort already permanently installedat Jerusalem since its subjugation.

      Though the common people of Palestine rarely saw the top brass of Rome, they became acutely aware of its policy ona daily basis–a policy of pain, suffering and death designed to always keep them in line. It was the Centurions and theirtroops -the ‘gears and cogs’ of Roman strategy who became the all too familiar face of Rome in a conquered land. It was up to Longinus and his Roman comrades to see that everything flowed in a smooth and orderly way–even the business of torture and death! There could be no slip ups–no mistakes or miscalculations. It was they who made the will of Rome happen on the dusty streets and roads of Jerusalem and Judea. Even the cantankerous, stubborn and ever rebelliouspeople of this god forsaken land had quickly learned not to trifle with the Roman Centurions and their men. They obviously knew their craft well!

      Longinus and his troops were at the palace early in the morning when King Herod had returned to Pilate, a young Jewish Rabbi who had been arrested the previous evening for treason. Plautius, the Centurion charged with Jesus’ arrest and transport to the various hearings, reported to Longinus the highlights of the previous night’s events before surrendering the Nazarene into his care. To Plautius, aside from the fact that these series of inquests had occurred in the dead of night and Jesus’ Jewish accusers, mainly members of the religious establishment, had been contentious, tedious and inconsistent; the proceedings were for the most part routine.

      Throughout the night, the capitol charges brought against this man were in constant flux, changing from moment to moment. Many of them were outlandish and obviously false, based upon violations of many obscure and inane interpretations of the so-called divine law of their god. Others were of a more serious nature. In their initial appearance before Pilate, the chief priests and elders charged Jesus of inciting the Palestinians to rebellion and a refusal to pay Rome its taxes. In addition they asserted that Jesus claimed to be a king in opposition to Caesar.

      Plautius noted Jesus’ complete indifference toward any of the allegations except those dealing with treason and hisclaim to kingship. To Plautius’ amazement, the few responses Jesus did offer were equally deliberate and damning: "Yes, I am a king . For this I was born. To this end I came into the world." Unlike any others he had ever seenfacing the real threat of death (with their sniveling pleas and eager excuses), this man remained cool, calm andobviously confident–clearly in total control as if he was not only aware of what was to come, but in fact, was arranging its final conclusion as well. The one thing that had caught Plautius completely off guard was Jesus’ affirmative response to the oft repeated question; "Are you the Son of God?" Jesus’ answer had elicited an involuntary gasp from Plautius when at first hehad heard it. Wasn’t he aware that Caesar alone laid claim to this divine title?!

      Plautius’ parting remarks to Longinus were dark, ominous and ultimately prophetic. "Mark my words— though thisman is by no means a criminal worthy of death, by his own admission to being the Son of God, he has placed his neck in the noose and before the day is done, he will be without the city lifted upon a stake, and you will be presiding over his execution. By the gods; Mark these words, my friend; Fare you well." And with that, he was gone.

      Longinus returned to the temporary quarters of Pilate where some of his men had already relieved Plautius’ detachment of soldiers guarding the young cleric from Galilee. Longinus positioned himself at the doorway of the palace so that from its vantage point, he could witness both Pilate’s negotiations on the porch withthe Jewish leadersoutside while keeping an eye upon the bound Jesus who was located across the great hall within.

      He listened intently to the contentious haggling going on without while his trained eye scrutinized the prisoner who stood (if that is what it could be called) among the legionnaire’s company of men. It was obvious to him that along with the rigors of a sleepless night in endless questioning, this rabbi’s sweaty sagging body had been exposed to numerous beatings and other humiliating abuses of varying degrees. Jesus was barely able to peer out from his severely swollen eyes while the rest of his face and body were extensively marked with cuts, abrasions, bruises and welts. Longinus instinctively knew this man’s ordeal was far from over.

      Hour after hour, the morning wore on as the wrangling continued. A faithful sentinel,the Centurion wasattentive to all that transpired before him. Pilate alternately shuttled between the palace’s porch facing the assembled throng, and the judgment hall where he was rarely successful in pressing Jesus to answer the indictments against him. From the very beginning, the governor suspected the Jewish authorities had nothing of substance against this harmless man. They had their own vindictively private reasons for wantingthis man dead.But they were using the serious charge of treason as a cover for their jealousy and rage. As this conviction grew, the governor more aggressively explored avenues for Jesus’ acquittal and release- a release to which he suspected the Jewish rulers would never willingly agree.

      Longinus’ position at the door of the palace allowed him to observe the vitriol hatred of the leaders intensify as their compatriots worked the crowds, whipping their emotions to a white hot fury. His cautious, patient and keen observations were irresistibly moving him to the same conclusions of his master when he finally heard Pilate declare; "I, as well as king Herod, have found this man guiltless of all charges against him. ThereforeI will scourge him and let him go." At this, the throng and their leaders, became more andmore unruly andboisterous, clamoring repeatedly for Jesus’ blood. "Let him be put to death! Let him be put todeath! Crucifyhim!" "Why?-What crime has he committed that warrants his death?" inquired Pilate. Again, the crowd that was quickly becoming a mob cried out; "To the cross with him! To the cross!"‡

      In that instant, one lone voice sliced through the air and furor, arresting the attention ofeveryone; "We have a law that says he ought to die because he has made himself out to be the Son of God!"  Here it was again-the recurring connection between this Judean Rabbi and Caesar’s divine title; The son of God.  His many years of soldiering permitted Longinus to detect the imperceptible tensing of Pilate’s body as he abruptly turned uponhis heel, retreating to the relative safety of the palace. As he whisked past him through the doorway, the soldier saw that the blood had drained from his master’s face and for an instant, there was not just fear, but abject terror in his eyes. Longinus had seen that look before- in battle, upon the faces of seemingly invincible foes that he and his regiments would later crush under their feet. In that fleeting glance, the Centurion knew Pilate had been defeated. As Plautius’ fateful remarks resonated in his head, Longinus immediately ordered four of his soldiers to prepare a place of execution for this hapless victim.

      Pilate charged across the hall. Still trembling, he snapped; "By the gods, Who are you?!--Where are you from?" As before, he was greeted with silence. Exasperated, he tried again. "Do you not know your life hangs in the balance, and only I alone stand between you and death?" Longinus was both stunned and awestruck at Jesus’ response. It was measured, calm and steady as if by his skillful hands, he was bringing some routine project to a satisfying and successful conclusion. Through bruised and bloodied lips the ironic reply came; "You, Sir, have no dominion over me, but that given you by the divine power from above."

      Attempting to regain his composure, Pilate hesitated at the doorway to the porch, and then turned to Longinus: "Have the prisoner scourged!" Stepping through the portal, he once again faced the unruly crowd outside the hall. As Longinus forwarded his master’s orders, and his men set about this dreadfully brutal task, he knew Pilate’s best efforts to free this man would ultimately end in futility. Not even the lashing which at that moment was reducing Jesus’ body to a single mass of quivering bleeding flesh could sway this bloodthirsty mob. They wanted Jesus dead and nothing short of that would do, period.

      The scourging was accomplished and Jesus was led out of the hall onto the porch attired in a robe found by the soldiers, along with a crown of thorns which they had thrust upon his head. Pointing to the prisoner who had been flayed beyond recognition, Pilate boldly announced "Behold your king!". The comeback was immediate; "We have no king, but Caesar! Let this man be killed–nail him to a cross!" Pilate was incredulous; "You would have me kill your king and not release him?" Their reply shook him to the very core of his being; "Let this man go, and you are no friend of Caesar’s. Anyone who claims to be a king is the enemy of Rome!" Thrust into an impossible situation between what he knew to be right and what was expedient for his survival as the governor of Palestine, Pilate dejectedly sat upon the judgment dais. Washing his hands, he declared; "I will not be responsible for the blood of this innocent man." And with that, he pronounced judgment upon Jesus, charging Longinus, the Centurion with his immediate execution.
                                                                                                                                              

[to be continued]-----  'click' this link:   http://mr-turniphead.xanga.com/686884443/the-subtle-miracle-of-jesus-death-prtii/

 *All Roman Centurions had names. I have chosen to use the name 'Longinus', the name traditionally associated with the Centurion at the crucifixion of Jesus.  After our Lord's death, he reputedly returned to his home in Capadocia to preach about Jesus and was later beheaded for his faith.

‡Much of the diaglogue in this story is a mixture of phrases from the following translations of Scripture; NIV, TEV, LB, NEB, PHILLIPS, JERUS BIB, plus various paraphrases. I used the following texts of the Gospels primarily as the basis of this story; Matthew 26:57-27:54, Luke 22:54-23:47 and John 18:12-19:30.