It's interesting. I remember growing up hearing my parents recollect exactly where they were when certain events in history happened. JFK's assassination was the main one, but moon landings, the Berlin Wall coming down, and other events were well engraved into their memories as well. Folks older than them could remember equally historic events, Pearl Harbor leading the way. All through my life I remember time and time again hearing such stories about life-scarring events so sensational, those alive when it happened had never forgotten the moment. And all through my life I could not recollect any such moment, other than a few fleeting thoughts of the Gulf War and an even less prominent memory of the Wall falling.
That all changed 9 years ago.
As I sit here, one day and nearly a decade removed from that event, I can honestly say I do remember pretty vividly the events of that day. Unlike many of those told me by parents and friends, though, my memories don't have many visuals of the attacks themselves. Being so close to Ground Zero, we didn't have anything but radios and phone calls to give us descriptions, which only added to that feeling deep in my gut that this was something significant, something larger than a footnote in history, something I'd never get out of my mind.
The centurion's response to the death of Christ is a very subtle, yet significant response. Speculations have been made about how much of Jesus' final days he may have experienced first hand, and we do not know if it was the entire ordeal collectively, what transpired as soon as it was over, or just the manner in which Jesus finally gave up His Spirit, but there is one thing we know for certain: He knew this was something beyond him, beyond those there, beyond Caesar, and even beyond Rome itself. Jesus' death was timeless.
Unlike the events we've gone through, though, this particular one was not restricted to the confines of one single moment. It's not hindered by the separation of generations or dulled by the retelling of its events. The experience he had, where he stood at the foot of the Cross and came to understand who the Son of God was, is one shared time and time again; since that moment and till well past our days here on earth. It is one each of us has personally come in contact with, and one that has left another day still vivid in our minds, the one of our immersion into the Kingdom of God where our sins were washed away for ever.
Praise God for that day. Thank Him for those who were responsible in getting you to the foot of the Cross. Pray for those who still need to stand in awe of His glory, character, honor, and sacrifice. And Start acting in the lives of those around you, so they can witness the day their life forever changed.
Brett "The last time I tried to dance, someone threw me a life preserver thinking I was drowning on dry land" Hibbler
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