The Roman Soldier

A bit early for Easter, but I wrote this in college when I was in my journalism stage. I feel that it was the best piece I wrote. I have taken some literary liberties since it is my own piece. Hope you enjoy!


This is how I envision the Roman Soldier:


I was there when it happened. In fact, I flogged Him with a whip that sliced through His skin. As His blood flowed from the wounds, I smiled. After all, He was just a common criminal. At one point, he turned His face to me and I was angered by His strength. How could this insolent man still claim to be God? The Jews handed Him over to Pilate, Pilate gave Him a trial, and He became Rome's Criminal.


His legs buckled when He received the 28th last. At 38, He could hardly stand. After 39, He was on His knees. About two hours later, He faced daylight for the last time. That was when we were on our way u to Golgotha. We laughed and spat in His face as He trudged up the hill. When He stumbled, we kicked Him and forced Him along on His journey.


"You who were going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, where is your God now?" scoffed a Jew.


"If you are the Son of God, free yourself, oh King of the Jews!" screamed a samaritan.


Then I heard a faing voice say, "He brought my brother back from the dead! He's innocent!"


I whirled around to find the treasonous woman, but there were too many people crowded around us so we continued.


When the so called Christ fell down unable to get up, we forced Simon of Cyrene to come and help carry His cross. When we reached the top, Simon dropped the cross and disappeard into the crowd, weeping. Jesus lay down on the ground of the hill. His sweat dripped down into the thirsty soil along with His blood.


We drove the nails into His wrists carefully. He winced as the spikes were driven in. A young soldier of the Roman Guard nailed His feet.


Then we lifted the cross and put it in a hole, making sure that it would stand straight up. Jesus'body convulse with pain and a few onlookers laughted. A crown of thorns had been pressed onto His head, and a sign reading King of Jews in three languages had been placed on the cross.


After the first hour, He became thirsty. During the second hour, His breathing became raspy. He called out to God, "My God! My God! Why have you forsaken me?" I could see that He was burdened. I could see the anguish on His face.


The two men on each side of Him were keeping watch. One had been caught stealing and the other was a murderer. Both were in the same pricament as He. One said, "if you are really the Son of God, free us and yourself." The other said, "Please remember me."


He answered the second saying, "Today you will be with me in paradise."


The third hour was fast approaching and I watched more earnestly as His breathing becae shallow. Then He lifted His head and looked into the crowd and said, "Father! Forgive them for they know not what they do."


A few more minutes passed by and I thought He was dead. I stepped towards Him when suddenly He lifted His head and gathering all of His strength cried out in a loud voice, "IT IS FINISHED!" and breathed His last breath.


One of the soldiers walked up and stuck a spear in His side. It was standard procedure, yet I grabbed it from him. "Can't you see? He's dead! Some God!"


That night as I slept, I dreamt about His crucifixion. I dreamt aboutht the people mocking Him and the thief pleading that He would remember him. I looked at Him and He turned His head to me. We were staring at each other, eye to eye. With so much emothion in His face, despite His pain, He said, "Father forgive him, for he knows not what he has done."


I awoke with a jolt. Sweat rolled down my face, and I realized that Jesus was the Christ. The one whom they had called King of the Jews, Jesus of Nazareth, was in fact the Son of God.


I knelt on the floor understanding that His burdens on the cross were my sins. Humbled I prayed for forgiveness. I knew that though I had tortured and murdered Him, Christ longed to have me in His Kingdom. Three days later, as my brother stood guard at His tomb, Hearose from the grave fulfilling yet another prophecy. My brother now knows Him as the Christ, though if Rome finds him, he will surely lose his life.


Do not be in despair. For where others have turned away the love that you have for them, God will return it a hundred fold to you. Our sins pass beyond the barriers of time to the cross. His love washes them away for all eternity.