A Change of Heart

Have you ever witnessed someone’s changed heart? We have all seen this, and when it happens, it is stunning. We meet a person with whom we are dealing, perhaps in some transaction, who is very cold toward us; however, somewhere along the line, the person’s heart changes. We believe God touches people and changes them.

It is wonderful to experience a change of heart from unbelief to belief. At the cross, such a change of heart took place in the Roman soldiers. Look at this remarkable picture: When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified and exclaimed, “Surely he was the Son of God!” (Matt 27:54).

What changed these hardened Roman soldiers? What brought them to this place where they concluded Jesus was the Son of God? These men saw the mocking insults hurled at Jesus just hours before. He was told to come down from the cross if he was the Son of God.

The crucifixion had been no more than a routine execution, one these soldiers had routinely performed on many occasions. However, on this occasion, the soldiers concluded that Jesus was the Son of God. He was not the common criminal they believed he was. They had treated him as such by nailing him to the cross and gambling for his robe. But they came to believe he indeed was the Son of God! Matthew tells us what they saw and how they felt. When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, “Surely he was the Son of God!” (Matt 27:54).

Matthew believes their confession followed the divine display of several supernatural signs.

There was an earthquake and darkness at midday. Witnessing the quake, the strange darkness, and Jesus’ courageous death opened their eyes.

These soldiers were “filled with awe” of what they saw and heard. They had only moments before nailed Jesus to the cross and showed disrespect for him by gambling for his clothing, but now they have come to believe he is God! However, they heard him pray: “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” We know he answered the thief who asked to be saved by telling him, “Today you will be with me in Paradise.” They heard him pray, “Father, into your hands, I commend myself.”

At the foot of the cross, these soldiers had a change of heart. The same men who executed Jesus by nailing him to the cross now have the faith to believe that he is the Son of God. These soldiers reacted the same way the disciples reacted when Jesus calmed the sea. They believed that he was the Son of God, and they worshiped him.