It was a warm day as I headed for work. The commute is most frustrating during the festival; over a million Jews descend on Jerusalem to celebrate Passover. People, sacrificial lambs, merchants, street hawkers, shopping – it is a shopper’s paradise, but not if you are responsible for maintaining law and order. As a Roman soldier, I have been involved with the special Passover arrangements for so many years that I didn’t think much of this one; well at least not till much later, as I would look back on the events of the day.

Duty assigned for the day was to crucify three people, one of whom was a Jewish leader called Jesus. I had heard much about Him – His miracles, His teaching, His compassion, so when I saw that people wanted Him crucified, that on a Passover day, I was much intrigued.

Our band of soldiers wanted to check out how genuine this man really was and were particularly cruel to Him. They mocked Him, heckled Him, pulled his hair, hit thorns on His head. Yet, He was like a rock. His lack of any reaction infuriated them further. However, there was no denying there was something about Him.

On Golgotha, as the crosses were raised, quite a crowd had gathered. I realized not all the crowd had gathered there out of sympathy for Jesus – some were even there to mock Him. Then there were others; those who He had healed, raised from the dead, cast off demons, all sorts who benefited from Him! All these stood at a distance; stood as if expecting something to happen. I am not sure if they expected a dramatic rescue or another miracle. Sadly for them, nothing like that happened.

As soldiers, we normally divide up equally what belongs to the person crucified. In this case, Jesus had a seamless outer garment and dividing it up did not make sense, so we cast lots and I drew it. The seamless robe was mine, but I didn’t think much of it.

It was six long hours before Jesus finally gave up His ghost, and almost like a miracle the crowd started to leave. I guess, they figured the only hope of something happening, was while He lived. Whatever it was they had hoped would happen, did not happen. They must have been terribly disappointed. As the crowd was leaving an older woman walked up to me and asked if she could just hold the seamless robe for a moment. She held the robe with such care and affection, that I had to find out the reason. She explained that she had a blood disorder for twelve years that no doctor or money could cure, and that one day in faith she had sneaked up behind Jesus and touched this very robe to be instantly healed. Though she continued her story, my mind was whirring – did Jesus’ power lay with  this robe? No wonder, I began to speculate, He did not, or could not do anything to save Himself while on the cross.

These thoughts surrounded me, the robe tucked neatly and handled with utmost care, as I headed back home that evening.

Home that evening was a different story. My littlest one had fallen off the terrace and was bleeding badly. The whole family was in panic, the best doctors were already summoned, sacrifices to our gods were being made continuously, every cure was tried, but the bleeding would not stop. I was getting desperate, that’s when I remembered the robe-- The seamless robe. I was frantic and almost delirious with excitement that I had something that will make my little one okay.

I quickly brought the robe, made her touch the hem, but nothing happened. I made her touch the entire robe. In my desperation I made her wear it, but no miracle was forthcoming. I felt duped. I felt anger, frustration, desperation, fear.

There was no magic in the robe, absolutely no magic…

It’s only then that I seriously started to think about the events of the day. I played out in my mind, over and over again everything that happened – the things that Jesus said on the cross, the darkness, the earthquake, the torn veil at the temple that was reported. Seeing all that even my boss, the centurion, honestly admitted Jesus was a righteous man.

If I learnt anything today, I must say it is this. I was foolishly excited about brining the seamless robe home, but in my excitement I left Jesus on the cross.

Now I know, it was not the robe but it was Jesus who made the difference. I told you there was something about Him! Now I know, He is the Messiah and I know it with all my heart and I hope today you also will find Jesus to be your true Messiah.

God Bless