He chooses and saves one of his
crucifiers, by Alexander Smelly. Jesus said, Father, forgive them,
for they do not know what they are doing. And they divided up
his clothes by casting lots, Luke 23, verse 34. And when the centurion, who stood
there in front of Jesus, heard his cry and saw how he died,
he said, Surely this man was the Son of God. Mark 15, verse
39. He who hung in sheer and marvelous
mercy on the cross craves a trophy of grace and will not be satisfied
until he has it. Out of the ranks of cruel paganism,
he chooses and saves one of his crucifiers. The Saviour had been
praying, and it is evident now that his prayer was not in vain. Father, forgive them! He had
entreated God for the very Roman centurion who had nailed him
to his tree of shame, and had then sat down and barbarously
gambled for his clothes. Yet he is fully and instantly
forgiven, led bound in blessed thraldom by him whose arms he
had fettered. transformed into the confessor
of the man he crucifies. Let me rejoice that nothing is
too hard for the prayers of Jesus. He asks God for my salvation
and pardon, the conquest of my unthinking and earth-chained
mind, the renewal of my selfish, proud, and disobedient life. In the heavenly place He lifts
His holy and pierced hands on my behalf, and the Father gives
Him His heart's desire, and does not withhold the request of His
lips.