Truly this was the Son of God!

But when they came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs. But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out. And he who has seen has testified, and his testimony is true; and he knows that he is telling the truth, so that you may believe. For these things were done that the Scripture should be fulfilled, “Not oneof His bones shall be broken.”  And again another Scripture says, “They shall look on Him whom they pierced.”(John 19:33-37)

 So when the centurion and those with him, who were guarding Jesus, saw the earthquake and the things that had happened, they feared greatly, saying, “Truly this was the Son of God!” (Matthew 27:54)

This soldier, according to Church Tradition, was Longinus, the Centurion.  In fact, some historians are not sure if Longinus was the actual birth name of the Centurion, or rather a name now given to him since he was the one who held the spear, which is “longhi” in Greek.

Longinus had a disease in his eyes and was healed of his affliction when the blood and water poured forth from the side of Christ and touched his eyes.  Looking upon all that had happened shook Longinus to the depths of his soul, and he confessed his faith that “Truly this was the Son of God.”  Longinus and his band of soldiers also stood guard at the tomb and were present at the Resurrection. The Jewish authorities attempted to bribe the soldiers but Longinus and two others refused to be paid for their silence.  They declared their belief in Christ and in the Resurrection.  They left the military service, were baptized and they went out to preach the good news of Christ in Cappadocia.Upon hearing of mass conversions in Cappadocia, the Jewish authorities persuaded Pontius Pilate to send soldiers to Cappadocia to kill Longinus and his companions.  They beheaded the three of them, taking the head of Longinus back to Pontius Pilate. (Orthodox Christian Network;4/19/2016)

Who do YOU say Jesus is?