Notes of Sermon Preached at Holy Trinity Cathedral on Sunday Morning, May 16, on the Occasion of the S.V.C. Church Parade by Captain the Rev. E. F. Horst-Smith, Chaplain $.V.C. and Minister of Union Church "Certainly thi was @ Righteous Man." Luke 28 ¥. 47.
'That was the conclusion reached about his judgment though that by the Roman Centurion who was would involve a corresponding' dit told off to superintend the greatest Reulty in. changing his lopinione, tragedy of history, He, of course, Then too we are further confirmed had no authority to deliver a Judi: in our belief that to become a tens cial verdict, Regarding the charges turion implied the possession of some rough against Jesus and. the! strength of character by the fact evidence, true or false, that was! that the New Testament mentions presented in support of them, he! several other centurions: and they knew next to nothing. His business are all worthy men. It +may be fas to obey orders. "He had indeed that St. Luke ed 'a particularly 2 real share in the crucifixion of safe place in. his. heart for. cen Jesus, but he was not responsible gurfony, for he never misses chance ier that share "He ay 6 rat of of sup" foo word stot them, f arent military and governmental As a class he found them a machine, He acted as hands and set of men, All this makes feet for other ten, 'They said t9 particularly disposed to heat' what him, "Go? and he went; "Do this" and' he did i, [We welcome his testimony as that cne of them has to say about Jesus, "These gruesome and heart-rending of an independent witnece' 'Te seep task had become a habit with hims, be Urged against ministers of rel ho could hardly have avoided becom.' gion that their testimony is not {ng callous. Moreover, at the outset Unbiassed, thee they ere bald to had no reason to. suppose that preach and that their opinions are Jesus was different feom the many Uneonsciously influenced. by" thet thers he had done to death. "Re- feet." Well, it is not very Iuera: hellions were rife and rebels were tive profession and there are com. humerous} and sedition against the, paratively few who would not get Roman. government was the ac-! more of this world's goods in other ensation brought against Jesus. positions. But let that pass and The difference between Jesus and listen to the testimony of this cent others she had been condemned on turion where interests were men: 2 milar charge was one that only ced by" his. witness and who. ren
ition, But that impression and the gradually dawned "upon the. Gene considerable risks making it Neeompanying unensiners increased, TM€ Centurion's First Hand itheteryatege of the proceedings, Tent they words forced' themselves ' 11, Let ug ask a second Observation question Righteous Man sie How did he arrive at it? Te was Three Question: {Feeall some of the opportunities hand observation, Let Shall we ty to newer three this he probably had of cbsersing questions regarding the Centurion's the deeds of Jesus, "When: ehh subordinates," he had gone tothe What was its Value? Tt was Garden of Gethsemane to arrece the testimony of an independent wit.
Jesus, he must have been impressed T ness. E thought of describing the, with I Centurion us a neutral, s aman {sire to shield the. disciples: unselfishness and His de-"Let Without bias; for he war neither there go their way", He said. Then, 4 direiple of Jesus nor an enemy, during the trials Be fore the three But the ease in even stronger than for no man -is fre. from Diag and the Conturion's bias was almost certainly against Jesus. Tt has been said that the officials of the War Office are not naturally pacifists, nor are members of the 8 ends naturally. mil Judges, the Centurion must. have hnotfeed the quiet dignity of J contrast cyclen Phas, the frivolity of Herod the cowardice of Pilate andthe cruelty of the common soldiers: And 4 litle tater on, at different me tervals, ho would have: heard the a break with tradition, an opinion against a natural bias. Such people are not open to the charge of rationalizing, ie. of acting first and then seeking for reasons afterwards, Now, if a disciple had deeisred Jesus was a Righteous Man, that is what we should have expected. Hig confession would have been a part of his discipleship. But when the officer who has been entrusted with the task of His execution declares Him righteous, then our attention may well be aroused: here isa declaration made against the Interest of the man who makes it, esti of revenge of hate, but fal either death or even sin. paca a Tave that "was ston Seven tinea He spoke, even worde of The And the centurion was there and his honest mind was taking in the impression. Others had previous: ly said: "Never man spoke like fan." That day, with" even greater reason, the centurion could Te-echo those words and add to "Never man wrought like th never man suffered like th Such a contercion demanite our meet Man serious thought, Words Anal thst'te-what we-alen: part of their value from the pers Sonality of the speaker.
The very lat is what we wish all [thoughtful people to do: to give Teaus a chance to make His own imed with the utmost import, We are) in any way; dist la bs garding opi 1 is it that lio you. Rue study el of expresses them? ry few epini- 1 ier on who Hie ons are the result of pare reasons ani'aig qemget onder on whee Te saad mos of them havea feyetotrical gpy El SIN 1. Tet these influence gh, What other than 9 logical explanation. or ext, to look more closely at this man r schod by the fede sous toa We may therefore ye well advised "Bue eas mot thig
on. oan +o Ramat so 1 [Ser lementany one? What, after! pio made this mumentoun Gelafo Teault of hie owe shoorration Possessed of a sense of justice. for weal fave ten he ita tne shat was che of the be was an officer. nation like icher conclusion with only a frae-[tion of the: scul agony required for [his simpler one?' Yes, but it is Rome, which governed most of fF better to have an' inadequate] the then known world, military 'impression of your own than to matters were taken seriously. 'To 2" & perfect one of someone become a centurion he must have'! It is the thing arrived at} deen at least 40 year of age, £0! there would be a certain maturity your own observation that has for you. Once when Pilate!
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.