The experiences.
The experiences that everyone must have had with Jesus must were life changing. Everyone from his immediate family to the most distant outcast once they either heard or witnessed it, their lives were changed. Let’s look at three events whose lives were changed because of Christ. First, there were the shepherds whom when the angels appeared and followed the instructions to see the Messiah, went their ways amazed and filled with awe (Lk2:16-18). Then, there were his parents, whom after bringing the child to temple encountered Simeon who was revealed that he would not die until he would see the salvation come (Lk2:28-30) and were left in awe. Finally, Jesus’ closest friends the disciples, who were left in amazement when they were in the middle of the sea in a fierce storm that obeyed the Christ and left (Mt8:25-27). These were people who did not know who he really was and that were impacted by the Lord during his bonding time with man.
Matthew 27:50-54
50 Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.
51 And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;
52 And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,
53 And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.
54 Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God.
During his most tumultuous moments when he gave up his life, the impact was even greater to those who witnessed it. Once he gave up his spirit the temple veil torn from top to bottom and the earth quaked vehemently breaking rocks apart. Causing at the resurrection for the Old Testament saints to rise along with Christ from the dead, after the earthquake. But who witnessed these events? The rumor was that the religious leaders thought that the disciples were planning to steal the body of Christ to make seemed as he rose from the dead, so they set a group of soldiers along with a centurion to keep the tomb. This centurion along with the other soldiers were like the common men who went through his day at work to feed his family, as was the thief on the cross. He is known as Petronus, whom after witnessing all the events from Christ’s last words and death at the cross to the earthquake and the resurrection three days after believed.
The Centurion’s confession is properly fitted for the common man. It was similar to Peter’s confession (Mt16:15-16) with the exception that he was already convinced, and the centurion was not. After all the evidence and personal experiences of Petronus and his men had, their lives needed to change. They were the only ones who were there from the judgment time to the resurrection. They probably encounter some of the Old resurrected saints as they witnessed to those there.
Luke 2:16-18
16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. 17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.18 And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.
Luke 2:28-30
28 Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said,29 Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: 30 For mine eyes have seen thy salvation,
Matthew 8:25-27
25 And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish. 26 And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm. 27 But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!
Matthew 16:14-15
14 And they said, “Some say John the Baptist; and others, a]Elijah; and still others, b]Jeremiah, or one of the other prophets.” 15 He *said to them, “But who do you yourselves say that I am?”