Marcus: The Centurion's Journey to Faith - Episode #5

Journal Entry-Monday, August 31, 26 A.D.

Journal Entry - Marcus the Centurion
Date: Monday, August 31, 26 A.D. (Year of the Consulship of Lentulus and Agrippa, 778 Ab urbe condita)

I’m on my way back to Judea now. The ride is long, and though the roads are familiar, the weight on my shoulders feels heavier than usual. Duty calls, as it always does, but this time, it’s different. There’s no avoiding what waits for me when I arrive—public punishment. Four thieves and one murderer. The murderer, in particular, carries the heaviest sentence. He took the life of a Roman soldier, and Rome’s justice in such matters is swift and severe.

I’ve delivered punishment before. It’s part of the job, and as a centurion, I’ve learned to harden myself to the tasks required of me. Rome’s law is absolute, and it’s my duty to ensure that it’s carried out. But something about this trip back to Judea feels different, heavier. Maybe it’s the faces of those men that are starting to haunt me before I’ve even laid eyes on them. Or maybe it’s the time I’ve spent at home with my family, a reminder of what I’ve lost and the man I’ve become.