11/18/2023 0 Comments Roman soldier jesusThe soldier was not named in the Bible but the wider biblical apocrypha does give a name. Land of the Rising Sun: Did Jesus Retire To Rural Japan?.The Sacro Catino: Did Napoleon break the Holy Grail?. Their stories are among the most inspirational in The Spirit War. Both are important contributors to the ultimate triumph of Jesus Christ over Death and Satan. The two personages who did this most in The Spirit War are Mary Magdalene and Longinus. A fun and interesting part of writing a novel, is how characters can grow within a plot and take on a life of their own. Carnicus’ alliance with evil spirits gives him superhuman strength for attacking Longinus. His vileness makes him easy prey for possession by demons, which he welcomes. Carnicus is Longinus’ bitterest rival within the army. Instead, Pilate gave in to political expediency, calculating that an innocent life counted less than risking a riot.Ĭaius Carnicus, a made-up character, embodies the brutal dark side of the Roman empire. He could have shown some spine and stopped it. He washed his hands in front of the crucifixion mob, to symbolize having no part in unjustly condemning Christ to the cross. Pontius Pilate, the Roman Governor of Palestine, embodies the smug cynicism of the politically powerful. Longinus has two Roman adversaries – enemies who use different kinds of power against Jesus and him. Even so, storied Longinus is a saint of both the Greek Orthodox and Roman Catholic churches. Quite appropriate, since we are dealing with an unverifiable character for which there is no documented history. Throughout the Trilogy, Longinus’ exploits are the stuff of legend. Well into his eighties, the old ex-soldier has a final encounter with the Blessed Mother. We last see Longinus in the epilogue, thirty-one years after the crucifixion. But by God’s grace, the disgraced soldier lands on his feet and becomes a successful gentleman farmer. A debacle for Rome follows, and Longinus is dishonorably discharged from the army. The Messiah’s only Roman friend tries to stop the crucifixion but fails. In Healing and Redemption, Book 3 of The Spirit War, Longinus is the Roman Tribune of Northern Palestine when Jesus Christ is crucified. In Books 2 and 3, Longinus rises to the rank of General in the Roman army. Through Joseph, Longinus meets the Blessed Mother and develops a lifelong platonic love for her. We first meet this Roman early in Book 1, as an ambitious young centurion of twenty, wanting to live up to family tradition as a soldier. In The Spirit War, Longinus is a close second to the Blessed Mother in longevity within the Trilogy. His name, Longinus, is from Christian folklore. This soldier became the first Roman convert to Christ. Water and blood from the the side of the dead Messiah splashed from the spear wound into his eyes, and restored his sight. Legend has it that this soldier suffered from poor vision. Longinus, though not named in any of the four Gospels, is supposed to be the soldier who drove a spear into crucified Jesus Christ, to make sure he was dead. Matthew 27:54, Mark 15:39, John 19:31-34 Ever wonder what a decent, intelligent Roman who got to know Jesus might think of him? Longinus Ciprianus is that character in The Spirit War. One of the soldiers pierced Jesus’ side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water. But when they came to Jesus and found that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. So they asked Pilate to have the legs broken and the bodies taken down……. The Jewish leaders did not want the bodies left on the crosses during the Sabbath. They were terrified, and exclaimed, “Surely he was the Son of God!”Īnd when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, saw how he died, he said, “Surely this man was the Son of God!” The centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened.
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