Mark’s gospel opens with: “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.” Writing from within the city of Rome, Mark’s entire gospel is an attempt to show the Romans that Jesus Christ truly was the Son of God; all of Mark’s gospel moves towards that aim. Now after the death of Christ, after He has poured out His life on the cross, the first Roman—a hardened soldier at the foot of the cross—finally understands who Jesus really is. The cross of Christ has had its effect. What started with one Roman soldier at the foot of the cross had grown to well over 1000 Christians in Rome by the time Mark wrote his gospel. What was it that made this first Roman soldier see what Mark hopes that we all will see, that Jesus is the Son of God given for us?
