Perfect Love

1 John 4:18 (NIV) There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

As I’ve been meditating on this key passage from John’s first epistle, my thoughts have gone repeatedly to the cross where Jesus died, the perfectly just for the unjust, and to the centurion who stood at the foot of the cross, praising God and exclaiming, “Surely this was the Son of God!” The experience of this man at the cross shows how the love of God (perfect love) drives out the fear of man.

With fear and trembling, I tried to put myself in the place of this centurion and imagine the emotional turmoil he must have been experiencing. Wasn’t this the officer in charge of those Roman soldiers who tormented Jesus, mocked Him, crucified him, and sat down to keep watch over him as He died? (Matt 27:36). Matthew tells us that the centurion “saw all that happened” (Matt 27:54). It is likely that he also heard everything that happened. He heard those passers-by who insulted Jesus saying, “…Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!” (Matt 27:39-40) He heard the chief priests and elders who mocked Jesus for trusting God and claiming to be the Son of God (Matt 27:41-43). The centurion heard the mockers but he did not mock….”Surely he was the Son of God,” he exclaimed (Matt 27:54). What made the difference?

First, it is very likely that the centurion heard Jesus’ dying words when He “called out with a loud voice, ‘Father, into your hands I commit my spirit’” (Luke 23:46). The centurion knew those were the words of an innocent man, perfectly at peace with God, and he saw that a great miscarriage of justice had been carried out on his watch. He cried out, “Surely this was a righteous man” (Luke 23:47). He saw the darkness that enveloped them; he felt the earth tremble beneath his feet; he was terrified (Matt. 27:54)! This was guilt-fear, but it moved quickly to awe and faith. Why?

Mark tells us that the centurion was standing right in front of Jesus (Mark 15:39). Surely he had heard Jesus’ words earlier when He said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34). Not only was this a righteous man, but He also asked God to forgive his executioners. At that moment, did the centurion’s eyes meet the eyes of Jesus? …They were piercing eyes; they were eyes full of “tough love.” The centurion’s guilt-fear moved to awe and worship when he saw how Jesus died! Unashamedly he stood there in front of his men, in front of the chief priests; were there tears of joy streaming down his face? Mark doesn’t say…but we know the centurion was praising God and exclaiming, “Surely this man was the Son of God!” (Mark 15:39).

That is how the love of God overcomes the fear of man!