Yes, he knew what he was making but he had no idea of the ramifications. Using the tongs, he took the eight -inch piece of iron out of the flames and began hammering it to a point on one end. He would make two more, identical to the first. You see, they come in sets of three.
He knows these will be used to cause excruciating torture and finally death. So why does he do it? Remember, he has a family to feed.
These three simple nails would be used to attach a man who is called Jesus to a cross. Marcus doesn’t know Jesus and has never seen a crucifixion, but for some unknown reason he wants to be there and see his handiwork being used.
Marcus had no idea what to expect. This crucifixion would be like no other. As soon as Jesus took his last breath while nailed to the cross, darkness fell over the entire land during the middle of the day.The Roman Centurion had performed hundreds of crucifixions and had never seen that happen before. He could feel in his bones that something very different and special was about to happen which would cause him to proclaim Jesus the son of God.
Then things got really wild as an earthquake happened causing the burial stones that were placed in front of the graves to split open. This allowed those that had been buried inside and returned to life to come out.
Later, Marcus found out the curtain in the Jewish temple that separated the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies was torn from top to bottom symbolizing the separation between God and man was now removed. He knew that the curtain was as thick as the width of his hand.Two horses attached to the curtain pulling in opposite directions wouldn’t be able to tear it apart. And yet tear it did. From top, where no man could reach, to bottom.
None of this made any sense… unless Jesus really was the Son of God.
Then it hit him like a ton of bricks. He realized he was partially responsible for killing the Son of God because it was his nails that kept Jesus on that cross.
He fell into a deep depression for months. Finally Tobias, a follower of Jesus met with him.
“Marcus, Jesus is all powerful.Your nails couldn’t keep Jesus on that cross. No Marcus, it wasn’t your nails that kept Jesus on that cross. It was your sins…. and mine too. Jesus died voluntarily on that cross to re-establish mankind's relationship with God, one by one, lf they so desire.”