I've always found that ironic ... as Christians we speak of being washed clean, or of having our robes washed clean, in the Blood of The Lamb. I think of the Centurion who stabbed his spear into Jesus' side, while His body hung on the cross. The Centurion certainly got some of Jesus' blood and water on him ... what an honor! Pious tradition names him Longinus, and holds him as one of the earliest Christians.
His Blood be upon us indeed!
In third grade Catechism we were taught that the Centurion out of a sincere desire to end Christ’s suffering by hastening His death. It was common at the time for death by crucifixion to take several days, while the Lord was condemned in the morning and dead by sundown.