Now when the centurion, who stood in front of him, saw how he died, he said, “Truly this man was God’s Son!”
Mark 15:39
Into the Text
After God’s people had waited for thousands of years for the long-awaited Rescuer, Jesus finally came. He loved others and taught what a life of trusting and following Him looked like.
In all of this, Jesus didn’t mince His words. He told His audience that He had been sent by God and therefore required total allegiance.
With Jesus’ growing popularity, His radical teaching, and His mission to seek and save the lost, the religious leaders’ hatred and jealousy continued to grow. It grew to the point that they sought to have Him killed. Though they thought they were working to kill an imposter, Jesus’ death was part of God’s plan.
After being betrayed by one of His disciples, arrested under false charges, and declared guilty while having done nothing wrong, Jesus willingly went to the cross.
The recounting of Jesus’ crucifixion is gruesome. He was mocked, spat upon, bruised, and beaten.
But Jesus’ death was the death that you and I deserve. All sin deserves punishment, and the punishment is death (Romans 3:23). We could never pay enough to cancel our debt, which is why we need a Savior. His sinless life and sacrificial death satisfied the wrath of God on sin.
The Friday of Jesus’ death is known as Good Friday, but it’s not the end of the story. Sunday is coming and with it, the hope of our salvation.
Prayer
Jesus, thank you for willingly going to cross for my sins and the sins of the world. I pray that I would never take it lightly and clearly look at my sin in light of who you are. Amen.