What Jesus Did : Mark 15:39 - Son of God!
by Phil Ware
Son of God! - Mark 15:39
The army officer that was standing there before the cross saw what happened when Jesus died. The officer said, "This man really was the Son of God!" (ERV) Full TextKey Thought
While crucifixion was designed to humiliate and torture people, God used this cross to have power that defies explanation. There is something in the message of Jesus' going to this cross that reaches out and grabs the hearts of those seeking God. They see in this sacrifice the love of God who wants to redeem all people. They see the Almighty God's love powerfully demonstrated in the world they know and see as unfair, sometimes brutal, and oftentimes humiliating. God placed his message of love where all people could see it and be touched by it. One strong bit of evidence of this power is an officer in the Roman army—someone very likely acquainted with death and especially the brutal death of crucifixion—who saw God's presence in this moment. His confession should be our confession anytime we read the story of Jesus' crucifixion: "Truly, this was [and is] the Son of God!"
Today's Prayer
Yes, dear Father, I believe that this Jesus who hung on the cross for my sin is your Son! In his name, and to your glory, I thank you. Amen.
Today's Verses in Context
At noon the whole country became dark. This darkness continued until three o’clock. At three o’clock Jesus cried with a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani." This means, "My God, my God, why have you left me alone?"
Some of the people standing there heard this. The people said, "Listen! He is calling Elijah."
One man there ran and got a sponge. The man filled the sponge with vinegar and tied the sponge to a stick. Then he used the stick to give the sponge to Jesus to drink from it. The man said, "We should wait now and see if Elijah will come to take him down from the cross."
Then Jesus cried with a loud voice and died.
When Jesus died, the curtain in the temple was torn into two pieces. The tear started at the top and tore all the way to the bottom. The army officer that was standing there before the cross saw what happened when Jesus died. The officer said, “This man really was the Son of God!"
Some women were standing away from the cross, watching. Some of these women were Mary from the town of Magdala, Salome, and Mary the mother of James and Joses. (James was her youngest son.) These were the women that followed Jesus in Galilee and cared for him. Many other women were also there. These women had come with Jesus to Jerusalem.-- Mark Mark 15:33-41 (ERV)
URL: http://www.heartlight.org/wjd/mark/1216-wjd.html
(c)2001-2006, Phil Ware and Heartlight, Inc.
©1996-2002, Heartlight, Inc. - http://www.heartlight.org