SCRIPTURE: Mark 15
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, heard his cry and saw how he died, he said, “Surely this man was the Son of God!” [Mark 15:39] A non-Jew, a witness to the horrific death of Jesus, and also to the circumstances surrounding His death, comes to this conclusion, “Surely this man was the Son of God!” If it wasn’t for all the baggage that surrounds christianity and the church, I am pretty sure that more non-christians would be more open to affirming the uniqueness and wonder of Jesus.
The events of this day are so embedded on our minds as christians, after years (and years) of hearing these stories, singing songs about it, and listening to sermons about its importance. But do we really experience them as dramatically and significantly as we should? I mention Mel Gibson’s movie “The Passion” again because for me, it helped me experience in a new way the horror and wonder of this event.
With tears, with shaking head and troubled heart, its easy (for me) to see why the centurion spoke as he did. I had the same sense as I endured the journey to the cross, and the final moments before He died. Oh God, oh God, its awful… Some people questioned the brutality that Gibson portrayed in the movie, but it rings true for me. Its no different than the kind of brutality that still happens worldwide. Just think about what happened 8 years ago today, September 11th. Among other things, the crucifixion is God’s uniting with us in the full misery and horror of sin. I love the way Gibson portrays this with the tear drop falling from heaven.
God does not remain aloof or indifferent to human suffering. This is the world that we have made, and He is working through it to change it. He mourns with those who mourn, He suffers with those who suffer. He dies with those who die. So that those who die with Him, live with Him!
Watch the following video clip, and maybe you too can say with the centurion, “Surely this man was the Son of God!”
PRAYER:
Lord, what happened that day was awful, and yet it was good. You died our death, so that we might live Your life!
In my work, I experience the brutality of sin too… the horror when broken people’s idea of pleasure is so twisted and evil and they use other people to get it… breaking them in the process…
it feels like this video clip.
I’ve never watched The Passion, I can’t(yet), but I watched this today. Raw brutality, it does wrench my stomach and send my mind reeling… I want to shut it out, but I can’t, I musn’t … because it is real, it happened for me, for us all, Jesus paid the price for us…
and we can know that He understands the horrors of our lives.
I have known that Jesus understands and suffers with the pain of those who have been abused. I have seen Him bring relief and healing and peace. With this I gained a deeper knowing.
I wanted to watch the ressurection but I couldn’t find it… perhaps He wants me to think on this for a while…
Oh Jesus, Thank-You for Who You are, for how You love us, for what You willingly did for us. You are amazing!
No greater love than to lay down your life for a friend. Hard to imagine. Hard to even live the words, as far as it depends upon me, live at peace with all mankind. We want it our way and not say/sing Have Thine Own Way Lord.
Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
Oh! Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
Were you there when they nailed Him to the tree?
Were you there when they nailed Him to the tree?
Oh! Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when they nailed Him to the tree?
Were you there when they laid Him in the tomb?
Were you there when they laid Him in the tomb?
Oh! Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when they laid Him in the tomb?
Because He arose I too may live. But the reality of that day, the life changing experiences, the God happening events, Christ’s giving up His Spirit, the fear of the day, etc I can only imagine. To see with my eyes the reality of the poverty here, to experience being there, to live among it, to deal with with, that’s heart wrenching as the women experienced it. As the centurion experienced it. As the unbelievers experienced it.
My response can only be My Lord and My God! Help me to live this day for You.
Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!
Thou art the Potter, I am the clay.
Mold me and make me after Thy will,
While I am waiting, yielded and still.
Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!
Hold o’er my being absolute sway!
Fill with Thy Spirit ’till all shall see
Christ only, always, living in me.