A Roman officer had a front-row seat to the most consequential death in human history: the crucifixion of Jesus. What he saw that day changed his life forever, and the lessons learned still apply 2000 years later.
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The climax of the book of Mark, the answer to 1:1. But who speaks these words? A Roman officer?! Where are the disciples?
Takeaway: this message, this mystery, is for everyone who would call on the name of Jesus. It takes three things, as we take a closer look at that passage:
Mark 15:39 (NLT) When the Roman officer who stood facing him saw how he had died, he exclaimed, “This man truly was the Son of God!”
“Stood facing him”
- Freedom in Christ takes the courage to face Jesus.
- Today, that might mean investigating his claims.
- Courage to look into Christianity, willingness to submit - that dirty “s” word
- John 7:16-17 My message is not my own; it comes from God who sent me. Anyone who wants to do the will of God will know whether my teaching is from God or is merely my own.
- If you’re unwilling to submit to God’s will, your pursuit is over before it has even started. But if you are willing to come to God on his terms and take him at his word, then Jesus promises that you’ll discover the truth… and the freedom that comes with it!
Back to the text:
Mark 15:39 (NLT) When the Roman officer who stood facing him saw how he had died, he exclaimed, “This man truly was the Son of God!”
- brutal, yet resolved to suffer.
- Mark 15:23 (NLT) They offered him wine drugged with myrrh, but he refused it.
- He kept his vow at the Last Supper: Mark 14:25 (NLT) I tell you the truth, I will not drink wine again until the day I drink it new in the Kingdom of God.”
- Mocked, yet did not open his mouth
- Who? The people passing, The leading priests and teachers of religious law, Even the men who were crucified with Jesus ridiculed him.
- This was truly a fulfillment of Psalms 22:7-8 (NLT) Everyone who sees me mocks me. They sneer and shake their heads, saying, “Is this the one who relies on the LORD? Then let the LORD save him! If the LORD loves him so much, let the LORD rescue him!”
- Q. Have YOU ever mocked Jesus?
- Between two thieves (yet he was not a sinner)
- Isaiah 53:12 (NLT) I will give him the honors of a victorious soldier, because he exposed himself to death. He was counted among the rebels. He bore the sins of many and interceded for rebels.
One more thing:
Mark 15:39 (NLT) When the Roman officer who stood facing him saw how he had died, he exclaimed, “This man truly was the Son of God!”
- The climax of the book of Mark, the answer to Mark 1:1 (NLT) This is the Good News about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God. It was the third time someone made the declaration:
- Mark 1:11 (NLT) And a voice from heaven said, “You are my dearly loved Son, and you bring me great joy.”
- Mark 3:11 (NLT) And whenever those possessed by evil spirits caught sight of him, the spirits would throw them to the ground in front of him shrieking, “You are the Son of God!”
- (Mark 8, Mt 16:16)
- (Martha also made this confession in John 11:27)
- And now a Roman officer! (The disciples are nowhere to be seen.)
Close: this message, this mystery, is for everyone who would call on the name of Jesus.
- Romans 10:9 (NLT) If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.