Today’s Reading: St. Mark 14:1-15:47
Daily Lectionary: Exodus 9:29-10:20; Hebrews 3:1-19
“Truly, This was the Son of God!" (St. Mark 15:9)
What was it that gave it away for the centurion? How did he come to know that Jesus was the Son of God? His confession of who Jesus was is really the mystery of the ages. Why? Because this one statement, “Truly, this was the Son of God,” combines the two great gifts and mysteries of the Christian Church: that God became man and that God died on the Cross for our salvation. Truly, Jesus IS the Son of God.
But what was it? Was it the thunder and lightening? Was it the temple veil being ripped in two? Was it the dead rising from their graves and going about in the city? What was it that proved to this Roman soldier that Jesus was the Son of God? It wasn’t the amount of bloodshed and carnage. He had seen that before. So what was it?
Saint Paul pondered this question himself in the first hymn of the Christian Church, found in Philippians, chapter 2: “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the Cross,” (Philippians 2:5-8).
Jesus, God Himself, came down to earth as a man, took the form of a common servant, and humbled Himself to the point of dying the death of a criminal. He was abandoned by God and man alike. He rode into Jerusalem as a King. Yet He is the one put to death. It should be you in the grave. You deserve death and condemnation. But Jesus came to suffer and die in your place. You are the one who lives. Maybe the centurion saw this too. We are not told. Perhaps the centurion is not the point. The confession of Jesus is! In the name of Jesus. Amen.
“Almighty and everlasting God, grant us by Your grace so to pass through this holy time of our Lord's Passion that we may be sustained by the remission of our sins; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.” (Collect for Tuesday of Holy Week)
Today's Reflection is written by the Rev'd Marcus Zill (zill@higherthings.org) of St. Andrew's Lutheran Church & Student Center in Laramie, Wyoming.