JULY 10

No Ordinary Death

Bible Reading: Mark 15

Death can happen in so many ways.  In hospice, nurses say a person is actively dying when certain symptoms are observed.  The patient may experience a bluish discoloration of their extremities and the skin of their arms and legs may feel cold to the touch.  These conditions worsen as circulation slows down.  The entire process lasts about three days.  Jesus died, but His death was unlike any other before or since.  When the preordained time came, He yielded up His spirit.  The Centurion was a witness…

Some were there because of their hatred for Jesus (i.e., the religious leaders), some were there because of their love for Him (i.e., His mother and some of His followers), and some were there because they had no choice (i.e., the robbers). The Centurion was there simply to do his job. As a centurion, he was a non-commissioned officer of the Roman army, a man of authority having charge nominally of 100 men (Matthew 8:9).  He was tasked with overseeing the execution of Jesus.  He was a soldier who was used to doing what he was told.  That was what he was there to do.  One might suppose he’d witnessed more than his share of human brutality, yet nothing would have prepared him for what he saw and heard that day. He was a part of a larger contingent of soldiers–an entire cohort (usually about 600 men) had been called together (Mark 15:16).  

What happened?  It was a chaotic and macabre scene.  Three cruel crosses bearing three condemned men towered over the crowd.  Amongst the ordinary sounds accompanying such a large gathering were the poisonous taunts of the mockers.  In glorious contrast, Jesus spoke words of forgiveness, salvation, and victory. 

It was no ordinary day and God would mark the occasion in special ways.  Luke’s account speaks of the darkness which beset the scene from around noon for three hours.  Then, as Jesus breathed His last, several things happened all at once.  “The Life of Christ in Stereo” (A harmony of the gospels) gives the following interwoven account: “Then Jesus therefore on receiving the wine cried out again with a loud voice, ’It is finished!’  And he bowed his head, and said, ‘Father into Thy hands I commit my spirit.”  And having said these things, he yielded up his spirit.  Now the centurion who stood confronting him nearby, when he saw that he (cried out) thus (and) expired, glorified God by saying, ‘Truly this was a righteous man!’  And behold, the veil of the temple was wrenched in two from top to bottom.  And the earth was shaken, and the rocks were rent, and the tombs were opened and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep arose; and they came forth out of the tombs after his resurrection, entering into the holy city and appearing to many.  And the centurion and those who were with him standing guard over Jesus, when they saw the earthquake and the things that took place, were struck with fear and said, ‘Surely this was the son of God!’ (Matthew 27:51-56; Mark 15:38-41; Luke 23:45b, 47-49; John 19:31-37).”

What did the Centurion see?  He saw the manner in which Jesus died.  One would suppose he had witnessed the demise of countless others who reluctantly succumbed to death’s call.  But Jesus didn’t die like that—He yielded up His Spirit.  No one took His life from Him, He laid it down on His own initiative (John 10:18; Galatians 2:20b).  The Centurion’s response?  “Truly, this was a righteous man!”  Then he saw the veil of the temple torn from top to bottom followed by a mighty earthquake which rent the rocks.  Then tombs opened and people were coming forth from the tombs!  His response?  “Surely this was the son of God!” 

He had gone as ordered that day, to do his job.  Yet it was no ordinary day.  The man on the cross was no ordinary man.  We have no information about what happened in the Centurion’s life afterwards, but seeds of truth were planted and it’s possible, if not likely, the Centurion placed his faith in Jesus.  He proclaimed important truths regarding Jesus’ identity and was a firsthand witness to Jesus’ saving work.  His impartial witness to the events of that day lives on.  

No one ever lived as Jesus lived and no one has ever died like Him either.  No one took His life from Him, as the Good Shepherd, He laid it down of His own accord for His sheep! 

Jerry Conklin

WERE YOU THERE

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?

Were you there when God raised him from the tomb?
Were you there when God raised him from the tomb?
Oh, sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.
Were you there when God raised him from the tomb?