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Mark - Who is Christ?
A Bible Study Course on the Gospel of Christ according to MARK
PART 8 - Christ's Passion and Death (Mark 14:1 - 15:47)

18. The Death of Jesus, and the Wonderful Signs (Mark 15:37-39)


MARK 15:37-39
37 Jesus cried out with a loud voice, and gave up the spirit. 38 The veil of the temple was torn in two from the top to the bottom. 39 When the centurion, who stood by opposite him, saw that he cried out like this and breathed his last, he said, “Truly this man was the Son of God!”

Jesus did not see his Father while he was paying the debt of the divine justice, for his Father had left him, proclaiming himself as a destroying Judge. However, the Son fought the good fight of faith, trusting in the fatherhood of God to the end, and proclaimed his triumph, crying out: “It is finished!” This cry of triumph resounded in heaven, earth, and hell. It came like an echo with songs of praise from all angels and saints, but also with gnashing of teeth in hell.

The evil one could not invalidate men’s reconciliation to God, nor could he succeed in corrupting the Lamb of God, for Jesus overcame him with his love, patience, faith, and steadfast hope. Our salvation is completed. He who believes is justified.

Jesus saw the ghost of death coming to him. However, he was not afraid, though God had left him, but held fast his hope in God’s everlasting faithfulness, and committed his soul and his Spirit into the hands of his Father, trusting that his everlasting love would not change, even if he had appeared as a Judge. His committing himself into the hands of the Father was the seal on Jesus’ triumph. His hope was not cut off, and the Holy Spirit did not die in him, though his human body truly died.

The crucified Jesus truly died. So how do some say, “they neither killed him, nor crucified him”? The historical truth condemns them, and shows the truth.

The death of Jesus is the axis of history. From that moment, the world changed. The Lamb of God justified all sinful people. The curtain hanging in the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom, as an indication that God was no longer separated from his creatures. Previously, the high priest was entitled to come once a year with fear and trembling to the Ark of the Covenant, which was considered as the throne of God, to reconcile the sinful nation to the Holy God. Now, the way is opened to whoever accepts Jesus’ sacrifice in faith. The barriers of the old covenant have been removed, the Law ceased to rule, and the way to God is opened. Come to your Father! The door is wide open, and God is waiting for you personally.

Having recognized Christ’s triumph in their tombs, some of the dead were allowed to rise at that moment, and come to His divine revelation. The atoning death of the Son of God offers righteousness and everlasting life to all who believe in him.

The Centurion at the crucifixion of Jesus, had already seen many criminals, slaves, enemies, and false prophets crucified, but he had never seen a death like Jesus’, in holy love, and humble glory. When the Righteous One bowed his head, this centurion acknowledged: “This one was not like the others. The divine power was present in him. He was not the son of a king, or a Caesar, but he is the Son of God in person.” The mystery of Jesus was first recognized by this Gentile, while it remained hidden to the members of the old covenant.

What about you, dear reader? What do you say in your heart?

PRAYER: O Son of the Holy God, we worship you because you gave your pure life for us, unclean sinners, and died in our place with much suffering and temptation. We love you with all our hearts, and ask you to change our selfishness. Dissolve our hardheartedness that we may be worthy to bring our lives as a thank offering to God, and to serve men as you served us. We thank you for your death, which opened for us the way to the Father. All those who believe in you worship you forever. Amen.

QUESTION:

  1. What do the events upon the death of Jesus mean?

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