The Response

The Response

Mark 15:39-41, NLT

When the Roman officer who stood facing him saw how he had died, he exclaimed, “This man truly was the Son of God!” 40Some women were there, watching from a distance, including Mary Magdalene, Mary (the mother of James the younger and of Joseph), and Salome. 41They had been followers of Jesus and had cared for him while he was in Galilee. Many other women who had come with him to Jerusalem were also there.

Luke 23:47-49, NLT

When the Roman officer overseeing the execution saw what had happened, he worshiped God and said, “Surely this man was innocent.” 48And when all the crowd that came to see the crucifixion saw what had happened, they went home in deep sorrow. 49But Jesus’ friends, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance watching.

Setting the Scene

A Roman officer had accompanied the soldiers to the execution site. He probably had done this many times, yet this crucifixion was completely different—the unexplained darkness, the earthquake, even the one who had uttered, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34, NLT). The officer may have mocked Jesus earlier (Luke 23:36-37), but now he realized that Jesus had been no ordinary person.

This Roman officer and the other soldiers at the cross (Matthew 27:54), all of them Gentiles, realized what most of the Jewish nation had missed, that Jesus was innocent and “truly was the Son of God!” The centurion may not have understood the implications of that statement, but he “worshiped God.” While the Jewish religious leaders were celebrating Jesus’ death, a small group of Gentiles were the first to proclaim Jesus as the Son of God after his death.

The male disciples had made great promises of loyalty to Jesus, but the women among Jesus’ followers waited at the cross and went to the tomb.

Getting Personal

Put yourself in the story. Where would you have been at Jesus’ crucifixion? With which person or group do you most identify: centurion, soldiers, religious leaders, Jewish crowd, women followers, or male disciples?

Why do you think the Roman centurion responded the way he did?

As you have matured in your faith, how has your appreciation for Christ’s death deepened?

The Roman centurion had probably not had previous contact with Jesus—to him this man was just another religious zealot. But God broke through, and the hardened soldier recognized that Jesus was different.

The Cross still draws some close while pushing others away. Those who recognize Jesus as innocent but dying for them, turn to him and worship the Son of God. But many, often religious people, are put off by this gruesome display. Some who claim to be Christ’s followers are embarrassed and don’t bring up the Crucifixion.

But the essence of Christianity is the Cross. That’s why Paul exclaimed, “We preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles” (1 Corinthians 1:23, NIV).

Talking to God

What is a stumbling block to others is the message of life for believers. Thank God for his perfect sacrifice and for opening your mind and heart to understand and accept the gift of salvation through Christ.