When the Roman officer who stood facing him saw how he had died, he exclaimed, “This man truly was the Son of God!” [Mark 15.39]
Similarly, two other Gospels record the same event:
The Roman officer and the other soldiers at the crucifixion were terrified by the earthquake and all that had happened. They said, “This man truly was the Son of God!” [Matthew 27.54]
When the Roman officer overseeing the execution saw what had happened, he worshiped God and said, “Surely this man was innocent.” [Luke 23.47]
Although John's account did not mention anything being said by a Roman officer (or officers), it gave us important details relative to the event:
Jesus knew that his mission was now finished, and to fulfill Scripture he said, “I am thirsty.” A jar of sour wine was sitting there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put it on a hyssop branch, and held it up to his lips. When Jesus had tasted it, he said, “It is finished!” Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. It was the day of preparation, and the Jewish leaders didn’t want the bodies hanging there the next day, which was the Sabbath (and a very special Sabbath, because it was Passover week). So they asked Pilate to hasten their deaths by ordering that their legs be broken. Then their bodies could be taken down. So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the two men crucified with Jesus. But when they came to Jesus, they saw that he was already dead, so they didn’t break his legs. One of the soldiers, however, pierced his side with a spear, and immediately blood and water flowed out. (This report is from an eyewitness giving an accurate account. He speaks the truth so that you also may continue to believe.) These things happened in fulfillment of the Scriptures that say, “Not one of his bones will be broken,” and “They will look on the one they pierced.” [John 19.28-37]
It should first be pointed out that Jesus chose the exact time He would die. He died of His own will, not by His legs being broken by the soldiers, but by recognizing He had accomplished what was necessary to pay for the sin of mankind. At that moment, Jesus, on purpose, said, "It is finished," breathed His last breath, quit supporting His weight with His legs, and succumbed to death by suffocation denying Himself another breath of life. So unusual was this "laying down His own life" in the tortuous process of Roman crucifixion that it was realized from previous crucifixion experiences and therefore exclaimed, "This man was different! (...the Son of God, ...innocent)" Instead of despairingly fighting to stay alive (thus requiring His legs to be broken later to speed the process), Jesus embraced death. For all the Romans had ever previously experienced, this crucifixion was remarkable.
So... it's a nice story, right? Thank God and thank You, Jesus! But there is eternally more to it... And, here it is:
Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. [Matthew 16.24 (also, Mark 8.34 & Luke 9.23)]
NOTHING more clearly speaks of faith in God alone than to embrace death. In all the Roman soldiers' experience of crucifying people, they had never seen anyone not fight to the bitter end to avoid death. This is easily understandable because, who really knows what lies beyond death! And yet, Jesus "breathed His last breath" with resolve. Truly, only God could have that kind of resolve, right? Wrong! Jesus was very clear that His true followers would purposefully yield their own lives in every possible way to reveal their confidence when faced with death.
Let's rewind and review what got Jesus to His Cross, shall we? Someone else was surprised by Jesus' resolve earlier! Pilate was surprised by Jesus' silence to his questions. John records that Pilate's surprise turned to fear:
The Jewish leaders replied, “By our law he ought to die because he called himself the Son of God.” When Pilate heard this, he was more frightened than ever. He took Jesus back into the headquarters again and asked him, “Where are you from?” But Jesus gave no answer. “Why don’t you talk to me?” Pilate demanded. “Don’t you realize that I have the power to release you or crucify you?” [John 19.7-10]
And, BOOM, there it is! Idolatry! Pilate gave Jesus the chance to recant and live. It was at this potential "alternate plan" (exactly what idolatry does) that Jesus broke His silence:
Then Jesus said, “You would have no power over me at all unless it were given to you from above. So the one who handed me over to you has the greater sin.” [John 19.11]
Jesus could just as easily have said to Pilate, "Get behind me, Satan!" as He did to Peter when Peter started talking about "preserving life" (Matthew 16.21-23). You see, "living" was the desired outcome as Pilate saw it at this time (as Peter did earlier). But "living" does not unmistakably reveal the Son of God as the Roman soldier(s) beheld. The cross is not about "living" in the world's eyes. Anyone can live and pursue life. But, when in unwavering faith one faces death, then and only then, can the Son of God truly manifest. This manifestation was seen in the Son of God Himself resolvedly embracing His Cross AND continues to be seen in those who follow the Son of God resolvedly embracing their own cross.
So, why was idolatry mentioned above? Because idols' singular purpose is to distract Jesus' followers from dying and preoccupy them with "living" thus NOT revealing the Son of God. Idols all promise what God Himself has promised in His Word, but just a little "differently." Remember John 12.24?
I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat is planted in the soil and dies, it remains alone. But its death will produce many new kernels—a plentiful harvest of new lives. [John 12.24]
The big idols today are debt, insurance, medicine and technology. They promote everything pertaining to the betterment of life. They all serve, in one form or another, to preserve the kernel of wheat from being planted in the soil and dying, but they all pander to life in its fullness. As such, they are distractions from the cross we are called to bear - they are idols. They are, in perfect essence, Pilate saying, "Don’t you realize that I have the power to release you or crucify you?"
As each of us deals with the fear of death, we should understand that Jesus did NOT (contrary to popular belief) empathize with our hopelessness and fear when He cried out from the Cross, “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?” Jesus had NOT, in a moment of weakness, forgotten His purpose! No, instead, Jesus was using God's own tactic of asking a question to reveal the answer as God did to Adam and Eve in the Garden, 'Where are you?'. When Jesus asked God why He had abandoned Him (Jesus) it was to confirm that the plan was intact! Jesus was indeed on the Cross fulfilling the plan from the beginning of time! There had been no shortcuts, no preservation of life, no alternate plans. Jesus knew how He would die - it would be in untainted faith in God alone.
It was just as much "faith" for Jesus to embrace His Cross as it was for Him to walk on water or raise the dead. We must beware of any and everything that persuades us to avoid death and hardships even to the point of crying out, "Get behind me, Satan!"
So, how will you die? How will I die? Will it be fighting to the bitter end grasping for every possible life-preserving option (idol) offered to us?
To be sure, the Son of God will never be seen in us if we do.
No comments:
Post a Comment