Jesus Was the Son of God!

When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, “Surely he was the Son of God!”

Many women were there, watching from a distance. They had followed Jesus from Galilee to care for his needs. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee’s sons. (Matthew 27:54-56)

Such unusual circumstances surrounded our Lord’s death that it terrified the macho Roman guards. Guilt tends to put fear into the bravest of men when they are confronted with holiness. The momentous events of the day had struck fear in the hearts of the guards. Normally, these centurions were without much fear or pity. Yet, the curtain of the temple torn from top to bottom, an earthquake, the rocks crying out, and the dead raised to life all served to be troubling to those presiding over Jesus’ death and burial.

Yet those clothed in the righteousness of Christ need never fear. Our faith (choice) rules over our fear (emotion), God being our sure defense at all times. When God judges, the righteous need not fear. I am reminded of these words from the Old Testament:

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. (Psalm 46:1-3)

We also see in our verses for today a company of women who have been following Jesus. Some would have called them silly women to boldly stick by the Master’s side when the rest of His disciples had deserted Him and fled. Yet, out of great love, they have followed Him and stayed by Him. They had cared for Jesus out of their own means throughout His ministry and now we see them staying near Him to the bitter end. Their love overcame their fear.

The cross was a painful way, but the only way, for us to have our relationship with God reinstated. His love overcomes all.

“The only ground on which God can forgive our sin and reinstate us to His favor is through the Cross of Christ. There is no other way!

Forgiveness, which is so easy for us to accept, cost the agony at Calvary. We should never take the forgiveness of sin, the gift of the Holy Spirit, and our sanctification in simple faith, and then forget the enormous cost to God that made all of this ours. Forgiveness is the divine miracle of grace. The cost to God was the Cross of Christ. To forgive sin, while remaining a holy God, this price had to be paid. Never accept a view of the fatherhood of God if it blots out the atonement. The revealed truth of God is that without the atonement He cannot forgive–He would contradict His nature if He did. The only way we can be forgiven is by being brought back to God through the atonement of the Cross. God’s forgiveness is possible only in the supernatural realm … Once you realize all that it cost God to forgive you, you will be held as in a vise, constrained by the love of God.” (Oswald Chambers)

Take It to Heart

“If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. Remember the words I spoke to you: ‘No servant is greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the One who sent me.” (John 15:18-21)

“Be not afraid of saying too much in the praises of God; all the danger is of saying too little.” (Matthew Henry)

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