Truly, this man was the Son of God!
Ponder: Jesus Christ, the Son of God
Today’s Scripture: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16, NKJV).
Though familiar with death, the centurion had never before seen a man die like this. Three hours of darkness and a violent earthquake had demonstrated the wrath of the Almighty. Jesus had cried out, “Father, into Your hands I commend My spirit!” (Luke 23:46). Then He had expired, and the centurion “glorified God, saying, ‘Certainly this was a righteous man!’” (Luke 23:47). This Roman commander concluded that Jesus was not a criminal worthy of death, but an innocent victim wrongfully executed.
Is that all Jesus was – just a victim of a miscarriage of justice? No, indeed! Innumerable people have suffered unjustly at the hands of crooked politicians and religious leaders; but Jesus was unique. The centurion acknowledged this as he exclaimed, “Truly this Man was the Son of God!” (Mark 15:39).
Sometimes “the Son of God” is written literally, “the Son of the God.” The centurion, however, used no definite articles; he simply said, “Son of God.” Some commentators claim he referred to Jesus merely as “a son of a god” – that is, a great person, a hero. However, the evidence shows that he confessed Jesus as the Son of God in the full, Biblical sense.
Jesus’ enemies used the same words as the centurion when they complained that He “ought to die, because He made Himself (the) Son of God” (John 19:7 – no definite article in the Greek text). Were the Jews angry because Jesus had claimed to be a mere hero? Hardly!
The centurion had heard the mockers saying, “He trusted in God; let Him deliver Him now, if He will have Him; for He said, ‘I am the Son of God’” (Matthew 27:43). Given his conclusion that Jesus was a righteous Man, it followed logically that He was the Son of God, for righteous men do not lie about their identity. Jesus said He was the Son of God, so that is who He was!
Jesus is righteous; and He is the Son of God. Confess Him as the centurion did, and be baptized into Him so your sins will be forgiven (see Acts 8:37, 38). Obey Him without delay!
Song: “I Believe in the one they called Jesus”
Prayer: Father, we happily confess that Jesus is the Son of God! May we ever rejoice in this, and share the good news with others. In His name, Amen.
Joe Slater (Justin, TX)