54 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!”
55 Many women were there, watching from a distance. They had followed Jesus from Galilee to care for his needs. 56 Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee's sons.
Such unusual circumstances surrounded our Lord’s death that it terrified the macho Roman guards. God can easily frighten the most hardened of adversaries as guilt puts men into fear when confronted with holiness. Yet those clothed in the righteousness of Christ need never fear. Our faith (choice) must rule over our fear (emotion). God being our sure defense at all times. When God judges the righteous need not fear. I am reminded of the psalmist words:
1 God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. 2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, 3 though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. Selah Psalms 46:1-3 (NIV)
10 Tell the righteous it will be well with them, for they will enjoy the fruit of their deeds. Isaiah 3:10 (NIV)
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 exceedingly troubling to those guarding the Master. To be sure, one day every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords yet here we see a precursor in a convinced pagan crying out that Jesus was the Son of God. There is no spirit too big or too bold for Christ’s power to humble. Interestingly, Jesus’ guys believed but dared not confess lacking the courage yet the centurion makes a voluntary confession of the Christian faith. I am reminded of Paul’s words penned in Philippians of the future adoration of Christ by all men:
9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Phil 2:9-11 (NIV)
“Instead of trying to comprehend My Incarnation intellectually, learn from the example of the wise men. They followed the leading of a spectacular star, then fell down in humble worship when they found Me. Praise and worship are the best responses to the wonder of My Being. Sing praises to My holy Name. Gaze at Me in silent adoration. Look for a star of guidance in your own life, and be willing to follow where I lead.” Sarah Young
Next, we discover in our verses for today a company of women who were following the Lord Jesus from Galilee to care for His needs. 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 had followed Him and out of great love they had stayed by Him. They had cared for Jesus out of their own means throughout His ministry and now we see them admirably staying near Him to the bitter end albeit at a distance. Surely, the distance must have been an aggravation to the sufferings of Christ that even His closest friends stood aloof from His afflictions. We must not think it strange if when we suffer our friends shy away as well. If they treated the Lord this way His followers should not be surprised to receive like treatment. Sadly, when Christ was suffering the best of His companions were but spectators and onlookers. Even so, these women stood watching with great love as it surely cut to their hearts to see His great torment.
18 “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. 19 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. 20 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. 21 They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the One who sent me.” John 15:18-21 (NIV)
“Be not afraid of saying too much in the praises of God; all the danger is of saying too little.” Matthew Henry
“The cross is rough, and it is deadly, but it is effective.” A. W. Tozer
“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