Jesus justbreathed His last and had cried out, "Father, into Thy hands I commitMy spirit."
Now,there are three responses that Luke records here in these verses that happenwhen Jesus died. In verse 47, the centurion who was in charge of the executiontestified, "So when the centurion saw what had happened, he glorifiedGod, saying, certainly this was a righteous Man." Mark's Gospel describethis scene also: “So when the centurion, who stood opposite Him, saw that Hecried out like this and breathed His last, he said, "Truly this Man wasthe Son of God!" (Mark 15:39). Heexclaimed that Jesus was an innocent, righteous Man, who is the Son of God.
Thiscenturion had observe Jesus for six hours as He was being crucified and as hewatch what took place and also heard the words of Jesus from the cross somethinghappens in his heart. He had heard thewords of Jesus to the mockers, "Father, forgive them. They know notwhat they do”. He heard Jesus say to the murder being crucified with him, “Todayyou'll be with Me in paradise." He heard Jesus speak to John and Hismother Mary, "Behold your mother. Mother, behold your son." Thenthe three hours of darkness happen and he had heard Jesus cried out, "MyGod, My God, why have You forsaken Me?" And then shortly after that heheard Jesus cry out a shout of victory, "It is finished."
Andlast the centurion heard Jesus said, "Father, Into Your hands I commitMy spirit." Then he watched as Jesus’ head dropped and breathed Hislast. Usually, people that were being crucified might have lingered for daysbefore they actually died. This centurion actually, personally observed Jesuslaid down His life. He felt the earthquake and watch the rock split and he wasso amazed and it says that “he glorified God”. As he had watched allthis, it came over him. There is no doubt that this Man indeed is the Son ofGod. He is the Savior. He is an innocent Man. He's a righteous Man. I believe itis very possible that we will see this centurion in heaven. Who knows? Maybe itwill be Cornelius who later called for Peter in Acts 10 to clearly hear the planof salvation. I guess we will find out when we get to heaven.
Thenin verse 48, we see the other response as, “the whole crowd who cametogether to that sight, seeing what had been done, they beat their breast andreturned”. Remember not only did the darkness take place, but when Jesusgave up His life and laid it down, my friend, there was a great earthquake. Godshook the ground, and they all felt that, and they beat their breast. I'm notsure if they were repenting, if they were saying, "We wish we hadn't seena righteous Man die like this." We don't know. Maybe some of them gotsaved later and some of them maybe didn't. They were spectators, and they left.Like so many today and unchanged!
Butthen there were His acquaintances in verse 49. And the women who followed Himfrom Galilee stood at a distance watching these things. They didn't leave. Now,isn't that interesting because women were mentioned last at the cross, and theywere mentioned first at His resurrection. Isn't that interesting? Oh, myfriend, God loves everyone. He loves the poor, the rich, as we're going to seewhen we talk about Joseph of Arimathea. Jesus loves the sinner. He loves thewicked. He loves you today so much.
Thecenturion proclaimed, “This Man is the Son of God”! My friend, that'sthe real question. Who is Jesus? Is He indeed the Son of God? Oh, if youbelieve that, you can believe that He is the Savior of the world, and He's theonly one who can save you from your sins. That's crucial. And so, I trust todaythat you'll trust Jesus to be your Lord and your Savior. And like thecenturion, you will proclaim Him as innocent, the Son of God, and you willreceive Him as your Lord and Savior.
Godbless!
